Sports

Captain Tony Ghiselli

Athletics

It was a day of Athletics that no Scotch student at the WA Athletics Stadium that day will ever forget, athlete or spectator. The Scotch Athletics Team staged a remarkable comeback to take out our fourth successive Alcock Shield.

Aquinas College was in first position for the majority of the day and, at the start of the four 100m relays, were 64 points clear of Scotch, then in second place. Under considerable pressure, the baton changes in all six relays could not have been better, resulting in four second places and two wins. Aided with an Aquinas disqualification, we gradually wore back the Aquinas lead. At the open relay, the last event, we were seven points behind Aquinas. At the last change, Hale School was in first position, Scotch second, Aquinas third and Christ Church Grammar School fourth. In the last 50 metres, Christ Church’s athlete passed Aquinas, resulting in Christ Church placing third and relegating Aquinas to fourth place. This saw us passing Aquinas in the overall lead by three points in a narrow, exhilarating Inter-School win, made more remarkable by the fact that Aquinas had won the most points in the 100m and 200m sprints, with Scotch in fourth place.

While winning an Athletics Inters is very much a team effort from all sectors of the team, the performance of our relay runners under the guidance of Mr Gale and his coaches was the key factor in our win. I doubt very much if such a comeback win has ever been achieved in the 116 years of PSA Athletics. It is the stuff legends are made of. It was a truly remarkable win that reflected the character and the determination of our Athletics Team. It was a proud day that will be etched in our memories for life. The mateship, euphoria and connection the team experienced after winning the Inters were very special.

Led by myself as Captain and Vice-Captains Oscar Clements and James Shaw, leadership was once again a key factor in the win, as were the leadership and performances of our Year 12 athletes. Major point winners came from the discus and shot put throwers and, on the track, from the 400m and 800m runners.

Having won seven of the past nine Athletics Alcock Shields, this generation of Scotch Athletics has forged a special legacy. The challenge now is to maintain this outstanding run of Athletics success.

Captain Milan Narula

Badminton

Scotch’s 2021 Badminton teams started the season with determination and the hope to give it their all this season. The team believed that they could take the Brother Kelly Cup. Before the season started, all teams were competing well at training to fight for spots in the teams above, which created a great culture at Scotch Badminton. After a delayed start to the season due to COVID-19, the boys were ready to take on Trinity College in our first match-up of the 2021 campaign.

Jim Allan (Year 12) taking on Christ Church

The level of competition became evident as Scotch just prevailed with a 5–4 win against Trinity College in the Firsts. The boys went back to training that week and pushed themselves. This was clear as Scotch dominated the next two fixtures against Aquinas College and Christ Church Grammar School. The next fixture was against Wesley College, who were the favourites to take out this year’s cup and ended up being the team to beat as they swept by our team, convincingly beating us 8–1 on our home court.

Next on the schedule was Guildford Grammar School on a Thursday afternoon. After our heavy loss to Wesley, the team was eager to show the competition that we were still competing for the cup, which was evident when we ended the afternoon with a 9–0 win against Guildford. A notable performance from this fixture was Tim Imison, who won two out of the four sets he played with a 21–0 win. The first half of the season finished with a game against Hale School, where both sides fought very hard, and Scotch came away with a narrow 5–4 win after playing many three-set matches.

In the second half of the season, there were some notable improvements including going from a 5–4 win against Trinity to a 9–0 win and going from a 5–4 win against Hale to a 7–2 win. The attitude that each boy attended each training day and match with was outstanding and contributed towards our success. We ended the season with a strong second-place effort after beating every team except Wesley.

Ross Whittome (Year 10) playing against Christ Church

For this, I congratulate all boys in all of the Badminton teams for competing with such high quality and sportsmanship. I must also extend my congratulations to Head Coach Mr Ryan Foster and assistant OSC coaches Andrew Singh and Harrison Burt. Their undying support and passion for the game were what got us over the line in some matches, and their constant guidance has been commendable. I wish the future of Scotch Badminton the best of luck in their pursuance of a victory in the 2022 campaign.

Captain Oscar Clements

Cross Country

In Cross Country, every single training session and fixture is an opportunity to challenge your physical fitness and mental strength. Our team lacked numbers, so we knew this year would not be a championship season for us. Instead of aiming to come away with a win every single week, we decided to get the most out of the sport by training and racing our hardest.

Mr Doney’s training sessions never failed to challenge the boys. On these cold, dark winter mornings, we took on gruelling and repetitive running intervals and the much-feared ‘tree runs’. The otherwise quiet Memorial Oval would come alive with Mr Doney’s rousing speeches about grit and persistence.

The Cross Country racing season consists of a home and away round against each school and then six All Schools fixtures where every school races together. The first race against Trinity College was exceptionally close, with Scotch winning by a margin of just three points. This set up what would be a close battle with Trinity throughout the season.

Later, we took on Wesley College at our home course in extremely wet conditions. The boys were shocked to discover that a ditch at the back end of the Lake Claremont course became a knee-deep flowing creek. Several casualties occurred at this obstacle, and we struggled to match the strong Wesley team’s pace.

Another memorable fixture was the Guildford five-kilometre course, where we came away with a strong win. Several boys showed strong improvements in their consistency, and others gave it their all despite injury or illness.

The All Schools series was full of twists and turns. We managed to stay ahead of Trinity and Guildford Grammar School, finishing the season in fifth place, firmly in the middle of the pack. More importantly, we learned that even if you cannot come away victorious every week, you can still find fulfilment in pushing your physical capabilities, making sacrifices for the team and cheering each other on.

It was great to see boys turn into mature athletes over the course of the season. I hope that those who ran with us for the first time will continue, whether it is in Athletics, Cross Country or for personal fitness.

Oscar Clements (Year 12), photograph: Thomas Campbell

Captain Lewis Crump

Football

The season kicked off with a comfortable win against Trinity College away, where Year 12 Alcock veterans were met with eager Year 11s hungry for a taste of PSA victory.

With our speed through the midfield and the team’s relentless pressure, we were able to put many opposition teams on the back foot. We were tested early with a confident and talented Aquinas College. Due to the COVID-19 forced bye and the scheduled bye, Aquinas had limited match practice before facing Scotch. Our experience and pressure were too much for our rivals, beating them at home. As our experience and match practice grew, the wins started to roll in. We managed to win seven out of seven, and our confidence grew. Scotch and Aquinas became the teams to beat for the cup. This set up a huge final match for Autumn Term against Aquinas. It was a tight first half, but unfortunately, Aquinas was too strong in the second half. This loss now meant Scotch and Aquinas were equal, with one loss each.

Daniel Curtin (Year 11) and Jett Sibosado (Year 10) fly high in a marking contest

The boys’ commitment to holiday training could not be faulted, nor could the competitiveness of the talented Seconds and Thirds teams. With four games left, each a danger game, we all knew what was needed. It started well with a comfortable win over Trinity, which gave the team a confidence boost only to be followed by our second loss of the season. A hard-fought battle with Wesley College saw us forfeiting a comfortable half-time lead. This loss sparked a fire as we lost our one-game separation for the cup, leaving it drawn with two games to go.

Our motivation did not fault in our comfortable win over Guildford Grammar School at home, securing our hand on the cup as we went into the last game of the season with Hale School at home. The stage was set for the closest thing to a PSA grand final. In front of a big home crowd, the boys embodied Scotch Football: spirited, passionate and resilient! The game ebbed and flowed, and Hale managed to hit the lead halfway through the last quarter, kicking unanswered goals. Scotch rallied and replied with quick goals to achieve a hard-fought 15-point victory. This secured an outright win of the Alcock Cup! The game will hold great memories for the boys, spectators and staff for years to come.

On behalf of the teams, a massive thank you must go to the staff who made this season run so smoothly and enabled our success. Thank you to Head Coach Steve Malaxos and Mr Guard, Mr Jahn, Mitch Clarke, Ryan Turnbull, Mr Bridle, Harry Sinclair and Justin Crump for their continuous support and guidance. We are so grateful and appreciate the time you have taken to help the team grow together and individually. Without your support, our final result would not have been achieved.

Captain Will Gale

Golf

After an early wake up to a cold and dewy morning, we all gathered at the prestigious Royal Perth Golf Club and began warming up and focusing the mind. The Scotch Golf team consisted of Ethan Frankle, Cooper Stanley, Jack Tylich, James Winch and myself.

COVID-19 allowing, the competition was back at Royal Perth after being at Sea View Golf Club the previous year and back to the shotgun start, relieving the pressure from having a big crowd on the first tee. Initially, conditions were tough on the hands and the dew made it tricky around the greens, but with the sun rising, temperatures rose, and it all dried, allowing for a pleasant day of golf with no wind. There were a few shaky starts on the first nine from us Scotch boys, but as the day progressed, we got in the game and began hitting fairways, judged our lengths and sank putts, resulting in some decent scores, with James Winch scoring the lowest of 86 for us. Even if the shots were not always going as planned, it was great having groups of different PSA boys to have a laugh with, and the pristine condition of the course eased the frustration.

As all groups finished their 18th hole, we met at the clubroom eager to hear the results after a nice lunch. The four lowest scores of each school were added up, and as expected, Trinity College came out with the win with their best player having a score of one over. Scotch ended up in 5th place. So, although it was not the greatest outcome, we all enjoyed ourselves, and it was a great opportunity to be a part of.

Captain Hugh Mitchell

Hockey

After last year’s disrupted season, all teams were hoping to play a full season of Hockey. The first fixture against Hale School was postponed due to a COVID-19 lockdown, but luckily the remaining games were uninterrupted.

In Middle School, the 8As had four wins and six losses, the 7As had seven wins, three losses and a draw, and the 7Bs had nine wins. In the Senior School fixtures, the Thirds and Fourths both had confident seasons. The Second XI team had a strong start, with the mid-season reversal of their 1–2 loss against Aquinas College in the first fixture to a 2–1 win being a highlight. They finished with six wins and four losses. The 9As finished with five wins, five losses and a draw.

The First XI squad had good preparation with pre-season scratch matches and the annual game against the Hotspurs, captained by Andrew Smith (OSC 2001). The squad also played the yearly Pugwash Cup, where the Year 12s took the win over the younger boys.

We started the season well with a 3–0 win against Trinity College. The first Walter Weekly Winner Award – created this year in honour of Graeme Walter and his selfless commitment to Scotch Hockey – was given to Henry Vaughan for his incredible efforts in the defensive circle. A 4–0 win over Aquinas saw us come into the Christ Church Grammar School fixture without conceding a goal, but the game finished 1–1. A 0–4 loss to Wesley College on a flooded turf, followed by three consecutive draws against Hale School, Guildford Grammar School and Trinity was frustrating, but we finished the term strong with a 6–2 win against Aquinas.

The highlight of the season was our second fixture against Christ Church. Scotch came out with a great 1–0 win after a true nail biter of a game. Our winning goal was scored in the final 30 seconds of the game, for which Raff Schinazi and Hamish Elliot were awarded a worthy ‘Highlight of the Round’. We finished with another draw against Guildford – thanks to outstanding keeping from Hamish Meston – and a loss to Hale placing us fourth on the ladder.

Congratulations to Tom Chalmers, Hamish Elliott, Digby Gardner and Charlie McCarthy for their selection in the State U15 boys’ teams, and Mitchell Hyde and Xavier Graham for their selection in the State U16 school boys’ team. Also, congratulations to Oscar Bird for receiving the First XI coaches award and Monty Atkins for the Peter Freitag Medal.

A huge thank you must go to all the coaches and managers, including the fabulous Ms Webster-Blythe, for their commitment to coaching and organising each team. And a big thanks to the parents for their dedication to their sons, with a special mention to my remarkable mum, Kirsty Browne-Cooper, who supported the First team this season.

Captain Thomas Lynch

Rugby

The 2021 Rugby season saw many new faces enter the programme in the pre-season, spanning from Year 12 to Year 9. All players held the common goal to build upon the success and mateship constructed over previous years.

The pre-season saw a two-day camp at school, marking the beginning of the final season for the Year 12s and the younger boys’ senior Rugby careers at Scotch. The pre-season welcomed the younger boys into the programme and allowed the previous season’s boys to dust off any cobwebs, where needed. It also saw Scotch host our biennial Rugby festival, where we invited schools around Perth to warm up for their respective seasons. Scotch took on Thornlie Senior High School, Wesley College and Trinity College in highly competitive games, paving the way for the season to begin.

In the season opener for the Brother Redmond Cup, Scotch took on Trinity in a game that would test the team’s physicality. Unfortunately, the Scotch team fell short of victory, but it was how the squad bounced back and improved on this performance that set our trajectory for the season. With big games on the horizon against Christ Church Grammar School and Hale School, we were adamant to improve upon our team structures every training.

An intense battle against Christ Church saw Scotch move forward in victory, with our sights set on Hale. From the beginning of the season, the boys understood the magnitude of the game, as this was very much a mid-season grand final and one which was fought out until the final whistle. Unfortunately, after going back and forth with the opposition for the entirety of the game, we fell short in the closing seconds.

Nevertheless, our season remained very much in our hands as the boys persevered and remained focused on the goal. With the team performing in synergy and strength, Round 2 versus Trinity saw Scotch knock over the previously undefeated team, enabling the boys to dial in for the final weeks of the season in what would be a successful and memorable season for the leaving Year 12s.

The season saw immense commitment and determination from all senior Rugby players. The long hours on the field and in the gym saw the boys develop a mental and physical toughness which Scotch Rugby has welded into its reputation. Most of all, massive credit goes to the coaching staff, Mr Creighton and Connor O’Sullivan; their view on the game as an art form goes unmatched in the Public Schools Association. Credit also goes to Reverend Gary for his spirited cheering, and Mr Foster, Mr Gault and Mr Whiston for ensuring the smooth running of Scotch Rugby.

The Rugby programmes’ reputation and success have grown since I have been at the school, and I believe it will continue to grow both in the PSA and Australia. Watching the enjoyment and spirit that junior boys played with on a Friday afternoon highlights Rugby’s bright future at Scotch. To the Year 9s and 10s entering or continuing in the senior programme, I wish you the best for your endeavours in the sport, regardless of which level you play at. To the Year 11s, who will be the leaders of the First XV team and Rugby at the school, I hope you continue to build upon Rugby’s culture and success at Scotch.

Scotch boys packing down for a scrum, including Sebastian Salt (Year 11) (foreground) and Hugh Chapman (Year 10) (far side), photographs: Derren Hall

Captain Sebastian Reynolds

Soccer

The Scotch First XI Soccer team started the 2021 season strongly, with an emphatic 1–0 win away from home against a strong Trinity College side, thanks to one of the goals of the season from Kaleb Morrison.

Off the back of a hard-fought win away from home, the first home game of the season was an important one where we hoped to create Campbell Oval as a fortress. Unfortunately, two penalty decisions went against the Scotch team, and we suffered a 2–0 defeat to Aquinas College. Twelve goals in three games and only one goal conceded against Christ Church Grammar School, Wesley College and Guildford Grammar School got the season back on track with the Lawe Davies Cup back in sight. A tough loss to Hale School away from home startled the Scotch team, and reality quickly sank in that we needed to be sharper and have more cohesion.

We very quickly bounced back and got the double over Trinity at home, with Aquinas in sight the next week. Scotch managed to get the better of Aquinas in a strong 2–0 win, putting us into first place going into the July holidays. However, this win faded after Christ Church got the better of us in a 2–0 defeat, making a championship win unlikely.

Two must-win games against Wesley and Guildford set Scotch up for the final game against Hale, and we were up for the challenge. After coming out with two dominant performances against struggling opposition, we were ready for the last game of the season: Hale at home. There was no bigger game than this, a win and Scotch would guarantee a second spot finish with hopes of winning the cup, but a loss and the side would fall to third place. An intense back and forth ping pong–like game saw the game at a stalemate (3–3) with 15 minutes to go. A Kaleb Morrison header sealed a fantastic hattrick with 10 minutes to go, giving Scotch the win over rivals, Hale. Unfortunately, Aquinas got the better of Trinity, and Scotch finished in second place, one point behind Aquinas.

Nonetheless, this was a season to be proud of. It was one of many ups and downs, but it saw a well-deserved second place for the team who grew as both players and individuals. A further mention must go to the whole Soccer programme. Every boy participated and gave their all. From the JPSSA all the way to the PSA teams, every boy should be proud of what they have achieved this year. And, to the coaches for their everyday sacrifice, none of this would have been possible without you.

Top left and right: Winton Messina (Year 11) fends off an Aquinas player, photograph: Tiarna Rose; Kaleb Morrison (Year 11) Middle: Kaleb Morrison (Year 11) fights for possession against Christ Church as Sevvel Mahendranathan (Year 12) and Aidan McKie (11) watch on Bottom: Sevvel Mahendranathan (Year 12) weaves through the defence; photographs: Derren Hall

Captain James Bennett

Surfing

This year’s Surfing season was short yet enjoyable. The team had a very successful year, placing highly in the Surfing WA Metropolitan Titles and the highly competitive Public Schools Association Surfing Competition.

To start the year off, we had our annual Inter-House Surfing competitions at Trigg Beach. There were many stand-out performances in the junior divisions, including Hunter Freestone’s dominant performance in junior surfing. With his home break knowledge as a Trigg Beach local, he ended up breezing his way to the final, posting high scores throughout the heats, securing his number one spot in the junior team. In bodyboarding, Callum Mitchell demonstrated his skills in some tricky conditions, pulling into numerous barrels and doing multiple technical 360 spins. However, some of the junior bodyboarders were not as lucky as Callum; many were swept all over the break via a surging rip, pulling them out into rather sizeable waves. Although it was challenging for many boys, it was good to see them go outside their comfort zones and get involved in Scotch’s Surfing programme.

This was followed by the senior boys’ time to shine. Despite the small conditions it is fair to say that all boys enjoyed themselves and there was a good atmosphere on the beach. An honourable mention must go to the one and only Joe Crowley. He demonstrated his ability to pull off many (some would say) interesting and unique manoeuvres. He demonstrated his athleticism by somehow doing a headstand on his board while riding a typical one-foot Trigg close out wave. I have never seen anything like it before. However, these manoeuvres could not stop Mack Young’s dominance, coming out with a win in the senior surfing. Also, the senior bodyboarding saw a very dominant performance by Vice-Captain Ryan McConkey.

With such a strong, diverse team, Scotch had our hopes high walking into the PSA Surfing Competition. Our first two heats of the day saw a decent performance from both senior surfers and senior bodyboarders. Throughout the day, the competition became tighter and a sense of competitiveness grew in the water. Christ Church Grammar School demonstrated their strength and willingness to win in the younger years, with some very talented individual surfers and bodyboarders. This meant there was a tight ending to the day, putting pressure on the juniors. Unfortunately, Scotch finished overall with a respectable second place, with Christ Church earning a well-deserved win to make it a back-to-back winning streak.

Coming into the Surfing WA Metropolitan School Surfing Titles in August, all boys were eager to finish on a good note, as it was the last competition of the 2021 Surfing season. Despite some late injuries and first-round knockouts, our team claimed several final placements, which saw us crowned the champion school over other talented schools, including Duncraig Senior High School, Prendiville Catholic College and Churchlands Senior High School. Senior Surfing competition winners James Bennett and Mack Young went on to the state finals, getting school colours as a result.

A thank you must go to Ryan McConkey, Mr Bycroft, Mr Galipo and particularly Mr Rugg for their countless efforts to make this year’s Surfing an enjoyable and successful season for the whole Scotch Surfing Team.