Sacred Heart beat Loreto College to retain Respect Cup after St Patrick’s win for Ballarat

On what is becoming an important day in the school footy calendar, Geelong schools have retained the Respect Cup, beating Ballarat’s best. Here’s how they did it.

Sacred Heart College's Mekah Morrissy holds the Respect Cup. Picture: Shane Jones.

There might have been a lot of respect on the field but once again Geelong schools rose to the top when it counted against Ballarat schools.

Geelong’s Sacred Heart College and St Joseph’s College combined to beat Ballarat schools Loreto College and St Patrick’s College in the Respect Cup.

This year is the fourth time the unique day of footy has been held between Ballarat and Geelong schools, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on Friday and with a purpose of promoting the importance of women in the world.

Sacred Heart made sure Geelong kept the trophy in their cabinet with a 27-point win over Loreto.

The contest, in brutally warm conditions at Mars Stadium, was won in the first half as Sacred Heart opened up the Loreto College defence with their run and carry to kick away to a 21-point lead at the break.

Loreto College were more competitive in the second half but Sacred Heart were able to extend the margin, winning 6.5.(47) to to 3.2.(20).

The Sacred Heart College team who played on Respect Cup day. Picture: Shane Jones.

The margin sealed the Respect Cup for Geelong despite St Joseph’s College succumbing to St Patrick’s College by nine points in the boys’ game which is played as a curtain raiser.

The overall winner is determined by adding both games’ scores together, thereby resulting in an 18-point win to Geelong.

“Their effort was fantastic, it was incredibly hot out here,” Sacred Heart coach Josh Todd said.

“The second, third and fourth efforts from the girls went a long way for us (to win).

“We had a lot of speed in the team so just getting them to run the ball as far as they can and use it that way (was vital).”

It was the difference in the end.

Todd said the team’s focus was on themselves, rather than worrying about overcoming a nine-point deficit to claim the trophy.

“We said to the girls coming in it’s level scores right now,” he said.

“Control what we can control, play the way they play and we were lucky to come away with the win.”

Sacred Heart player Meg Lappin was best on ground for the Geelong school.

“She took some really important intercept marks in the backline,” Todd said.

“Without her there was every chance they would get over us and into the goals.

“We thought her stopping the ball at that point before going into the 50 was valuable for us and went a long way to the win.”

Earlier, St Patrick’s College secured a nine-point win over St Joseph’s College in a close contest between the two Associated Catholic College (ACC) teams.

In the opening half both teams went goal for goal before St Patrick’s got a decisive 12-point lead at the final break, kicking the final two goals of the quarter.

St Patrick's College coach Jason Lappin talks to his players. Picture: Shane Jones.

Despite a challenge from the Geelong side in the early stages of the final term the Ballarat team held on to give Ballarat the lead after the first leg of the double-header.

“It was just a good opportunity for us to give our year 12 boys a go,” new St Patrick’s College coach Jason Lappin said.

“It was a turnover game so the game was played between both half back lines.

“I thought we were a fraction off defensively as a team, I think we can do better, but we were able to hold our own around the contest and win some key stoppages.”

Lappin said the team learned a lot about the team heading into the opening game of the season, against St Joseph’s again, in the ACC in May.

But the day was more important than the win.

“It’s such a great cause,” Lappin said.

“We’ve all women in our lives and they play a huge part in all of our lives.

“We spoke early on about doing that justice and respecting the day and giving out best efforts.

“I thought the boys did well.”

St Joseph’s coach Chris Lynch said the team experimented with their squad on an important day for the school.

“We had 44 boys represent the college in four quarters, so for us it was more of a friendly match,” he said.

“Representing our school on behalf of the Geelong region to celebrate International Women’s Day is special and we don’t take it for granted.”

St Joseph’s Harry Segrave and St Patrick’s Ollie Hannaford won the best player on the field award for their schools on the day.