Another chapter in the biggest rivalry in Bendigo school sport will be played out at the QEO on Wednesday.
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Catholic College Bendigo and Bendigo Senior Secondary College football teams meet in the third round of the School Sport Victoria Premier League competition.
BSSC has had the wood on CCB in recent seasons, but CCB enters this year’s clash in better form having won its two matches this year.
BSSC has split its opening two games in 2016 and must defeat its arch-rival on Wednesday to have any chance of advancing to the next stage.
“We’ve beaten CCB the past few years, but they’ve always been close games that have come down to the last five minutes,’’ BSSC coach Dean Sheldrick said.
“We’re expecting it to be another close game this time around.”
BSSC lost to Box Hill by two points before bouncing back with a 12-goal win over Lilydale.
CCB has scored impressive wins over Hallam and Box Hill and sit alongside Essendon-Keilor College as the only undefeated teams in their pool.
CCB and Essendn-Keilor College are drawn to meet in the final round of pool matches.
Both teams have been weakened by the unavailability of top line talent for Wednesday’s game.
Cooper Jones (CCB) and Kobe Mutch and Kane Farrell (BSSC) can’t play because of upcoming commitments in the AFL under-18 national championships.
BSSC has more Bendigo Pioneers-listed players than CCB in its team for Wednesday’s game.
Laine Fitzgerald, Angus Schumacher, Jonty Neaves, Wade Donnan, Matthew Higgs, Josh Formosa and Riley Saunders are just some of the Bendigo Pioneers-listed players who will represent BSSC.
“We’re confident that we’re going to be very competitive,’’ Sheldrick said.
CCB coach Lee Coghlan doesn’t have as much Pioneers talent at his disposal – Jordan Rosengren and Lachlan Wallace – but he does have a side that thrives on school football.
“About 80 per cent of our side is made up Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye under-18 players,’’ Coghlan said.
“They’ve played school footy together for up to six years and they’ve won some state titles in the younger age groups.
“They know how each other plays and they love playing alongside each other. It’s the only school footy game the boys get to play on the QEO and they’re pretty excited to make something of it.”
Wednesday’s game starts at 12.45pm.