Sport: Senior & Middle School, Term 3 Week 6 2026

Pulteney defeated St John’s

Pulteney Grammar faced St John’s Grammar in the second-last match of the round, in what was perhaps the most important game of the season: the Intercol match. Earlier in the year, the two sides had played out a very close contest, so the boys knew they would need to bring great energy and commitment from the opening bounce.

Following on from the girls’ Intercol win moments earlier, the boys were excited, full of energy, and ready to hit the ground running. Intermittent drizzle made for challenging conditions and created a true wet-weather style of game. From the outset, Pulteney’s pressure was immense, with the boys showing a clear willingness to be first to the football and to apply tackle pressure resulting in turnovers.

Jayden Turner gave Pulteney first use out of the ruck contest, putting the St John’s midfield on the back foot with some early clearances from the midfield group. In difficult conditions where goals were hard to come by, the Year 12 leaders set the tone with their physicality and contest work at the coalface. Elliot Gask was lively up forward and kicked the first goal of the game with a clever snap around the body, helping Pulteney build early momentum. At half time, Pulteney held a narrow lead over St John’s.

After half time, Zac Holman had a breakout purple patch, kicking a couple of goals in quick succession which were worth plenty in a low-scoring affair. Angas Moyse played a crafty defensive midfield role all game, thwarting many of St John’s Grammar’s attacks and providing important defensive rebound. Eli Morrow also competed well in the air as a target up forward before later moving down back to support the defence.

In the low fading light with heavy legs, Jayden Turner began to cramp and required a spell on the bench. Joshua Allen then went into the ruck and unfortunately suffered a broken collarbone, which stopped the game for several minutes as he required medical attention. At three-quarter time, with Pulteney just ahead, the boys rallied together and were determined to finish the game strongly for their injured teammate.

The final quarter was fought hard until the very end, with Pulteney showing composure, courage and commitment when it mattered most. The boys came away eventual winners by 13 points in what was one of their most complete performances of the season.

Every player contributed something important to the game, and the group should be very proud of the performance they put together in such a meaningful Intercol win for the Navy Blues. Our attention now turns to our final game of the year against St Ignatius College, where the boys will compete for the Aish Warhurst Cup.

Coach: Mr Chris Clements

Pulteney defeated St John’s
5.1 (31) – 1.2 (8)

Thursday afternoon saw the girls entering our second intercol fixture against St John’s with the scores in the overall competition locked away at two a piece we knew there was a fair bit riding on the result of this game and the girls certainly stepped up.

Unfortunately, after what had been a glorious day to that point, the weather turned and became very wet and slippery for both sides who struggled to get a hold of the conditions and use it as they would have liked consequently, the ball spent a fair bit of time in stoppages and between the arcs and at any time we did go forward we got locked into our forward pocket which made scoring quite difficult. As a result, despite us having a number of shots on goal we weren’t able to score any majors so went into the first break, the solitary point in front.

The second quarter was our best by far and we were able to get an outstanding return for our efforts. The girls handled the conditions really well taking marks like it was a dry day, with Eva and Matilda boat taking a couple of intercept marks each which repelled any forward forays by our opponent. Tilly was working really hard stopping their best player and nullified her influence whilst Anika was super dangerous in the forward line managing to kick two goals as a midfielder. As she always does, Celeste provided an excellent target forward and managed to also kick two goals in the quarter which extended our lead, which in the conditions would make it very difficult for St John’s to overcome.

In the third-quarter our run stopped and St John’s started to get their hand on the ball around stoppages with their ruckman getting he hands on the footy which really influenced the clearance game. They were also able to get first to the ball and be rewarded with number free kicks that allowed them to hit the scoreboard and managed to kick the only goal for the quarter from a long range bomb which made us aware of their potential, knowing that we would need to finish the game strongly if we were to come away with the victory.

In the last quarter the girls got back to their physical best and with the ball with camped for long periods of time in our forward line. Lucy Jones was active as ever, and with Emily Cameron asserting herself into contest both in the air and on the ground we made life very difficult for St John’s. For our hard work we managed to kick a goal right on the final siren which extended the lead beyond four goals and the girls were deservedly proud of their efforts culminating in back to back intercol  victories.

Coach: Mr Matt Down

After showing that they could match the reigning champions, Cabra, the boys headed into Intercol with a renewed sense of confidence. A stronger start was essential against a quality St John’s side that had finished third in our league, particularly after our earlier fixture had been decided within the opening 11 minutes.

This time, the contest was far more even and demonstrated just how much the team has progressed throughout the season. St John’s opened the scoring, but the boys responded with excellent intensity and effort, with their hard work rewarded by an equaliser just before half-time. Unfortunately, a needless foul throw late in the half-allowed St John’s to regain the lead shortly before the break.

The boys came out with a positive attitude in the second half and took the game to St John’s. A well-earned goal levelled the score at 2–2 and provided an excellent platform to attack the final 25 minutes. However, our young team was unable to maintain the tempo during the final 20 minutes, conceding four late goals.

While the final scoreline did not reflect the competitiveness of the match, the boys can be proud of the way they challenged a quality opponent and matched them for 60 minutes. Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from the game. The experience will benefit the team next year, and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the future.

Coach: Livani Gianakis

Good teams win games; special teams are serial winners.

Our girls’ team is quite special and again displayed passion, energy, skill and determination to overcome a very good St John’s team 3 – 0.

A very tight first half was punctuated by a wonderful strike from distance to give us a well-deserved 1–0 half-time lead.

In the second half, we broke through the defensive low block with tireless attack and relentless running off the ball that finally resulted in two more goals.

The scoreline was a good reflection of the quality we produced throughout the game.

What a way to end an incredible season of soccer!

We are very proud of each player. Each one mattered.

Thank you to the families who came in significant numbers to encourage, support and lift the team. You were sensational.

We also thank our wonderful Sports Department, who go above and beyond with their support.

Go Pulteney!

Girls Soccer Coach: Deshan Solomon 

After the highly anticipated 2025 encounter, the boys were ready for another battle with St John’s – and they certainly delivered.

It was a back-and-forth contest from start to finish, with the margin never extending beyond six points at any stage. Both teams traded baskets and momentum, setting up a thrilling finish.

With just 19 seconds remaining, St John’s knocked down a three-pointer to take a one-point lead. This gave the boys an opportunity to tie or win the game, but unfortunately, they couldn’t convert the final possession.

While the result wasn’t what the boys wanted, their effort and composure throughout the contest was a real example of the resilience and determination that has defined this group. They fought right until the final siren and can hold their heads high.

A special acknowledgement to our departing Year 12 students, who represented Pulteney with great pride.

We would also like to thank Ash Mitchell, who coached his final game with Pulteney after an incredible five years of coaching. Ash has made a significant contribution to our basketball program and to the development of countless players during his time with the school.

A tough day on the scoreboard, but one that showcased plenty of pride, resilience and character across both teams.

Head of Basketball: Lukass Blicavs

With a very young team taking on St John’s, the girls knew they were in for a fight – and they competed fantastically from the opening tip.

The girls kept the game within three points at half time, showing great composure and determination against a strong St John’s team. Unfortunately, a combination of outside shooting and offensive rebounds allowed St John’s to build a lead in the second half that the girls couldn’t quite claw back, eventually going down by 21 points.

Despite the result, there was plenty to be proud of in the way the group competed.

A special congratulations to Mischa C, who played her heart out throughout the game and finishes her Pulteney basketball journey as the only Year 12 student in the group. What a way to represent the school and lead a young group through a challenging game.

Head of Basketball: Lukass Blicavs

What a game! Last night’s fixture against St John’s Grammar delivered a real sense of déjà vu from 2025, with momentum swinging both ways and the scoreline remaining incredibly close throughout the contest.

From the opening whistle, both teams showed tremendous intensity, skill and determination. Neither side was able to gain a decisive advantage, with momentum continually shifting and the lead changing hands throughout the game.

The team showed tremendous growth and remained calm under pressure when St John’s hit the lead with just two and a half minutes to play. Rather than panic, our girls dug deep, showed incredible composure and went on a three-goal spree to eventually secure a thrilling 29–28 victory.

It was a fantastic display of resilience, belief and determination when it mattered most. The ability to stay composed, trust each other and execute under immense pressure was a real highlight of the performance.

A special shoutout goes to our departing Year 12s – Grace C, Matilda E and captain Matilda S – who finished their netball journey at Pulteney on a high. Their commitment, leadership and contribution to the program have been invaluable, and it was wonderful to see them finish their final game with such a memorable victory.

Congratulations to all of our players on a fantastic win. A thrilling contest, a hard-fought victory and a performance to be very proud of.

A huge thank you to the families and supporters who came along and created such a wonderful atmosphere. Your encouragement made a real difference.

Coaches: Holly Rawson & Tayler Price