The MacKillop Saints u16 Boys overcame an early shock and a fierce challenge from arch-rivals Taminmin College to claim a hard-fought 28–18 victory at Goodline Park yesterday in the final qualifying round of the NT Schools Championships.

For the Saints, it was a win built on resilience, grit and some explosive attacking football, but it was far from smooth sailing.

In fact, the opening minute looked more like a nightmare than a dream start.

With a strong breeze at their backs, Taminmin’s opening kickoff sailed over the head of Saints half Zac Waters and dead in-goal, immediately handing the Turtles an unexpected possession change. Things worsened moments later when Luke Knight’s short dropout failed to travel the required 10 metres.

Taminmin wasted no time making Saints pay.

Electing to take the tap, they crashed over beside the posts and converted with ease to surge to a 6-0 lead before many spectators had even found their seats.

To their credit, Saints didn’t panic.

The response was immediate and spectacular.

Launching out of their own territory, the Saints shifted the ball from one edge of the field to the other and then back again in a sweeping movement involving countless hands. On the following tackle, Waters finished off a slick edge play just metres from the left sideline to drag Saints back into the contest.

Halfback Harry Liddle narrowly missed the conversion, leaving the score at 6-4.

What followed was a classic arm wrestle.

Both teams traded sets with minimal errors, but Saints repeatedly invited pressure through ill-discipline. Strip penalties and unnecessary infringements had referee Marcus Steinhardt regularly pointing the finger in Taminmin’s favour.

Wave after wave of attack came Saints’ way.

Standing tallest in the middle was captain Luke Knight, who produced a fearless defensive display and repeatedly threw himself into the contest to hold the line.

Then came the moment the game swung.

Seeing an opportunity, fullback Bryce Morley shifted across to the right edge to create a mismatch in numbers. Saints found him perfectly, and Morley exploded through a gap before racing 60 metres untouched to score and hand Saints their first lead of the match.

Once Saints found momentum, one man again proved impossible to contain.

Hooker Timana Roe continued his remarkable purple patch with another devastating performance out of dummy-half. Fresh from back-to-back four-try games, Roe somehow settled for “just” a hat-trick this time around.

His trademark scoots from dummy-half repeatedly caused headaches for Taminmin defenders, crossing twice after Morley’s effort and again late in the contest after Taminmin had fought their way back into the game.

By full-time, Saints had done enough to close out a deserved 28-18 victory.

Following the game, Coach Sharp said he was pleased with his side’s ability to respond after the difficult opening stages.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted to and we put ourselves under pressure with some errors and discipline issues, but I was happy with the way the boys stuck together and worked their way back into the contest,”
“Taminmin are a quality side and they kept asking questions of us all day. If we meet them again later in the competition, we’ll know we’re in for another tough game.”

Sharp said his challenge at halftime was for his middle forwards to lift their intensity and take control through the centre of the field.

That challenge was answered by 14-year-old prop Jack Angeles.

“Jack came on and gave us some really strong carries and plenty of energy through the middle,”
“He brought exactly what we needed at that point of the game and he’s certainly putting his hand up for a bigger role moving forward.”

Others to impress included Xavier Glassie, who bounced back strongly from last week with increased work rate and a string of tough carries, while Xavier Geronimo earned praise from teammates for his defensive effort on the edge.

Saints Girls Fall Just Short in Brave Fightback

Earlier in the day, the Saints Girls produced one of the gutsiest performances of the tournament, falling agonisingly short in a thrilling 20-16 contest against a strong Taminmin outfit.

The Turtles stormed out to a 12-0 halftime lead and appeared in complete control, but Saints had other ideas.

Led by strong carries through the middle from Grace Laker and Drincy Bregente, momentum slowly shifted.

Suddenly Saints found life.

Tries to Grace, Drincy and exciting young prospect Tilly Cogill saw the girls level the scores at 12-all and completely swing the energy of the contest.

Taminmin responded with two crucial tries of their own, but Saints weren’t finished.

Mia Keelan crossed late to set up a grandstand finish and with just 20 seconds remaining, Emily Cogill sliced through the line from long range, igniting a desperate foot race to the try line with the game hanging in the balance.

Unfortunately for Saints, she was reeled in.

One final opportunity remained.

Captain Ellie Pulman darted left from dummy-half looking to exploit an overlap, but Taminmin produced one final desperate defensive effort to shut the play down and secure victory.

Eyes Turn Toward Palmerston Heavyweight Clash

Attention now turns to the finals where Saints Boys appear destined for a blockbuster clash against local rivals Rosebery College at TRL Stadium in two weeks (pending confirmation).

If it eventuates, it will be the first meeting between the Palmerston powerhouses this year in a winner-takes-all showdown.

As for the Saints Girls, their campaign appears to have reached its conclusion. But if yesterday proved anything, it’s that they certainly didn’t leave quietly, and they’ll be back to fight another day.