Messenger Shield: Immanuel and Westminster draw in round eight of college footy
A point in the dying seconds leads to a thrilling college footy draw while PAC records a massive win and Rostrevor struggles. Match reports from every round eight Messenger Shield match.
- SA’s top college footy prospects
- St Peter’s digs deep to beat Immanuel
Greatest first XVIIs: Rostrevor | Sacred Heart | Prince Alfred | St Peter’s | Brighton | Henley | Immanuel | St Michael’s
There was timekeeper trouble at Immanuel before a stunning college footy finale, Prince Alfred and Sacred Heart record thumping wins, St Peter’s shows its strength and Rostrevor is devoid of confidence.
Here is our wrap of the Messenger Shield’s round eight:
IMMANUEL 7.9 (51) WESTMINSTER 7.9 (51)
A point in the dying seconds has led to a thrilling college footy draw between Immanuel and Westminster on Saturday.
Scores finished locked on 51 points apiece at Immanuel College but the stalemate was clouded by a contentious timekeeping decision in the final term.
With about three minutes to play, a Westminster player went down with injury and was attended to on the field by medical staff.
Immanuel coach Troy Clements said the home side’s timekeeper stopped the clock until play resumed though time off was not called for by the field umpire.
“I have a very sour taste in the mouth about all things football after Saturday,” Clements said.
“My point of view is that the umpire should have called time off with a player down with injury for an extended period of time.
“We certainly didn’t start the game with the spirit we have played with all year. To be five or six goals down and work our way back is a great effort though.”
Westminster coach Ian Cox said the school would not challenge the result.
The visitors led early but Immanuel stormed back in the third term before a gripping final quarter.
“We got out of the blocks and played some really good footy,” Cox said.
“They kicked five to zero in that third quarter but we never got headed until that last kick of the game, which was disappointing.
“The boys were fantastic for the majority of the game.
“It was a great game of footy and great to play Immanuel. For two schools really close we haven’t played each other for a long time, because they’ve always been in division one.”
Cox said Kane Viska impressed with classy ball use on return from injury, while centre half-back Connor Drum, midfielder Jack Forrest (three goals) and Harvey Bock played well.
State under-18 representative Jordan Moore and Aidan Turner were best for Immanuel, while Lucas Pretty-Williams kicked four goals on debut.
PRINCE ALFRED 28.14 (182) ST MICHAEL’S 1.1 (7)
Prince Alfred coach Marty McKinnon says his brilliant young group players is as talented as any he has had in recent years.
McKinnon was full of praise for his side after it made an exceptional return to competitive matches after more than a month off with a 28.14 (182) to 1.1 (7) belting of St Michael’s at home on Saturday.
“I would say it’s a group that is certainly as talented as the previous two but slightly younger,” McKinnon said.
“The next couple of years are really exciting with the players coming through.
“James Borlase is a kid who has taken a big step forward as a key forward this season, plus guys like Jamison Murphy and Luke Pedlar are coming into their own.
“And Isaiah Dudley is an exceptional talent.”
Princes ran riot over St Michael’s last Saturday as Austin Kitschke kicked eight goals, while Dudley starred and Murphy and Pedlar were dominant in the midfield.
McKinnon said he was pleased with the way his side ground the opposition into submission.
“I think St Michael’s were competitive all day but we just wore them down, particularly in the second half,” he said.
“It’s always good to win and we took a lot of positives out of it – our ball movement was especially good.
“We’re building momentum that will hopefully stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.”
Princes are away to Scotch this Saturday before travelling to Immanuel the following week.
ST PETER’S 15.13 (103) ROSTREVOR 8.6 (54)
Rostrevor is devoid of confidence and will need to respond quickly for its ever-important intercollegiate clash against college footy rival Sacred Heart in two week’s time, according to coach Ron Fuller.
A month-long break did Fuller’s side no favours as it suffered a 15.13 (103) to 8.6 (54) loss to St Peter’s at home on Saturday.
Rostrevor will now have a bye before the intercol match against its biggest adversary.
“We’re not playing with a lot of confidence at the moment so when St Peter’s started to get on top we just didn’t react too well to stop their momentum,” Fuller said.
“They jumped us early but we were able to work our way back into it.
“We were about 12 points down at half-time but then they just blew us away again after that.
“Their run really hurt us and they opened our defence up.”
“But we didn’t work hard enough across the ground.”
St Peter’s will take plenty of confidence into a big knockout clash against Sacred Heart this Saturday after a big win over Rostrevor.
Saints made the tough away trip to the Woodforde college last Saturday and came up 15.13 (103) to 8.6 (54) winners.
Coach Sam Elliott, who took over this season after moving from Victoria, said he had attempted to add an element from interstate into his side.
“I think I’ve brought a bit more of a Victorian contested footy and given them a little bit more of a hard edge,” Elliott said.
“They were a little bit too nice in the past, I think.
“The side we had yesterday is as strong as we can get and it’s the first time this season we’ve had everyone together.
“They’ll improve as they play together as well.”
SACRED HEART 19.16 (130) TRINITY 0.4 (4)
Sacred Heart geared up for a big month of college footy in the best way possible, thumping Trinity by 126 points at home last Saturday.
Hearts will now face an in-form St Peter’s side in a crucial knockout match this Saturday before the ever-important intercollegiate match against Rostrevor and a trip to Kilmore, Victoria for the annual fixture against Assumption College.
“It’s a really exciting period for the kids to play some really important games in a row,” Sacred Heart coach Jon Symonds said.
“A win against St Peter’s this week puts us into the knockout finals and then intercol and over to Assumption. It’s a big month ahead.”
Ben Jungfer and Zac Dumensy both kicked three goals while Cooper van Doorn and captain Beau McRae were influential as Hearts smashed Trinity 19.16 (130) to 0.4 (4) at home last Saturday.
Symonds thought his side was outworked by the visitors in the first quarter.
“It was a bit of a slow start coming off that long break and we didn’t really get going early,” he said.
“The boys lifted their work rate and we were able to run and spread a lot more as the game went on.
“When our minds started to get on top and dominate the contest they really got the team going.”
patrick.keam@news.com.au