The MacKillop Saints Under 17 Boys have kicked off their 2026 campaign in dramatic fashion, clawing their way to a gripping 28–22 victory over inner-city rivals SEDA College at TRL Stadium in Marrara.

It was far from the dream start for the Saints. In a moment they’d rather forget, captain Alex Liddle’s opening kickoff was sensationally returned the length of the field, handing SEDA a shock try on the very first play. The early blow stunned the Saints, but only briefly.

Regrouping with composure, the Saints began to find their rhythm, led by powerhouse debutant Jordan Parfitt, whose fearless carries immediately put the opposition on the back foot. The momentum shift paid off when Luke Knight darted from dummy half to notch the Saints’ first points, balancing the ledger after the shock opening play from SEDA.

From there, the Saints began to flex their muscle. Vice-captain Cooper Moore announced himself in style, slicing through the SEDA defence for the first of his two tries in a commanding, MVP-worthy performance. With 5 minutes left in the opening period, Timana Roe added to the tally with a determined effort in the corner, shrugging off defenders to cross the line.

Despite the Saints’ surge, SEDA struck just before halftime, tightening the scoreline to 16–10, although a curious scoreboard error briefly had the crowd convinced it was all tied up at 10–10.

The second half opened with intensity but also a flurry of errors, as both teams wrestled for control. Zac Waters and young playmaker Harry Liddle steadied the Saints’ attack, while Rallye Archer brought trademark grit through the middle.

SEDA capitalised on the scrappy play, crossing twice in quick succession to steal a six-point lead with just seven minutes remaining. With fatigue creeping in, it looked like the Saints might falter, but Coach Sharp had other plans.

In a bold move, he sent his starting lineup back onto the field with a simple message: “You boys need a challenge—go out there and win this.”

What followed was nothing short of electrifying.

Moore rose to the occasion, bulldozing through defenders to level the scores at 22–22 with just four minutes to play. Then, with time ticking down, speedster Tarquin Banderson lit up the field, stepping, weaving, and accelerating past multiple defenders to score a sensational match-winning try. The conversion sealed the 28–22 triumph and sent the Saints bench into celebration.

Coach Sharp praised the team’s resilience post-match. “It was typical trial footy. Scrappy at times, but the boys stuck to their instructions, defended well, and got the job done. With the Dolphins Cup coming up, this win puts us in a strong position.”

Sharp singled out Cooper Moore’s leadership and Jordan Parfitt’s fearless debut as standout performances, while also commending Vinny Di Donato for his relentless pressure plays on the wing.

The match wasn’t without controversy, however. The scoreboard mix-up sparked post-game debate, with SEDA claiming a 22–22 draw based on the disputed halftime score. One Saints supporter cheekily remarked, “I know they are a sports school and not a maths school, but three tries in the first half alone… I’m pretty sure that adds up to more than ten!”

Girls Show Grit in Tough Conditions

Earlier in the day, the Saints Girls side fought bravely but fell 36–26 to Good Shepherd Lutheran College in sweltering conditions.

Led by the determined Ellie Pulman, the Saints went try-for-try with their opponents for much of the match before fatigue took its toll, with only one substitute available. Grace Laker delivered a standout performance, earning best on field honours thanks to her powerful runs and incredible try-saving defence.

Mia Keelan, Drincy Bregente, and Lily Roberts also impressed, each crossing for a try in a spirited team effort to open their season.