Trinity Aquinas have won their first A Grade Premiership in a close Grand Final against Scarborough at Steel Blue Oval last Saturday.
It was a tight first quarter with both teams rising to the occasion. Trinity Aquinas’ Nic Bucknall kicked the first goal of the game but it was a low scoring quarter with Trinity Aquinas up by just four points at the first break.
Scarborough’s defensive pressure held Trinity Aquinas to just one goal in the second quarter while they managed to kick one themselves. Just seven points separated the two teams at the main break.
Ten minutes into the third quarter Quinten Lynch’s textbook tap to Preston O’Keefe allowed him to goal from 20 metres out giving Trinity Aquinas the momentum. They followed up with a centre clearance and goal from Ryan Murphy just minutes later.
The highest margin of the game was reached in the third quarter with Trinity Aquinas extending their lead to twenty points. Despite several scoring shots Scarborough failed to convert leaving them goalless in the third term.
Although the margin was increasing, Scarborough’s reputation from their preliminary final a week earlier agrees they had every chance to still win the match from here.
Kobie Somers kicked the first goal of the final quarter for Scarborough before they piled on another three goals to leave them down by just three points with fifteen minutes to play. Trinity Aquinas’ Ryan Murphy kicked his third goal for the afternoon but it was Nic Bucknall’s second goal which sealed the match with just minutes to play.
Thirty years since their first A Grade Grand Final appearance and thirty-five seasons in the A Grade competition without a premiership led to this moment.
It’s been a whirlwind week for Trinity Aquinas President Andrew Edwards who said he was “Proud and relieved. For many years the players have been working toward this and finally they were able to achieve the ultimate. Such a historic win for our club was summed up when the players were mobbed by the supporters at the final siren, plenty of emotion was visible” said Andrew.
Although the celebrations belonged to Trinity Aquinas on the day it’s hard to ignore Scarborough’s efforts. Losing the B Grade Grand Final by just 1-point last season they have earnt the respect of the A Grade competition by making it all the way to the Grand Final in their first season. Although Saturday’s loss rubs salt in the wounds, Scarborough have shown they are no doubt a force to be reckoned with over the coming seasons.
Final Score
Trinity Aquinas 2.1 3.6 5.10 7.14 (56)
Scarborough 1.3 2.5 2.8 6.8 (44)
Goals
Trinity Aquinas: R Murphy 3, N Bucknall 2, B Noble, P O’Keefe
Scarborough: M Re 2, A Parker, M Gordon, K Somers, C Moores.
BJ Giles Medal- Best On Ground: Preston O’Keefe- Trinity Aquinas