Kingsway defeat Trinity Aquinas to win their second A Grade premiership in history
16 Sep, 2024
Kingsway have lifted the Sandover Shield for a second time in four years after a 29-point win over minor premiers Trinity Aquinas.
The Roos handed a second dose of Grand Final heartache to the Boomers in a 13.6 (84) to 8.7 (55) victory at Pentanet Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Toyota A Grade Grand Final WATCH THE FULL REPLAY
Blake Borrett opened the scoring for Trinity Aquinas within the first minute of the opening term before Michael Sinclair added a second and gave the minor premiers a dream start on the big stage.
Kingsway responded with their first goal of the day coming from Connor Patterson and a second followed from Kyle Halligan as he split the middle from a set shot on a tight angle.
Michael Sinclair was becoming a huge problem as he added two more goals to his tally in quick succession, before Braydn Furmark was able to find a settler for Kingsway just before the quarter time siren to go into the first break trailing by 2 points.
Michael Sinclair (Trinity Aquinas)
It was all Kingsway in the second quarter as their run and carry on the big deck began to open up the game as they piled on four goals to zero.
With two majors from Kyle Halligan in the opening three minutes of the term and goals from Mitchell Hassett and Blake Morris, the margin opened up to 19 points at the main break.
Kyle Halligan (Kingsway)
2024 CJ Jamieson Medallist Jaxon McGowan set up Braydn Furmark for the opening goal of the second half and things began to look dire for Adam Pickering and his men.
The Boomers were not going down without a fight, finding a major from beyond the 50-metre arc via Jordan Leeson before kicking three consecutive behinds as the momentum began to shift.
All Trinity Aquinas’ work was undone when Kingsway were able to counter-attack through the middle of the ground and set up their captain Rowan Brookes for his first goal and his side’s ninth of the afternoon.
Rowan Brookes (Kingsway)
With the margin extending to 22 points in favour on Kingsway with six minutes remaining in the third term, Haydn Busher announced himself on the game and kicked two massive goals to cut the lead down to just 10 points going into the final break.
After a stalemate for the first nine minutes of the last quarter, Kingsway had all the run left in their legs and took control of the game, kicking four goals to one to secure the premiership.
They found a goal out the back of the Boomers defence via Keenan Hooper before Blake Morris added his second of the day which sent the Kingsway crowd into raptures.
If the Roos weren’t already looking premiership bound, a running goal to Trey Kennedy put all doubt aside as a Kingsway chant broke out in the away supporter’s end.
To seal the premiership, captain Rowan Brookes marked in the goal square with just seconds remaining and went back to slot his second of the day as the siren sounded and the Kingsway faithful came from the fences to join in on the celebrations.
Kingsway celebrate before the final siren
Jaxon McGowan rounded out a remarkable season for Kingsway, where he won the PFL’s A Grade Fairest & Best award, by winning the BJ Giles Medal for best-on-ground.
FINAL SCORES
TRINITY AQUINAS: 4.0, 4.3, 7.7, 8.7 (55)
KINGSWAY: 3.4, 7.4, 9.5, 13.6 (84)
GOALS
TRINITY AQUINAS: M. Sinclair 3, H. Busher 3, J. Leeson, B. Borrett
KINGSWAY: K. Halligan 3, R. Brookes 2, B. Morris 2, B. Furmark 2, T. Kennedy, C. Patterson, K. Hooper, M. Hassett
B.J GILES MEDAL: Jaxon McGowan (Kingsway)
