Live stream: St Dominic’s College take on Endeavour Sports in must-win Peter Mulholland Cup clash

St Dominic’s spluttering attack couldn’t break down some resolute defence as their 2024 Peter Mulholland Cup campaign came to an unexpected early conclusion. Check out the REPLAY.

St Dom’s Peter Mulholland Cup finals dreams have been crushed as Endeavour Sports marched to a surprisingly dominant 12-2 win.

Beaten in their opening game by St Gregory’s, St Dom’s needed victory in this to stay alive in the competition. But Endeavour, who now move to four points and are in the box seat to qualify from Pool D, had other ideas.

Both sides were plagued by penalties. There were 17 in all as discipline and control went out the window at times.

Endeavour captain Kaden Garner said the errors from his side were just poor discipline.

“We had the same issue in the first game (against Bass),” Garner said.

“We’ll have to work on that in training now.”

Endeavour have done all they can to progress to the next round - and they can move into the final eight if Bass beat St Gregory’s on Thursday.

After a disappointing early finals exit for Endeavour last season, Garner said he believed his team has what it takes to go all the way this year.

“I have belief in the boys,” Garner said.

“We just have this friendship, like we’re all just tight as a group.”

Endeavour’s poor discipline resulted in an early points opportunity for St Dom’s, who gladly took the two points for a penalty goal.

It was the only points St Dom’s would manage all game though, with Endeavour’s defence proving too strong for St Dom’s to find a way through.

Nikora Williams produced the first try of the game following a St Dom’s penalty, with the centre finding space in the corner to hand Endeavour the lead.

A second try came from a masterclass in teamwork, with the full Endeavour team playing their part to ensure Jaylan Herron was primed to score near the sideline.

Dallas Blackburn-Kingi was denied a try in the first half but made good in the second, but it was a poor day for conversions with Endeavour unable to maximise points for any of their three tries.

PREVIEW

St Dominic’s College will be banking on its defensive resolve as the team goes into a must-win match against Endeavour Sports High in round two of the Peter Mulholland Cup.

After suffering a nailbiting 12-10 loss to rivals St Gregory’s in its opening game, the Penrith school is staring down the prospect of being bundled out in the group stages if it fails to record a win in its second group game.

The two sides will now clash at PointsBet Stadium on Wednesday, June 19 after their match was postponed from June 5. You can still watch all of the action live on KommunityTV.

CHECK OUT THE FULL PETER MULHOLLAND CUP DRAW BELOW

Despite being in a do-or-die situation, St Dom’s coach Kyle Churchill said his charges are feeling confident ahead of their clash with Endeavour.

“Coming away with a tight loss hurt because it could have been one we got away with but out of that game there was still plenty of pride in the way we did lose that game, if that makes sense.

St Dominic’s College faces Endeavour Sports in a must-win clash. Picture: Richard Dobson

“There was a lot of defensive resilience, which is something we’ve looked to base our team around this year, and that was very evident in that game.

“That’s something we need to carry forward in this competition and we also know that that’s something that’s going to get us some results. So as much as it was a loss and it does put us in a tricky position of needing to win these next two games, we feel the platform is there.”

Indeed, defence has been the key theme for the team this year as the team looks to make its way through the competition.

“Given the squad we have this year, we have lost a lot of depth in quality that we’ve been lucky enough to have over the past couple of years, so therefore the principles we need to base our performances on are those effort areas, including defence, and working really well for each other,” said Churchill.

And while a win is essential if St Dominic’s is to progress into the knockout rounds, the coach said his team’s focus will be on its performance, rather than an out-and-out desire for victory.

The team suffered a narrow 12-10 loss to St Gregory’s in round one. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I feel it (winning) is a by-product (of playing well), especially in this competition,” said Churchill.

“I feel it is about coming together as a group. There are a lot of teams in this competition that look great on paper with individual talent but it is those school groups and teams that come together the best that produce the effort required to win games.

“We’ve seen that over our history and have had to base a lot of our teams around that ideology. We’re very aware that if the effort and intent is there then the results will come.”

For Endeavour, the Round 2 clash will be their final of the pool stages as the side aims to cement its spot in the Peter Mulholland Cup finals after a big win over St Gregory’s College last week.

Impressive lock forward Thomas Dellow scored a barnstorming try and laid the platform for his outside men in a performance that made it apparent why NSW Combined High Schools selectors had picked him for the ASSRL Nationals next month.

Thomas Dellow in action for the Cronulla Sharks Harold Matthews side during the finals series. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography

“He has become a big part of our group this year,” Endeavour coach David Howlett said.

“He is an athletic build and he is very much an effort player. He will have a heap of carries and makes a heap of tackles.

“He is one of those genuine team players. He will do whatever it takes for the team.”

It seems to be a mentality that has rubbed off on the rest of Dellow’s teammates, with the Eandeavour side showing the depth of its squad over the opening rounds.

Howlett said the team mentality was prevalent in his group this season.

“I think last year we had a massive gap between our best player and a lot of inexperienced players,” he said.

“The depth of the squad is a lot better this season, we are much more of a complete team than we have been in recent seasons.

“We are not reliant on any one individual, but rather the team performance as a whole. It makes it rather challenging to select a team when there are lots of good boys pushing for spots. It’s a good problem to have.”

TEAM LISTS

St Dominic’s College, Kigswood

1. Jack Attard, 2. Caleb Charlton, 3. Kees Muller, 4. Hunter Bell, 5. Caine Johnstone, 6. Liam Powderly, 7. Cohen Benson, 8. Henri Young, 9. Cooper Wnek, 10. Mitchell Hayes, 11. Cooper Henderson, 12. Ryan Gonclaves, 13. Coby Raven, 14. Dominic Vella, 15. Hayden Finn, 16. Aruea Rasmussen, 17. Jonah Sooalo-Taupau, 21. Harrison Rich, 22. Troy Sultana

Coach: Kyle Churchill/Michael Ross

Endeavour Sports High

1. Zane Walker, 2. Dallas Blackburn-Kingi, 3. Kaden Garner, 4. Nikora Williams, 5. Jaylan Herron, 6. Jack Schumacher, 7. Lewis Sargeant-Wilson, 8. William Leha, 9. Tye Bursill, 10. Natane Haunga, 11. Hemi Blackburn-Kingi, 12. Blake Watman, 13. Thomas Dellow, 15. Lochlin Moses, 16. Lisiate Mackay-Filihia, 17. Jamie Curran, 18. Max Halloran, 19. Vili Koroitamana

Coach: Dave Howlett/Brad Kelly