St Peter’s and Rostrevor play tight contest in SAAS college footy round four 2021
A highly-anticipated meeting between St Peter’s and Rostrevor has not disappointed with just four points separating the college footy powerhouses.
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Just one school remains undefeated at First XVIII level after a big round four clash of Adelaide college footy ended one side’s winning run.
Here are The Messenger’s reports from the division one matches:
ST PETER’S 11.11 (77)
ROSTREVOR 11.7 (73)
Rostrevor’s college footy renaissance has been dealt a blow after St Peter’s handed the competition’s big improver its first loss of the season on Saturday.
It was built as blockbuster clash and the contest at St Peter’s did not disappoint as the hosts ran out four-point winners.
With a strong crowd in attendance, Saints began well and kicked the opening three goals of the game before Rostrevor roared back into the match.
Both sides held the lead a different stages in the final term.
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott was pleased his side stood up in the closing minutes.
“It certainly could have gone either way late on,” Elliott said.
“We started well, they came back and then it was pretty even at half-time. From there it super tight with momentum swings and became about whoever could hold that momentum for the longest.
“They’ve been going well obviously and have certainly improved over the past couple of years.”
Elliott was full of praise for best on ground midfielder Brad Jeffries, while year 11 players Fergus Carruthers and Max Blacker continued on from their good work last week.
Rostrevor shot itself in the foot with a slow start and coach James Allan said it was an issue which needed addressing.
“We knew going in it was going to be tough and started really poorly again, which has been a bit of a trend for us unfortunately,” Allan said.
“We pegged them back and hit the front but didn’t take our chances late.
“You can’t give a good side like that a head start and we used a lot of tickets up just getting back into the game.”
However, Allan said Rostrevor had made huge strides since last year and showed its capabilities by taking it up to a good side in St Peter’s.
Defender Max Michalanney starred for the visitors in a key role on Saints forward Morgan Ferres.
Allan said the likes of Tyson Walls, Noah Hyde, Beau Baldwin, Charles Kemp and Jayden Gale helped drag Rostrevor back into the match after quarter time.
IMMANUEL 10.10 (70)
WESTMINSTER 15.6 (96)
Westminster coach Tim Weatherald says his side still has room for improvement in a key area after seeing off western rival Immanuel on Saturday.
The Dragons proved too strong in the final term, making better use of their opportunities to kick away late and win 15.6 (96) to 10.10 (70).
Weatherald was pleased with his side’s start to the season but said it needed to up its skill level to challenge the bigger schools.
“Our endeavour is there, we’ve got ourselves fit and strong, we just need to try and neaten up some skills match it with the likes of Rostrevor, who we’ve got next week.
“I’m really happy with how we are going but we just need to tidy a few things up.
“We lost a couple of our stronger players to injury in Lucas Cooke and Antonio James.
“But I’ve been really pleased with a couple of boys who have had to play different roles.”
On Saturday, Finn Bennett was strong for Westminster in a sweeping role while Archie Byrne adapted well in a move to the midfield and the improving Rocco McNeill-Kovacic was influential on a wing.
Immanuel coach Mark Bickley said it was disappointing to let an opportunity for a win slip away.
“They were a bit cleaner at the important moments … it gives us something to work on and strive to be better,” Bickley said.
“We just turned the ball over too often.”
Phoenix Foster was damaging for Immanuel with four goals while full back Ayden Pribanic helped stem the flow with several intercept marks.
Immanuel travels to play Trinity next round.
SACRED HEART 17.15 (117)
TRINITY 2.4 (16)
Heated competition for spots is keeping standards high at Sacred Heart and it shows as the competition’s only remaining undefeated side notched another win.
Hearts were far too strong as they ran over the top of Trinity to record a 101-point victory at home on Saturday.
Jacob Lochowiak, Angus Bradley and Liam Bennetts led the way for the unbeaten hosts while Jaiden Magor kicked four goals.
Archie Lovelock and Jacob Owens added three majors each.
Sacred Heart coach Jon Symonds said the group had a motivation to not drop away.
“Given we think we’ve got reasonable depth in the squad this year, I think that keeps everyone on their toes a little bit,” Symonds said.
“There’s certainly pressure on from players underneath in our Second XVIII looking to push into the side as well.
“As much as anything that helps to keep everyone performing at the level required.”
Trinity, while competitive in most outings, is yet to record a victory so far this season.
The Gawler college will be eyeing opportunity to snatch a win when it faces 1-3 side Immanuel next Saturday.
PRINCE ALFRED 21.10 (136)
SCOTCH 9.5 (59)
Prince Alfred is gradually building towards four quarters of its best footy, according to coach Matt Slade.
The Reds made it three wins in a row by accounting for Scotch by 77 points at home on Saturday.
Slade said his side had shown improvement since its big round one loss.
“Our aim is to play 100 minutes of quality football and we got close on the weekend,” Slade said.
“The third quarter we had a bit of lapse but outside of that the ball movement certainly picked up, it’s been a lot cleaner and we’re moving the ball faster with a bit of a system.
“There definitely has been some progression … the boys are actually taking a bit more of the drive on themselves.”
Ruckman Declan Hortle, half back Aston Woods and midfielders Kane McAuliffe and Harry Tunkin were among the best for PAC.
The Reds are away to St Michael’s next week while Scotch faces a tough test hosting St Peter’s.
PEMBROKE 13.12 (90)
ST MICHAEL’S 3.16 (34)
Pembroke has once again displayed its ability to bounce back quickly after it shook off a big round three loss by punishing a wasteful St Michael’s.
With both schools recognising Reconciliation Week through the annual Indigenous Sports Round, the Kings made more of their opportunities to run out 13.12 (90) to 3.16 (34) winners.
The 56-point triumph was their second of the season and followed a 130-point defeat to Rostrevor last time out.
Pembroke’s first win – a 27-point triumph over Trinity – came after a 20-goal drubbing at the hands of St Peter’s in round one.
Pembroke football director Robbie Neill said he was impressed with the sides’ ability to bounce back after defeats to bigger schools.
“It does take a bit out of you when you lose by well over 100 one week, but to the boys’ credit, they came back and knuckled down at training and produced the next week,” Neill said.
“We played quite well but we we’re quite lucky that St Michael’s created some really good opportunities in front of goal but couldn’t convert.
“25 scoring shots to 19 – there wasn’t too much between the teams.”
Norwood talent Archie Richardson was best on ground for Pembroke, floating across half back and through the midfield, while captain Ned Carruthers and Will Hammond (four goals) also impressed.
St Michael’s is still searching for its first win and faces PAC and St Peter’s in its next two fixtures.
ROUND FIVE
Saturday, June 5
■ Pembroke v Sacred Heart at Pembroke
■ Rostrevor v Westminster at Rostrevor
■ Scotch v St Peter’s at Scotch
■ St Michael’s v Prince Alfred at St Michael’s
■ Trinity v Immanuel at Trinity
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