Scotch College

Scotch Soccer Season Summary

The Scotch touring team

In 2003, the First XI soccer team has been impressive. This year a mixture of experience and young talent has created a lethal combination capable of beating any team in the APS competition.

The pre-season tour to Canberra primed the Scotch First XI juggernaut for the coming APS season. The talent of our classy lineup perhaps created an aura of over-confidence amongst the team. An unexpected loss to Brighton Grammar in round one sent shock waves through the ranks of Scotch Soccer and the First XI. In the face of an embarrassing defeat, the team was determined to remedy their season. Playing exceptional soccer with true Scotch spirit, the team produced four successive victories, including a 3-2 win over Wesley College, their first defeat in over two years.

The team's sixth round match was scheduled against Caulfield Grammar School; on a day marred by poor weather conditions the team lost a hotly contested match, 3-1. Approaching the holiday break, the First XI was determined to win against last year's premiers, Xavier College. In a match that can only be described as magnificent, the team attained an emphatic 2-1 victory.

Scotch Soccer and St Peter's Soccer come together

Upon our return from the term two holidays, each member of the First XI hosted billets from St Peter's College, Adelaide. Each year the two schools play for the John Roe Perpetual Shield. In front of a colossal home crowd, Scotch dominated the match. The final score was 2-0. After three years in Adelaide, the John Roe Shield was finally at home, here in Melbourne. In the APS competition our next fixture was against a resilient Geelong Grammar side. Notwithstanding a dominant performance, we failed to show our superiority on the scoreboard. The match finished in a 1-1 draw. In the coming week Scotch played the league leaders, St Kevin's College. The match was unimaginably close, Scotch outplaying the undefeated side for much of the match. Unfortunately lapses in concentration let us down and we fell 2-1, our first home defeat. The following week, round nine of the competition, the First XI rebounded with a commanding performance. Scotch defeated Hailebury College 6-3.

Scotch finished the year strongly, claiming the Pelman Cup against Peninsula Grammar and finishing the season in 4th position.

David McIntosh
Captain of Soccer