The MacKillop Saints went down 38-30 in hot conditions at MacKillop Field today before a big home crowd after leading 20-14 at the halftime break.
Palmerston College were the beneficiaries of a sleepy MacKillop start and found themselves up by 14 points early on in the first half. With the early head start, it looked like it could be a long day at the office for the Saints until a Harry Hall break away 80m try marked the beginning of 20 unanswered points from the Saints and a 6 point lead at the break.
The second half was marked by a string of lead changes with no side leading by more than 4 points up until the final 7 minutes of the game where a string of MacKillop errors allowed the opposition to seal the game with two late tries.
Jake Crawley was a standout performer for the Saints scoring two tries – one a 50m effort from a short kick off – and put on many bone shaking tackles in defence.
Zane McConnell tried hard all day in both attack and defence and was MacKillop’s best go forward man.
The Hausler brothers, Dan & Mitch both put in spirited performances on a tough outing.
Jade Harland showed the crowd why he is the most improved player in the College with a big first run that sent the defence flying.
Stepheno George kept his run of tries going with a couple in the match along with his trademark breakaway runs.
Jackson Chisholm was elusive down the left flank and made plenty of meters in this afternoon’s affair.
Dan Neuman made a great tackle driving a Palmerston winger back into his in-goal for a dropout with the game on the line.
Captain Jayden Hunter left a trail of destruction with every hit up.
All names mentioned above form our graduating class of Saints in 2020. Although they weren’t able to get the job done today, each player has left their own mark on the club and we all look back fondly on their achievements which included a 2019 Palmerston & Knights Cup as well as a trip to the Eels Cup final in 2018.
For some of the Year 12 players, today marked what was most likely their last ever game of rugby league. Others may go on to have lengthy and successful careers in the local leagues, or further beyond. Forever they will be MacKillop Saints. Congratulations on some wonderful schoolboy careers.
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