St Bedes/Mentone Tigers relinquished top spot on the VAFA Premier Division ladder after only one week with a 5 point loss to Old Scotch at VAFA Headquarters on Sunday. In the first, the Tigers defended stoutly against a 4 goal Elsternwick Park zephyr as both teams remained scoreless until the 12 minute mark and then went goal for goal, in what was an engrossing contest, before the Cardinals banged on the last 3 goals of the quarter to take a 15 point lead into the short break. The Tigers started the second quarter with agression and passion and with the first 3 goals quickly took the lead with Jaryd Robertson starring around the ground and up forward and Luke Terrell in everything close to goal and looked to be on a roll before the Camberwell team started linking up and controlling the ball only to let themselves down with some wayward kicking in front of goal to leave the Tigers with a fortuitous 3 point lead at the half. As expected approaching the middle of winter, the Elsternwick Park breeze turned into a freezing, gusty wind and the Mentone team again defended stoutly against the Red Men and the elements with Luke Wintle, Anthony Scafidi and Luke Collins repulsing countless Scotch attacking forays but this time the Tigers were unable to trouble the scorer on their many rebounds and this appeared to be a very bad omen for their chances (and so it turned out…) while Scotch scrambled a couple of late majors – Scotch by 2 goals at the final turn. Again the Tigers came out quickly with an early goal and appeared to be well-placed only for Scotch to wrest back the ascendency and jump out to a 13 point lead midway through the quarter and appeared to be cruising and in total control around the ball and into attack…..but footy’s a funny game and no sooner were the Cards set for victory than the Tigers banged on 3 goals in 4 minutes to themselves take a 7 point lead deep into the quarter and they then looked to be cruising to yet another hard fought victory but yet again the Cardinals were having none of it and with 2 quick goals, into the wind, reclaimed a 5 point lead at the 27 minute mark. The last 5 minutes were frenetic as both sides flirted with kicking the winner but no further score was conceded and Old Scotch ran out very deserving victors of a real old-fashioned winter football match – to the winners the spoils, to the losers….there’s only next week…..•The Reserves got back on the winning list with a 17 point victory while the U19s outclassed Old Scotch by 43 points to replace them in fourth spot on the ladder at the halfway mark of the season. •Next Saturday the Tigers take on local rival Old Haileybury at McKinnon with plenty to prove after toppling so quickly from the top of the tree.