PSA Footy: Quinten Lynch’s Aquinas side face massive PSA test when they meet powerhouse Scotch College

Aquinas’ Alcock Cup credentials will be put to the test on Saturday when they face a Scotch College team fresh off a devastating loss to fellow contenders Wesley. A Mitch Miller, Will Cassidy and Reuben Ginbey-led Wesley side held the reigning premiers goalless in an impressive final term to close out a statement victory. But at the same time the tournament’s sleeping giant Aquinas recorded their first win, after a gruelling early season draw left them winless after four weeks. Quinten Lynch’s side played powerhouses Wesley and Hale in the opening rounds and had their bye, but finally broke through with a dominant 63-point win against Trinity last week. But Steve Malaxos’ Scotch side presents a whole new challenge for Aquinas and Lynch said he was looking forward to trying to defend home turf against the side he praised as the benchmark of the competition. “Scotch will be around the mark again I’ve got no doubt, they had a very close loss to Wesley on the weekend,” he said. “It will be a real test, back on our home deck which we pride ourselves on not being beaten there which has already happened this year. “We want to make sure we keep our winning roll running and there is no beater team to do it against than Scotch, who have been the benchmark of the comp for the last couple of years.” Exciting Aquinas youngster Ashton Warner, whose two older brothers have both already found their way to Sydney, is continuing to develop since debuting in round 1 and played his best game for the school against Trinity. “He is obviously only young and probably just picking up the pace of the game but he had a pretty good second half and got on the end of a few, so he is growing in confidence every week and is a true competitor — as they all are,” Lynch said. “If you ask him he would say the speed is something he has found to be the biggest difference but every game that goes past he is finding his feet and getting a lot more confidence.” Wesley joined Hale at the top of the ladder with their nail-biting two-point win on Saturday, have put some of their tough early fixtures behind them and have already weathered a COVID crisis, which should leave them mostly in the clear. But coach Michael Broadbridge said games against Christ Church and the winless Guildford in the next fortnight were important for the school as they look to bank wins ahead of tougher assignments ahead. “We have a similar approach every week, we have a similar approach to what we had last year and we are just applying that and trying to improve and I think the players, the young men at the school are embracing that and are really wanting to learn and keep getting better,” he said. “We have got to play all of the big schools again and we have got games coming up against Christ Church and Guildford that we can’t take for granted. “It is a funny sort of competition, you can’t afford to drop too many games otherwise you’re gone. “you never know from one week to the next how bad you are going to get hit by COVID or whatever it might be. “We have got State games coming up so we will lose a few players to that at some point in time.” In the other game, Hale return after a bye and will look to reclaim top spot on the ladder and keep their unbeaten record in tact when they face Trinity. Trinity were put to the sword at home by Aquinas last week and by Wesley the week before — recording their only win three weeks ago against Guildford. The Grammarians will have to wait at least one more week to break their season duck, having the bye this week before returning to face Wesley next weekend.