The 42-13 victory will have lifted morale after last week's shock 52-26 defeat in Fiji, but the performance was littered with mistakes that will not encourage fans ahead of the First Test against Australia in a fortnight.

The BBC's Alan Lorimer watched the game

"The main thing was the victory. The tour is back on the road. It was really important for us to get the victory," said captain Stuart Reid.

But neither Reid nor coach Jim Telfer were smiling after the tourists' rusty performance at Olympic Park in Melbourne.

Scotland cost themselves a much bigger scoreline in the second half, dropping passes, kicking away possession and losing command of the rucks.

Victoria set them on their heels late in the game to score their only try, one of the match's best.

Coach Jim Telfer has work to do

"I was quite disappointed with some aspects of the game," Telfer said. "We have to keep possession rather than kick it away."

Telfer put the performance down to a lack of match practice for his forwards and admitted he has yet to finalise the test line up.

Fullback Glenn Metcalfe, one of eight uncapped players, was easily the best on field, making scything runs through the Victoria backline and scoring two of Scotland's six tries.

Glenn Metcalfe - double try-scorer

Winger Alan Bulloch also looked dangerous with the ball, scoring one try, and flanker Gordon Simpson helped keep the Victoria backs in check.

But few shone against a bustling and inconsistent home side boasting no current test players.

In Victoria, home to Australian Rules, rugby ranks as a minor sport and a crowd of just a few thousand turned up.

"They're going to have a hard time," Victoria coach John Kelsey said of Scotland, conceding his side were likely to be their softest encounter on the tour.

Scotland came through the match without any serious injuries but made three unforced substitutions in the second half.

Second-rower Stuart Grimes came off for Stewart Campbell, try-scorer Rowen Shepherd gave Jamie Mayer a run at inside centre and prop Matthew Stewart was replaced minutes before full-time by David Hilton.

Match details and points-scorers:

Victoria:
Tries: Cam Frater;
Conversions: Jack Goodman;
Penalties: Goodman (2)

Scotland:
Tries: Glenn Metcalfe (2), Alan Bulloch, Rowen Shepherd, Cameron Mather, Duncan Hodge;
Conversions: Hodge (3);
Penalties: Hodge (2)