Messenger Shield: Sacred Heart overcomes fierce rival Rostrevor, Prince Alfred edges Westminster
There is now only one unbeaten team in college football – Sacred Heart. Hearts beat fierce rival Rostrevor in round four, while Prince Alfred almost suffered a shock loss to Westminster.
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Two games in college football’s Messenger Shield were decided by 10 points or fewer on Saturday, as Sacred Heart remained unbeaten with victory over fierce rival Rostrevor and Prince Alfred avoided a surprise loss to Westminster.
Here is our wrap of round four:
SACRED HEART 6.8 (44) ROSTREVOR 4.10 (34)
Sacred Heart coach Jon Symonds says he cannot have asked for a better start to the season than being 4-0 after overcoming fierce rival Rostrevor by 10 points at home on Saturday.
Both teams went into the game unbeaten and scores were locked at 2.5 at half-time before Hearts prevailed 6.8 (44) to 4.10 (34) in a low-scoring, hard-fought encounter.
Lachie Stoddard helped swing momentum Sacred Heart’s way by kicking three goals in the third term.
“It’s a very good start for us and real reward for the efforts of this playing group,” Symonds said.
“They’ve been highly committed to what they want to achieve and part of that was winning the first four games.”
Symonds said the windy, slippery conditions and impressive defensive pressure from both sides made scoring difficult.
“We really managed to lift our workrate in the second half … and we won a bit more footy around the stoppages,” Symonds said.
Will Day, Ben Jungfer, Riley Holder and Lewis Rayson were all unavailable for Sacred Heart because of state junior commitments.
Cooper Hayes (the younger brother of Eagles Jack and Nick Hayes), Sam Bruhn and Zac Dumesny (two goals) were Hearts’ best.
Rostrevor coach Ron Fuller was happy with his undermanned team’s performance.
Rossies were missing four players – Xavier Tranfa, Ned Carey, Cameron Taheny and Matt Dnistriansky – due to state junior commitments, as well as a few others with the flu and other reasons.
“We had a lot of guys out … so I was really, really pleased with our effort,” Fuller said.
“The opportunities we created and effort from our fellas was fantastic.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them actually.”
Australian under-19 cricketer Kyle Brazell, Hank Burton, Amos Doyle and Daniel Carbone were Rostrevor’s best
Rossies play PAC away this Saturday.
“It’s a big game and we’re looking forward to it,” Fuller said.
“I feel a lot more buoyant about it after Saturday.”
PRINCE ALFRED 7.10 (52) WESTMINSTER 7.3 (45)
Westminster almost caused the upset of the season against Prince Alfred on Saturday, pushing the defending Messenger Shield champions all game at home before falling by seven points.
The hosts led by three goals at half-time and had the wind during the third quarter but Princes, who were missing six players due to state junior commitments, hit the front late to prevail 7.10 (52) to 7.3 (45).
McKinnon said Westminster put his side under pressure from the outset in a game he described as “a great advertisement for schoolboy football”.
“There is no doubt we would’ve been expected to win the fixture,” PAC coach Marty McKinnon said.
“When the opposition starts really well like Westminster did, your confidence and momentum can suffer a little bit, and you have to deal with the mental demons of having to compete from behind.
“They were very strong early in the game and we were put on the back foot.
“But credit to our lads, they did rally in the second half in what can only be described as difficult circumstances.
“We managed to squeak away with a win … but I don’t know if it was particularly deserved.”
PAC was without stars Karl Finlay, Kysaiah Pickett, James Borlase, Jamison Murphy, Isaiah Dudley and Harry Tunkin.
Kallis Freer, Austin Kitschke and Ross Porter impressed for Princes.
“They definitely put us under pressure but we didn’t play to our best,” McKinnon said.
Saturday’s game pitted McKinnon against Westminster coach Ian Cox.
A day later, they were co-coaching their sons’ under-13 team, Brighton Bombers’ yellow.
“We were working very closely today after being sworn enemies yesterday,” McKinnon joked.
McKinnon made it two wins for the weekend as the Bombers prevailed by three points.
“We fell over the line … after a mighty comeback in the second half,” McKinnon said.
“All played well.”
ST PETER’S 17.16 (118) TRINITY 7.2 (44)
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott praised his team for performing strongly without 13 of its regular players in its game against Trinity on Saturday.
State junior squad members Morgan Ferres, Matt Roberts, Brad Jefferies and Malachy Carruthers headlined Saints’ absences for the 17.16 (118) to 7.2 (44) victory.
The hosts were also missing eight or nine players through injury so requested that SA duo Henry Nelligan and James Higgins line up for them.
Nelligan finished with 46 disposals, while Charlie Kirchner gathered 39.
“We were reasonably good yesterday and it was nice to turn a bit of form around,” Elliott said.
“In the first quarter our intensity and effort was excellent then the first 10 minutes of the second quarter we were horrible and then really good after that.
“We’re still a bit patchy with our effort but once our effort and intensity is there, we look a pretty good side.”
Trinity coach Scott Charlton was disappointed but believed the margin was not reflective of the match.
“I think a six-goal margin would’ve been an indication of where we’re at against them,” Charlton said.
“We had periods of the game we looked pretty good and looked like we’re up to that standard, it’s just sustaining it.”
Best for Trinity were wingmen Bailey Puvogel and Brayden Wilkin.
Trinity will wear an indigenous guernsey at home against Immanuel this Saturday.
Crows star and Trinity old scholar Wayne Milera presented the guernseys to the squad this month.
IMMANUEL 12.14 (86) SCOTCH 7.11 (53)
Aussie Forbes, Sam Wormald and Chris Bawden starred to help Immanuel beat Scotch 12.14 (86) to 7.11 (53) at home.
Scores were level at half-time and Immanuel coach Troy Clements said his side struggled to handle Scotch’s early pressure but managed to kick away.
“I think some of our boys thought they would be able to rock up and play like we had against the big schools when they were highly competitive … but to Scotch’s credit, they had a fair crack at us,” Clements said.
“I gave the boys a fair spray at half-time and in the third quarter Aussie Forbes got us going then our boys were able to rally kicking into the breeze in the last.
“But to come away with a win was a credit to our boys.
“When things needed to be done, our boys got the job done and got over the line.”
ROUND FIVE
Saturday, June 1
■ Trinity v Immanuel
■ Pembroke v St Peter’s
■ Prince Alfred v Rostrevor
■ Scotch v Westminster
* Sacred Heart plays SA’s under-16s and St Michael’s hosts division two school Christian Brothers College
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