Prince Alfred coach Marty McKinnon calls win over Rostrevor his side’s ‘best performance clearly’ this season
It is shaping to be a two-horse race for college football’s Messenger Shield between Prince Alfred and Sacred Heart after PAC’s convincing win over Rostrevor on Saturday.
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Prince Alfred trailed Rostrevor by one point at half-time before powering to a comfortable victory and enhancing its Messenger Shield title credentials, while Immanuel belted Trinity on the road and Westminster played out a one-point thriller with Scotch.
Here is our wrap of round six:
PRINCE ALFRED 11.10 (76) ROSTREVOR 4.4 (28)
Prince Alfred coach Marty McKinnon says his side’s 48-point win over Rostrevor at home on Saturday is its best performance of the season.
Princes powered to a 11.10 (76) to 4.4 (28) victory after trailing by one point at half-time.
“We had close to our best side in … and it was our best performance clearly for the year,” McKinnon said.
“It was a really great response after half-time.”
Karl Finlay, Jamison Murphy and James Borlase (four goals) were PAC’s best.
Rostrevor coach Ron Fuller said Princes were simply too classy.
It was Rossies’ second consecutive defeat, following a 10-point loss to fierce rivals Sacred Heart the previous week.
“We were just flat in the second half,” Fuller said of Saturday’s performance.
“We fell right away.
“It was a good lesson for a lot of our guys that perseverance is an all-the-time thing against the good teams.
“You can’t afford to switch off.”
Fuller said the performances of his ruckmen, Amos Doyle and Ned Carey, and defenders, led by James Warton, Kynan Kenny and Jackson Bos, were the biggest positives for his team.
“They drove the ball in a lot and I thought our defence stood up pretty well,” the Woodville-West Torrens premiership coach said.
Rostrevor was missing key on-baller Kyle Brazell, who was in Brisbane for an Australian under-19 cricket camp.
WESTMINSTER BEATS SCOTCH BY ONE POINT
Westminster coach Ian Cox says his side has improved tremendously over the course of the season as epitomised by it ending a seven-year winless drought in college football against Scotch at home on Saturday.
The Marion school’s one-point victory came three weeks after Scotch beat it by more than 10 goals in round two.
It also backed up the previous week’s highly competitive showing against powerhouse Prince Alfred, which ultimately ended in a seven-point defeat.
“In round two, they gave us an almighty touch-up, so it was nice to be competitive again,” Cox said.
“The boys are a great group of young men to coach and they have really rebounded well.”
Westminster led for most of the afternoon against Scotch before the visitors fought back strongly.
The ball was in Westminster’s forward half when the siren sounded.
“They were coming really hard and if they kept that ball in their forward area, they may well have scored,” Cox said.
Harvey Bock, Connor Drum, Matthew Draper, Lachie Rees and Jack Forrest (two goals) were Westminster’s best.
Scotch coach Nathan Eagleton said his side was missing several players through injury and it did not have the depth to cover them.
“We missed a few that maybe we could’ve kicked to hit the lead but it wasn’t to be and that’s footy,” Eagleton said.
Ned Walter, Zach Becker and Seb Steel were Scotch’s best.
IMMANUEL 22.11 (143) TRINITY 5.4 (34)
Immanuel coach Troy Clements expected a tough contest away to Trinity but his side ran out 109-point winners.
The visitors led 9.6 to 2.2 at half-time before prevailing 22.11 (143) to 5.4 (34).
Chris Bawden, Tom Jennings (four goals) and Jayden Frankenfeld (six majors) were Immanuel’s best.
“We certainly went there with the right mindset to force a contest,” Clements said.
“We got what we deserved.
“We finally put four quarters of footy together and as the game went on, I think our fitness played a huge role.
“They couldn’t go with us when we used the ball to the best of our ability.”
Trinity coach Scott Charlton lamented his side’s “terrible” performance.
Charlton said his team “got found out”.
“They were very good,” Charlton said.
“They beat us at ground level and un the contest, and they had winners all over the ground.”
Michael Dejonge and Jake Willemsen were Trinity’s best.
OTHER SHIELD RESULTS:
■ St Peter’s 9.12 (66) d Pembroke 7.6 (48)
* St Michael’s beat division two school Christian Brothers 11.13 (79) to 4.2 (26). Michael Laudato, Bailey Beaton and John Moschu were best for St Mick’s. Sacred Heart defeated the SA under-16s 8.11 (59) to 5.6 (36). Sean Ross (two goals), Xavier Robins (two majors) and Ben Jungfer were Hearts’ best players.
The competition has a break this Saturday because of the long weekend.
ROUND SIX (JUNE 15)
■ Immanuel v Sacred Heart (at Glenelg Oval)
■ Rostrevor v Westminster
■ Scotch v Mercedes (division two)
■ Pembroke v St Ignatius (division two)
■ Trinity v St Michael’s (Tuesday, June 18)
■ Prince Alfred – bye
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