In what was a spectacular week for sport at St John’s College, our Hockey team has secured a remarkable back-to-back championship in the Rosebowl Hockey Tournament, defeating St Andrew’s College 2–1 in a thrilling grand final held at the St George Randwick Hockey Field.
As many will remember, 2024 marked the first-ever Rosebowl Hockey title for St John’s College. To return in 2025 and successfully defend the title is a testament to the team’s spirit, talent, and determination.
The grand final was an exhilarating contest, showcasing moments of brilliance from both sides. St Andrew’s struck first, scoring within the opening 15 minutes and maintaining a strong defensive structure for the remainder of the first half, which ended 1–0 in their favour.
St John’s responded early in the second half, with Captain Darcey Babbage finding the back of the goal within the first five minutes to level the score. As a 1-1 draw still meant an overall St Andrew’s win in the Rosebowl Hockey tournament, the pressure mounted as time ticked down.
Despite the team suffering two hamstring injuries that forced key players from the field, St John’s remained composed and tactically sharp. With just four minutes left on the clock, Sofia O’Sullivan delivered a stunning goal to put St John’s ahead 2-1.
In the closing moments, St Andrew’s launched an all-out offensive in search of an equaliser, but the St John’s defence held firm. A missed shot from St Andrew’s at the final whistle sealed a historic win for the College.
The team was expertly coached by alumna Issie Price, led on the field by Captain Darcey Babbage, with Emily Rockefeller also serving as Hockey Secretary and Ava Kelly as Rosebowl Secretary. Together, they built on the success of 2024 and continued to take the campaign from strength to strength.
A very special thank you to College Council Member Alex Winter-Irving, alumna and former Rosebowl Hockey player, who presented the team with their uniforms.
My heartfelt thanks also to our enthusiastic spectators, including Council members, staff, parents, alumni, and students, who braved one of the wettest weeks on record in Sydney to support the team. We were rewarded with not only a spirited match, but also a magnificent double rainbow at the start of the game.
Congratulations to every member of the Rosebowl Hockey team. Your grit, talent, and teamwork were truly inspiring.
Well done, St John’s College – champions once again!
Dr Mark Schembri
Rector
