  It has been shown that for a certain special type of quantum graphs the
random-matrix form factor can be recovered to at least third order in the
scaled time \tau using periodic-orbit theory. Two types of contributing pairs
of orbits were identified, those which require time-reversal symmetry and those
which do not. We present a new technique of dealing with contribution from the
former type of orbits.
  The technique allows us to derive the third order term of the expansion for
general graphs. Although the derivation is rather technical, the advantages of
the technique are obvious: it makes the derivation tractable, it identifies
explicitly the orbit configurations which give the correct contribution, it is
more algorithmical and more system-independent, making possible future
applications of the technique to systems other than quantum graphs.
