SAINTS SPORTS

News from Matt Di Salvo
Head of Sport

JSS

All five JSS teams qualified for the semi-finals that were held in week 5. The JSS AFL and volleyball teams continued their dominant form securing impressive 96-12 and 2-0 wins over Peace Lutheran and St Mary’s. Our football team progressed through to the finals as the higher ranked team after securing a tense 1-1 draw against St Mary’s; However, our touch team was unluckily, knocked out after a 6-6 draw against Cairns High. Our basketball team came up against the top of the table, Cairns High, and were, unfortunately, unable to overcome them, going down 68-33. These results ensured that Saints qualified for grand finals in AFL, football and volleyball.

The AFL team had a slow start to the game, surrendering an early 12-1 lead to St Andrew’s. The boys quickly kicked into gear only conceding 2 more points throughout the match, earning a 65-14 victory. The squad were dominant throughout the season and are well-deserved premiers. Congratulations to Xavier Lallemand who was awarded MVP.

Saints came up against the minor premier Cairns High team in the football at Cairns High. It was a high quality and tense encounter with neither team able to capitalise on opportunities within regulation time and penalties were required to separate the two teams. Both traded blows before a Cairns High shot took the posts, giving Saints an opportunity to secure victory. Lucas Russell stood up when it counted, finding the back net to secure a 5-4 victory to Saints in penalties. Dominic Johnson won the MVP award for best on ground in the grand final.

Saints took on Cairns High in the volleyball in Lennon Hall. The St Augustine’s crowd was treated to an extremely high standard of volleyball. Both teams were well coached and put on the best display of junior volleyball that I have seen. Cairns High took an early lead, securing the first set and taking an early lead in the second set. Saints, buoyed by the crowd support, fought their way back into the game to take the second set and even the scores at one a piece. Both teams traded blows in the third set with Cairns High coming out on top, winning the third set 15-13, securing a 2-1 victory.

Congratulations to our JSS members in all five teams who have contributed to their team’s success throughout the season. We are looking to further improve our performance to reclaim the boys and overall school trophies in 2023. Finally, I thank the JSS coaches: Mr Aaron Hume, Mr Nick Cutuli, Mr Terry McDonough, Mr Kieren Lis and Mrs Tania Bellerby. The success of such competitions relies on the hard work and time put in by the coaches, and their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Saints 1st XV Rugby Brave and Tough in Narrow Defeat

By Toby McCarthy - 1st XV Rugby Union Coach

Last Sunday the 2023 1st XV Rugby Union team took on Townsville’s Ignatius Park College in what has become an annual showdown between the two powerhouse rugby schools. The visitors spent a night being catered for by our boarding school before they headed to Jones Park for the Sunday morning clash.

Played in three thirds, Ignatius Park were out for redemption after the Saints boys had won this clash since the team’s demolition in 2016. The early stoushes were physical and uncompromising, with Iggy getting the first points on the board. Saints struck back though, and the first third saw it locked up at 7-all despite a rule change that saw one Saints try disallowed.

The second stanza was equally tough stuff with Iggy again drawing blood. Saints almost kept it even until Lachlan Magill ran out of legs and fell just short of the line after a devastating break centre field. Play broke open in the last stanza as the contest started to take a physical toll on both teams. Saints again scored, drawing us closer at 12-14, before Iggy thought they had sealed it with another try taking them to a 19-12 lead.

The determination our boys had shown at training shone through with our lads refusing to lie down. They fought bravely and came up with an excellent try right at the death. Unfortunately, we missed the conversion to take it to extra time and our two missed opportunities hurt us in the end. The closeness of the contest and the spirit in which it was played made our boys proud of themselves, and there wasn’t the usual feeling among the team after a defeat.

We have developed a great relationship with this school and look forward to taking the Saints-Iggy trophy back off them when we meet again in Term 1, 2023. I congratulate our boys on a sterling campaign and effort. I also thank Mr Brett Toombs and Mr Glenn McKenzie for hosting the boys and to Mr Williams for all his work behind the scenes, thanks fellas!