A Thriller at the Snakepit
Returning to the Snakepit after a well-earned bye, St Bernard’s were fired up for a much-anticipated clash with University Blues — a side we narrowly beat earlier this season after a goal after the siren.
Uni Blues came out of the gates fast, asserting dominance in the opening term and putting 22 points on the board. St Bernard’s were slower to find their rhythm, managing just two behinds for the quarter. Still, with a strong breeze behind them in the second and a packed crowd on hand for the Past Players Luncheon, the energy never wavered.
The second quarter saw a determined response. St Bernard’s regrouped and matched the Blues goal for goal, going into the main break locked at 29 apiece. From there, it was game on.
All day, the Snowdogs brought immense pressure — none more so than Nick Conlan, Dylan Gwynne, and Karan Bharathi. Their hunger at the contest and relentless tackling efforts refused to give Uni Blues any easy ball movement, setting the tone for a gritty contest.
Luke Di Lizio and Tom Sullivan were vital all afternoon, using the ball cleanly and capitalising when it mattered most. Each slotted two goals, combining poise with pressure to keep St Bernard’s in the hunt.
As the game wore on, it was Charlie Vague who stood up when it mattered. His physicality, clearance work, and ability to break tackles added a spark late, culminating in a critical goal during the final term to keep the game within reach.
The final quarter was a nail-biter, with both sides enjoying dominant passages but struggling to convert them into scoreboard pressure. With minutes remaining and St Bernard’s trailing by a goal, it was Di Lizio who stepped up, nailing a composed set shot to bring the scores level.
Despite a frantic final few minutes, neither side could break the deadlock. The siren sounded with scores tied at 54 apiece — a fair reflection of a high-pressure, see-sawing contest where neither team managed to gain the upper hand for long.
St Bernard’s 0.1 1.4 5.9 7.12 (54)
University Blues 3.4 4.5 6.10 7.12 (54)
Goals
St Bernard’s: T. Sullivan 2, L. Di Lizio 2, M. Hughes, C. Vague, D. Gwynne
Uni Blues: J. Stewart 4, G. LaCava, B. Towson, J. Whitehead
Best
St Bernard’s: C. Vague, T. Sullivan, L. Di Lizio, D. Gwynne, K. Barathi, N. Conlan
Uni Blues: I. Dykes, D. Chirgwin, T. O’Brien, C. O’Shea, J. Stewart, J.C. O’Sullivan
Next week, St Bernard’s host University Blacks in what promises to be another fiercely contested match at the Snakepit.
Written by: Hannah Juricskay