By Luke West – Bendigo Advertiser
Bendigo Senior Secondary College pulled off a 50-point turnaround on their result last year to defeat arch-rival Catholic College Bendigo at the QEO on Wednesday.
It was the first game of the year for both teams in the School Sport Victoria Premier League football competition.
A year ago BSSC was no match for CCB, which won by 47 points.
However, this time it was BSSC that earned bragging rights as it won a hard-fought clash by three points, 9.8 (62) to 8.11 (59), in what was a game where more than half the players involved were listed with the Bendigo Pioneers.
“Both sides probably deserved to win the game… it was a great contest and an exciting style of footy,” BSSC coach Rick Coburn said.
“We started well, but a few of our skill errors in the second quarter got Catholic College back into the game.
“The second half was an arm-wrestle and we were fortunate that when the siren went it was us who were a couple of points up.”
Of BSSC’s nine goals, they kicked four of them in the first term as they built an 18-point lead at quarter-time in a strong start.
By three quarter-time CCB had edged three points in front, but BSSC added 1.4 – the goal kicked by Daine Grace – to CCB’s 0.4 in the final term to snatch back the lead and victory.
Billy Robertson in defence was the best player for BSSC, which was also well served by Rourke Turner, Phil Moi Moi and Bailey Henderson, who kicked three goals.
Captain Lachlan Wallace through the midfield, Lachlan Gill and Oliver Leonard-Shannon led the best players for CCB, which had a good target in attack in Jack Bouwmeester, who kicked four goals.
“It was a great game of footy that was played at a high standard,” CCB coach Lee Coghlan said.
“The BSSC boys jumped us in the first quarter, but we were able to play some good footy in the second and third quarters to get ourselves in front.
“But we just couldn’t take our chances in the last quarter.”
CCB was beaten, despite having two more scoring shots than BSSC.
BSSC’s next game is away to Lilydale, while CCB’s will be at home to Box Hill. Both will be played on May 24.
Match details:
Bendigo Senior Secondary College 4.2, 7.3, 8.4, 9.8 (62) d Catholic College Bendigo 1.2, 6.3, 8.7, 8.11 (59).
GOALS – BSSC: B. Henderson 3, B. Torpey 2, K. Hommelhoff, D. Grace, L. Davis, W. Donnan. CCB: J. Bouwmeester 4, I. Ruff, R. Treloar, L. Gill, C. Simpson.
BEST – BSSC: B. Robertson, R. Turner, P. Moi Moi, B. Henderson, W. Donnan. CCB: L. Wallace, L. Gill, O. Leonard-Shannon, B. Fry, W. Keck.
