Collegians Too Polished in Round 15 Clash
With blue skies overhead and finals-like anticipation in the air, St Bernard’s hosted Old Collegians for a crucial Round 15 matchup at the Snakepit. After a thrilling contest earlier in the season and both teams fighting for survival on the Premier ladder, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
From the opening bounce, it was Collegians who settled first — dominating territory and locking the ball inside their forward half. Their structure, pressure, and clean ball movement were clear from the outset. While St Bernard’s battled hard at stoppages, they struggled to transition cleanly out of defence, with rushed kicks and turnovers stalling any attacking momentum.
The Snowdogs had their moments — Matthew Sauro continued his strong form in the ruck, competing at every contest and providing a target around the ground. But too often, inside 50 entries were inefficient, with missed targets making it hard to build scoreboard pressure.
Down back, Harrison Fuller and Mitch Hughes were brave under siege, doing their best to absorb repeat entries. Through the middle, Angus Ryan brought energy and creativity, taking the game on with confidence. Luca Alessio again showed his value as a versatile presence at both ends of the ground, helping link up play and support his teammates in the air.
The highlight for St Bernard’s came in the final quarter. With the margin out of reach but pride still on the line, the boys lifted — kicking three consecutive goals in a burst that finally showed what the team is capable of when their ball movement and forward structure click. It was the only patch in the game where they found real rhythm.
Best afield honours went to Dom Sullivan, who brought intensity from siren to siren. His tackling, forward drive, and ability to keep fighting even as the game wore on was a standout. He was rewarded with a late goal, fitting recognition for his relentless effort.
In the end, the scoreboard told the story — Collegians’ polish, hunger, and execution set them apart. For St Bernard’s, it was a tough day, but one that again showed glimpses of potential that need to be sustained over four quarters.
Final Score
ST BERNARD’S 2.1 13 | 3.3 21 | 4.3 27 | 8.7 55
OLD COLLEGIANS 3.5 23 | 5.10 40 | 10.12 72 | 13.14 92
Goals
St Bernard’s: M. Watson, M. Holland, L. Di Lizio, F. McNicol, O. Liberatore, D. Gilham, L. Alessio, D. Sullivan
Old Collegians: D. Thomas 4, A. Lukic 2, M. Pinchbeck 2, W. Pewtress, K. Ong, W. Pocknee, C. Walker, J. Archer
Best
St Bernard’s: D. Sullivan, M. Sauro, L. Alessio, A. Ryan, H. Fuller, M. Hughes
Old Collegians: M. Pinchbeck, C. Franks, B. Van Twest, W. Pewtress, D. Thomas, M. Warren
Next week, the Snowdogs hit the road for the final away game of the season against Old Scotch. With the threat of relegation looming, every match from here is a must-win — and the boys will be looking to respond.
Written by: Hannah Juricskay