:: Melbourne Grammar School 1st XVIII Report - By Lurch.

Grammar’s recent history of titanic battles with College continued on Saturday with a tough, close game in Geelong. A win would have put MGS above College on the APS ladder.

College was in top form, having belted the local pale blue Grammar by over 10 goals the preceding week. MGS refused to allow College to run away with the game, despite College’s hard-running midfield and tall forward line being threatening.

Hugh Vickers-Willis’ marking up forward helped MGS end the first quarter level with College despite kicking against the wind, and Will Myer was winning in the ruck. Charles Shaw continued his good form in the midfield, along with team mates Gus Lapin and Alex Carter. Jack Macciolli did well in defence despite conceding a lot of height to the College forwards.

Captain Tim McLardy estimated that College’s two key forwards were 6’6” each, and although they kicked most of College’s goals, Rohan Barraclough kicked 5 to do his utmost for Grammar. The game was close all day, and late goals from Al Armstrong and Andrew Oaten got Grammar to within a point of victory. College scored after the siren to increase its winning margin to a mere two points. It was an excellent game played by two traditional APS schools, and MGS was unfortunate in just falling short of winning.

Next Saturday Grammar plays its final game for the season against CGS, which has won the APS premiership for the first time since it shared the 1989 premiership, with its last outright victory being in 1967.

Tags: Alex Armstrong, Alex Carter, Angus Lapin, Charles Shaw, Geelong College, Jack Macciolli, Rohan Barraclough, Tim McLardy