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PSA footy: Alcock Cup hopefuls Wesley, Hale hold on for wins, Christ Christ edge out Trinity in thriller

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Phoenix Knight stood out for Wesley.
Camera IconPhoenix Knight stood out for Wesley. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

Ladder leaders Wesley College and Hale School continued their winning ways as the three-horse race for the Alcock Cup heats up.

Both schools were challenged by Aquinas College and Guildford Grammar respectively but came away with narrow victories.

Wesley prevailed by three points, 10.7 (67) to 10.4 (64), after trailing by as much as six goals during the second quarter.

“They dominated the first quarter and rebounded so well across half-back,” Broadbridge said.

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“We started to tidy up in the second quarter and got on a bit of a roll in the last.”

Broadbridge praised his midfield group of Phoenix Knight, stand-in skipper Will Cassidy, Kaleb Smith and State 16s ruck Kayle Gerreyn for standing up.

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Smith, in just his second game of the PSA season due to a knee injury and illness, proved to be the match-winner with two final-quarter goals.

“He’s had very interrupted start to the season and was probably the match-winner in the end,” Broadbridge said.

Wesley hit the front with less than eight minutes left through an Aidan Mapstone snap and held on for a memorable win.

Aquinas captain Connor McDonald was again his school’s best with another 30-plus disposal performance to go with a goal, with Liam Clarke also among the standouts and Jack Eastaugh continuing his strong form.

Hale overcame an improved Guildford by 18 points, 7.14 (56) to 5.8 (38), in windy conditions with midfielder Riley Disisto, defender Zac Palmer and Evan Codalonga, one of five debutants, having a massive say in the result.

Skipper Luke Kelly was Guildford’s best in a losing cause and arguably the best player on ground.

Kelly has strong midfield support from West Coast Next Generation Academy talent Oscar Hine-Baston, while Oliver Sills and Lewis Zolnier-Owens stood tall up forward.

In the final game of the round, Christ Church Grammar School left it late to beat Trinity College by 11 points - 8.11 (59) to 7.6 (48).

Christ Church took the lead with about two minutes left, with two goals within 60 seconds through Hamish Brogan and Year 10 Ollie Corcoran respectively, and held on for their fourth win of the season.

Another Year 10 in Max Hansen was brilliant for the victors in the midfield and down back, while Corcoran and Bailey Van Der Struyf kicked two goals apiece in a low-scoring affair.

Defender turned forward Tryse Rioli kicked a couple of goals for Trinity and was a big presence inside 50, Adam De Masi was lively in the midfield before a late ankle injury and ruckman Coby Perry competed well.

“It was a bit of a bummer for the boys that they couldn’t wrap it up,” Trinity coach Scott Moore said.

“There’s definitely been a shift in competitiveness though, we played Christ Church in round one and lost by 10 goals so to lose by 11 points shows that we’re bridging the gap a little bit and staying competitive.”

Wesley hosts Hale on Thursday afternoon in what will be a season-defining clash for both schools.

Fellow top side Scotch, who have also only lost one match for the season, had the bye on Saturday.

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