St Peter’s unleash three debutants and beat St Michael’s in college footy’s round five
There’s two weeks until the big college football intercol between Prince Alfred and St Peter’s — both sides remain undefeated as the arch rivals finetune for the clash. See who starred from your school in our round five Messenger Shield match wraps.
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St Peter’s unleashed three debutants as coach Sam Elliott wanted to ‘shake up’ the team and it worked with the side recording a massive victory over St Michael’s in round five.
Prince Alfred also remains undefeated and is edging towards claiming a fourth-straight Messenger Shield title.
Read all the action from The Messenger’s round five college football match wraps:
ST MICHAEL’S 4.4 (28) ST PETER’S 13.17 (95)
True to his word, St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott gave his side a bit of a shake up ahead of the clash against St Michael’s away on Saturday.
Elliot had previously described his side as “patchy” despite winning all of its matches so far this campaign,
And he brought in three debutants — Will Shepherd, Will Bowman and Pierce Cordes-Harvey — showing he had no fear of dropping players he believed were not up to scratch.
It worked as the visitors claimed a 13.17 (95) to 4.4 (28) victory.
The win was set up in the first half with St Peter’s taking a 54-1 lead into the main break.
“We were excellent,” Elliott said.
“That was the best half of footy I’ve seen from our guys since I’ve been here.
“We had three personnel changes, we brought in a couple of older kids and they were desperate to keep their spot and they were outstanding.
“They all played their first game for the year and were really good with their pressure.”
Felix Packer led the way for St Peter’s with four goals, while Morgan Ferres, Matthew Roberts and James Higgins kicked two each.
Elliot also lauded defender Malachy Carruthers, saying he had finally hit his straps.
“He was exceptional,” Elliott said.
“He’s been reasonably quiet this year but played incredibly well on the weekend.
“He’s a super talent.
“We went into the game trying to bring a lot more intensity than what we have and just to close the time and space down in St Michael’s, which we were really good at.”
Charlie Blair kicked two of St Michael’s goals, while Will Roe and Jack Balkwill booted one each.
Zac Buck was best-on-ground for St Michael’s.
IMMANUEL 4.5 (29) ROSTREVOR 18.10 (118)
Rostrevor has claimed two wins in a row after proving too strong for struggling Immanuel away on Saturday.
The visitors put on their most “complete performance” according to coach James Allan, to prevail 18.9 (117) to 4.5 (29).
Sam Rahaley led the way for the winners with four majors and he was given plenty of support inside 50 from Xavier Tranfa, who booted three goals.
Hugh Jackson, Zak Lovegrove and Tyson Walls were Rostrevor’s other multiple goal kickers, finishing the clash with two majors each.
Tranfa was named best-on-ground for Rostrevor.
Hugh Jackson, Lovegrove, Noah Hyde, Tyson Walls and Charles Kemp also all had standout games for the visitors.
Allan was proud of his players and said the consecutive victory would give the side confidence for the remaining three matches.
“It was clearly our most complete performance of the season,” Allan said.
“For us to be a competitive team, we need to ensure that our effort and intensity is right up, from start to finish, and it was.
“We got a much better spread of contributors and some of the boys are growing in confidence, which is only going to help us.”
Hugh Stagg, meanwhile, was the hosts’ major goal kicker, with two.
Jaden Grosser, Stagg and James Reuther battled hard for Immanuel.
PRINCE ALFRED 13.8 (85) WESTMINSTER 7.7 (49)
Prince Alfred is edging closer to claiming a fourth Messenger Shield title after defeating Wesrminster at home.
The 13.8 (85) to 7.7 (49) win was the powerhouse college’s fifth-straight victory with three games remaining.
Josh Garrels and Harry McInnes starred with three goals each for PAC, while Tyrell Sgroi booted two.
PAC coach Matt Slade gave Kallis Freer the best-on-ground honours but said he was well supported by Garrels, Patrick Singleton, James Borlase and Oscar Clark.
Despite the win, Slade said the day was frustrating as his side did not play its best.
PAC was missing skipper Luke Pedler and Slade said that hurt his side.
“We just started poorly again,” Slade said.
“It seems to be a bit of a trend.
“I think we were down by a couple of goals early on, we just took a while to get going.
“And even then, we had some good movement in moments but it still had flat spots.
“It wasn’t a consistent performance which was a bit of a shame.”
Slade said plenty of work needed to be done before the intercol against St Peter’s.
“Everything we need is there, but maybe our approach or the formula needs work,” Slade said.
“It’s come together in parts of the game.
“We are struggling for a bit of form but I’m hoping over the next couple of weeks we can clean that up a bit.”
PEMBROKE 8.4 (52) SACRED HEART 11.3 (79).
Sacred Heart bounced back from a loss to Prince Alfred to beat Pembroke at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The hosts pushed the visitors but they managed to win the midfield battle and claim an 11.3 (79) to 8.4 (52) victory.
Hearts coach Jon Symonds said Pembroke challenged his side in the first quarter and he was proud of his side’s response.
“To Pembroke’s credit, they played pretty well,” Symonds said.
“They dominated the stoppages in the first quarter and I challenged our players to respond at quarter-time.
“They really did and had a five goal to nothing second quarter which was pretty much the difference in the game.”
Henry McCauliffe kicked three goals for Hearts, while Coby Ryan and Xavier Robins played well.
Ethan Schwerdt was Pembroke’s top goal kicker, booting four, while Josh Simms added two with Haryy Piniment and Charlie Bowen recording one each.
Schwerdt was named best-on-ground by Pembroke.
But Ned Carruthers, Archer Bawden, Josh Sims, Lochie Edwards, Dylan Hopkins and Toby Willis also all battled hard for Pembroke.
Pembroke football director Michael Bawden said his side started well but could not match Hearts in the second term.
“The second half was very even and Pembroke finished strongly to ensure the game was a real contest, until Sacred Heart kicked the last goal to seal the match,” Bawden said.
“The midfield contest was tough, with both sides making use if sine excellent clearance work.”
SCOTCH 13.11 (89) ST IGNATIANS 2.4 (16)
(Not for Messenger Shield points)
Scotch enjoyed a strong victory in its friendly against St Ignatians at home on Saturday.
Hugo Walter and Zac Becker led Scotch with three goals apiece in the 13.11 (89) to 2.4 (16) victory.
Cormack O’Reilly, Harry Lemmey also kicked two goal each in the win.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, August 29
■ Pembroke v Immanuel at Pembroke
■ Prince Alfred v St Michael’s at PAC
■ Rostrevor v St Peter’s at Rostrevor
■ Sacred Heart v Westminster
■ Scotch v Mercedes at Mercedes (not for Messenger Shield points).