Brave Hearts fall in clash with reigning champs PAC
Read our match wraps here.
SACRED HEART 7.9 (51) PRINCE ALFRED 11.11 (77)
Sacred Heart almost produced an upset victory over three-times reigning Messenger Shield title winners Prince Alfred at home on Saturday.
The hosts led by three points at quarter-time and got out to a three-goal advantage in the second quarter before PAC pegged the margin back to just two points at the main break.
A poor third term from Hearts ultimately cost them the win.
PAC booted 4.2 in the third quarter, while holding Hearts to just a point helping secure the 11.7 (77) to 7.9 (51) victory.
The hosts fought back in the final quarter to be just two goals behind but a huge game by PAC skipper Luke Pedlar led to Princes breaking the game open again.
PAC coach Matt Slade said his side’s ability to increase the pressure on their opponents and capitalise on their mistakes in the third quarter led to the victory.
It was Sacred Heart’s first loss for the 2020 Messenger Shield campaign, while PAC has four-straight wins.
“The second quarter was the turning point for us and we started to clock on,” Slade said.
“There was a clear message before the game and it wasn’t quite followed in that first quarter and we sort of got exposed a little bit.
“We’ve had a few slow starts, it seems to be a bit of a trend, but they (the players) have an ability to flick the switch.
“The boys showed some real character and some real fight and pressure-wise, that was probably the highlight.
“The focus was to be physical and give no space.
‘They are a classy, fast-running side and they want space but when we took that away they did start to fumble a bit more.”
Pedlar was best-on-ground for PAC, booting four goals, while Harlee Chandler, Harry Tunkin and Declan Hortle also starred.
Sacred Heart defenders Cooper Beecken, Jarrad Parish and Zac McCabe were best for the hosts, while midfielders Lewis Rayson and Ed Faulkner also provided plenty of support.
Darcy Gluyas and Luca Whitelum were Hearts multiple goal kickers with two each.
Sacred Heart coach Jon Symonds was proud of his side for not giving up.
“The third quarter was clearly the difference in the game,” Symonds said.
“The final margin was 26 points and they outscored us by 25 in the third quarter.
“We hung pretty tough but our pressure dropped off a little bit in that third quarter and they were able to really serge the ball forward.
“But the rest of the game I thought it was a pretty tight arm wrestle.
“We kicked the first couple of goals in the last quarter and that gave us some real hope.
“But the class of Luke Pedlar to kick those couple of goals in the last quarter was really telling and hurt our chances.
“I’m proud f the application of our players and I’m pleased with their effort to be right in the contest with a very good team.”
ST PETER’S 14.21 (105) PEMBROKE 5.7 (37)
St Peter’s remains undefeated after four rounds following a strong triumph against Pembroke at home on Saturday.
Although the hosts were inaccurate in front of the big sticks, they managed to claim a 68-point win to ensure it held the same win/loss record as Prince Alfred.
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott said his side started well but dropped away in the second and third quarters before finishing off the game strong.
Elliott said his team had plenty of work to do before it takes on fellow undefeated side PAC in the college football intercol on September 12.
“We were quite dominant with possession but we just couldn’t finish off,” Elliott said
“We should’ve had the game done at quarter-time.
“Then our effort and intensity were really ordinary in the second and third quarters.
“We got outworked and it was very disappointing and then we were really good in the last quarter.
“But we can’t play like that, it was very patchy.”
Morgan Ferres, who booted six goals for St Peter’s, Lachlan De Cesare and Luke Harvey were best-on-ground.
Elliott said his team would “be shaken up a little bit” with changes expected for St Peter’s away match against St Michael’s this Saturday.
“We’ve got some individual goal we want to achieve and we certainly didn’t hit the mark (on Saturday),” Elliott said.
“(Against Pembroke) we got a little bit overwhelmed and some of the younger guys are struggling a little bit for confidence.
“We’ve got lots of improvement to do.
“It certainly won’t be a snack down at St Michael’s.”
Jack Willis, Will Hammond, Archie Richardson, Ethan Schwerdt, Toby Willis and Ned Carruthers were solid for Pembroke.
Hammond was best up-forward, booting three goals, while T Willis and Henry Read kicked one each.
Pembroke football director Michael Bawden said his team put up a good fight but Saints were too strong.
ROSTREVOR 12.14 (86) ST MICHAEL’S 10.8 (68)
Rostrevor finally got on the winners’ list after beating St Michael’s away on Saturday.
The visitors proved too strong, winning by 18 points.
Harvey Pedler, Xavier Tranfa, Charles Kemp and Thomas Hill were Rostrevor’s multiple goal kickers, booting two each.
Tyson Walls, Noah Hyde, Regan Taheny and Jesse Trevor were Rostrevor’s other goal kickers, with one apiece.
Noah Hyde, Alastair Lord, Xavier Tranfa and Tyson Walls were best-on-ground for the winners.
Rostrevor coach James Allan was proud of his players for getting the result.
“It was really pleasing for the boys to get the first win on the board,” Allan said.
“We managed to hit to scoreboard early and get out to a handy lead.
“To their credit, St Michael’s kept coming but we were able to find a goal when we needed it. “I thought our work rate was inconsistent, we fumbled a lot and our ball use was poor at times so we’ve got some work to do but it was nice to find a way to win.”
St Michael’s skipper Zac Buck led from the front for the hosts and he was given support by Oscar McCann, Ned Maguire, Charlie Blair and Jack Nolan.
Charlie Blair booted two goals for St Michael’s in a tightly-fought match.
WESTMINSTER 16.18 (114) IMMANUEL 11.10 (76)
Westminster is finally getting some reward for its effort when it secured its second win for this year’s college football campaign.
The 38-point victory came against Immanuel at home on Saturday.
It was despite James Reuther starring up-forward for the visitors, finishing with six majors.
Hugh Stagg and Callum Saunders were best-on-ground for Immanuel.
Scotch played Trinity last Wednesday in a match not for Messenger Shield points.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, August 22
■ Immanuel v Rostrevor at Immanuel
■ Pembroke v Sacred Heart at Pembroke
■ Prince Alfred v Westminster at Prince Alfred
■ Scotch v Ignatians (not for Messenger Shield points) at Scotch
■ St Michael’s v St Peter’s at St Michael’s
