SAAS Adelaide First XVIII college footy: Sacred Heart wins sixth straight match
Is Sacred Heart up to the challenge of going undefeated? See the coach’s thoughts here plus all the match reports from a big round of Adelaide college footy action.
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Sacred Heart extending its winning streak, Scotch continuing to impress and a big upset under lights are the talking points following another action-packed round of Adelaide college footy.
Here are The Messenger’s reports from the division one matches:
SACRED HEART 15.17 (107)
IMMANUEL 6.5 (41)
Sacred Heart is “comfortable” with the pressure and expectation on its shoulders heading into the second half of the campaign, coach Jon Symonds says.
With the prospect of a coveted perfect season a growing possibility, Hearts have shown more than enough signs that they have what it takes to go through undefeated.
The latest win in their streak of six straight came under lights at Glenelg Oval on Saturday evening.
Sacred Heart proved too good for Immanuel, overcoming an early stutter to win 15.17 (107) to 6.5 (41).
Symonds said Hearts had their own lofty expectations and were not fazed by the weight of their unbeaten run.
“It’s a great position to be in obviously, to have that pressure and expectation and winning all the games so far,” Symonds said.
“That’s exactly the position we would have hoped to be in at the start of the year.
“We’re pretty comfortable around that and it doesn’t change how we go about each game that we play.”
Sacred Heart will not be able to miss a beat in its remaining fixtures with games still to come against top schools Prince Alfred, St Peter’s and the highly-anticipated intercol against Rostrevor.
On Saturday, Immanuel adjusted better early to the slippery conditions to kick the first two goals of the game and get off to a strong start, winning the battle in the air to put Hearts on the back foot.
But as the game wore on, so did SHC’s dominance at ground level as it got in front and was able to create a steadily increasing buffer.
“It was a good experience for the kids in those conditions and under lights,” Symonds said.
“It’s just a good opportunity and something a bit different.”
Jacob Owens slotted three majors but the remainder of Hearts’s scoring was spread evenly among 12 goal kickers.
Defender Adam Bunworth and midfielder Jacob Lochowiak were influential.
Both sides will now have an almost five-week break before their next matches on Saturday, July 24.
PRINCE ALFRED 22.13 (139)
PEMBROKE 4.3 (27)
It was a special day off the field at Prince Alfred College on Saturday.
While Princes were too strong for Pembroke on the oval, winning 22.13 (139) to 4.3 (27), the main focal point of the day was a fundraiser held for PAC old scholar Jake Bilsborow.
The talented footballer suffered a tragic accident in February which left him paralysed.
Both sides got together for the day with proceeds from food stalls, a sausage sizzle and raffles going towards Bilsborow’s charity of choice, Wings for Life.
The two teams wore special socks to mark the occaision, with PAC also unveiling its indigenous guernsey.
Pembroke kicked the opening goal of the match but the Reds then kicked into gear, taking control of the match in scrappy conditions.
Hughen Wissman was a bull in the contest and best on ground for Princes while captain Harry Tunkin and half-forward Milo Bennett were also influentuial.
Reds coach Matt Slade said Bennett was impressive on his First XVIII debut.
“For a guy to come up from the seconds and play the way he did was really good to see,” Slade said.
“It was a great day and great to see Jake out there ... Pembroke really got on board as well.”
PAC was due to play Henley High this Saturday but the match has been cancelled with the latter to play a state knockout match instead.
SCOTCH 12.9 (81)
WESTMINSTER 10.10 (70)
Scotch has recorded its third win in four attempts after holding off a fast-finishing Westminster on Saturday.
The visitors held sway for much of the day before the Dragons kicked three goals in the space of five minutes in the final term to make for a tense finish at Westminster.
But Scotch played the dying moments well to run out 12.9 (81) to 10.10 (70) winners.
Lions coach Ben Nelson said growing confidence and improvement from key players was behind his side’s strong run of form.
“They’re a really good bunch of lads to coach and really play for each other, which makes a difference in school footy,” Nelson said.
“Westminster were a good side, so we were pretty encouraged by that result.
“It was a good contest, both teams played at a pretty high intensity, especially early.”
The battle between Scotch defender Zac Becker and Westminster forward Lucas Cooke was a highlight of the match.
Becker was one of the Lions’ best, along with George Dutton and Cormack O’Reilly.
ST PETER’S 18.16 (124)
ST MICHAEL’S 4.3 (27)
St Peter’s got its season back on track with a resounding 97-point drubbing of St Michael’s at home.
Coming off a shock loss to Scotch last time out, Saints made no mistake in making putting the visitors on the back foot from the beginning as they recorded a 18.16 (124) to 4.3 (27) victory.
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott was pleased his team responded quickly to its shortcomings from the week before.
He was full of praise for Brad Jefferies, who was dominant once again, and forward Morgan Ferres.
“Morgan’s been having a great year for us and with Sturt, and I think he’s even still gone under the radar a bit,” Elliott said.
Saints will host the state under-17 team this Saturday, with the Croweaters side having defeated WA by three points in its first national championships encounter on Sunday.
TRINITY 8.10 (58)
ROSTREVOR 6.12 (48)
Trinity stunned college footy powerhouse Rostrevor with a “memory-making” come from behind 10-point upset on Wednesday night.
Under lights at Norwood Oval and with plenty of pressure on, the Lions kicked five goals to zero in the fourth quarter to storm home and win 8.10 (58) to 6.12 (48).
It was the first time the Gawler school has beaten Rostrevor in First XVIII football.
Read the full match report here.
NEXT WEEK
■ St Ignatius v Rostrevor at St Ignatius
■ Mercedes v St Michael’s
■ St Peter’s v SA State Under-17
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