Sport Highlights – Round 3 vs Padua College
Chess
Momentum continues to build across our Chess program with the First IV notching back-to-back wins and Intermediate B celebrating their first victory of the season. Thank you to our coaches Mr Schick, Ms Mascadri and Mr Pereria, along with Co-Coordinators Mrs Underhill and Mr Kennedy, for your continued leadership – and for hosting Padua last Friday night with professionalism and pride.
Football
Despite a challenging round, we saw standout efforts from the 8Bs, Fourths and the 5A, 5B and 6A teams – all of whom remain undefeated after three weeks of competition. Our Year 5 program continues to impress with four wins and a draw – testament to both our students’ growth and the tireless work of their coaches. The previous round, all six Year 5 teams had a win! The First XI were locked at 1–1 for most of the match before conceding late – another match that reflected their grit and hunger.
Rugby Union
Across the program against Padua College, we recorded 10 wins from 21 matches, with Year 5 teams maintaining their undefeated run and a notable victory from 6B (their first of the season), as well as strong showings in Years 7 and 9. A special mention to our 7As – still unbeaten – and to all coaches for your commitment through another intense round. The First XV went down 17–14 in an arm-wrestle – a tough result that showed the team’s fight and commitment. This was a strong backup performance by our Rugby Union players and support staff, after winning 11 from 12 matches against St Edmund’s College.
Looking Ahead – Round 4 vs Iona College
This weekend marks a key test as we face Iona College in Round 4 across all Trimester 2 sports. Years 5 to 8 will be on the road, while our senior teams enjoy the advantage of playing at home.
Friday will see several of our Chess teams photographed ahead of their fixtures – thank you to everyone supporting this busy afternoon and to those helping facilitate transitions between photos, warm-ups and competition.
Let us approach this weekend as a full College community – with intent, discipline and unity.
Midweek Spotlight
Our First XV delivered a commanding 33–7 win over Iona on Tuesday afternoon – a polished, team-first performance full of belief and physicality. With standout efforts across the park and strong support from the Villa crowd, the boys embodied what it means to play with heart, humility and pride in the green and gold.
Cross Country Update – Week 5 Lead-Up Meet
Our Cross Country runners continued preparations with a second lead-up meet at Curlew Park on Wednesday. Thank you to Mr Brian Pascoe and all attending staff for guiding our boys through these key practice events. The AIC Championships are just around the corner (Wednesday June 4) – every stride counts.
Raising the Standard – Mid-Season Reset
As we reach the halfway point of the Trimester 2 season, now is the time to reset our sights:
🔹 Training – turn up prepared, stay committed and back your teammates
🔹 Matchdays – arrive early (forming a tunnel for the team before you), wear the correct uniform and represent with pride (whether remaining available to the bench for subsequent teams or changing into formal uniform to support other teams)
🔹 Behaviour – whether on the field, on the sideline or online, ensure your conduct reflects our College values of humility, community and ongoing conversion
True sportsmanship is not just about how we perform – it is how we respond under pressure, how we carry ourselves in defeat and how we honour the jersey in every moment.
Thank You & Final Word
Thank you to all players, coaches, staff and families for your continued contributions to Villa Sport. Your time, energy and care do not go unnoticed.
This week, I encourage every Wildcat to be someone their team can rely on – in attitude, effort and example. Legacy is not built on one result. It is built on consistent actions, week after week.
Let us finish this round with the same passion we started the season with – playing for each other, playing for our College and playing the right way.
Finish strong. Finish together. Go Villa!
Mr Matthew Hannan, Director of Sport
KEY UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Communications
Families should access sports information via the Villanova College website and App. The Locker Room and Villanova College phone application will be relied on to provide key updates between Villa View issues. All training and match changes or cancellations will be communicated via the Villanova College phone application.
Trimester 3 Sport Sign-Ons – Basketball, Rugby League, Tennis, Track and Field – Now Online!
All nominations are due by next Friday, May 30. Register for Term 3 Sport here.
All students who are interested in representing Villa in AIC Basketball, Rugby League, Tennis and Track and Field; in Terms 3 and 4 (Track and Field) from Years 5-12; must complete an online registration link, which will also be accessible, on the Locker Room and Villanova College phone application this week.
Within the online form please tick your preference. Note that Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis will be played during the same time. Students who are eligible may choose either Basketball, Rugby League or Tennis as well as Track and Field (except for Years 5 and 6 students). We aim for all trialling Tennis students to be included in a team (however, this can be quite challenging for Basketball and Rugby League).
- BASKETBALL (selected students from Year 5 – 12): Year 5&6 matches are played on Friday evening and Year 7-12 games played on Saturday.
- RUGBY LEAGUE (Open to all students from Year 5 – 12): Games played on Saturday.
- TENNIS (Open to students from Year 5 – 12): Games played on Saturday.
- TRACK AND FIELD (Open to all students from Year 5 – 12): Lead-up meets generally on Friday afternoons and evenings.
We ask that all parents complete this online registration alongside their son. Information regarding the student’s name, year level, ID number, parent’s email address, DOB and sport selection is required.
We expect that when a boy commits to an activity that he follows that commitment through until the end of season. Both parents and players must acknowledge within the online sign-on form that they are aware of the College’s policies and expectations with regards to school sport. The College’s Selection Guidelines and Code of Conduct will also be found on the online sign-on form. Please note that school sport is to be given priority over club sport.
Villa Park Parking Reminder – Respecting Local Property and Access
We kindly remind families to avoid parking on driveways or private property associated with Hometown Bayside when attending Villa Park. While we understand parking can be difficult due to limited onsite availability, we ask all visitors to respect our neighbours and surrounding streets. As this is a public road, it remains outside the College’s jurisdiction – thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.
Sports Canteen Update – Transition to Cashless Payments
A reminder that the Villa Park Canteen is now cashless – only card or contactless payments will be accepted. Thank you for your understanding and support, as we streamline our operations.
No Dog Policy
A reminder to Villanova parents that there is a NO DOG policy at all AIC sporting fixtures. There has been a concern from some of the venue coordinators, including Villanova Park that pet owners are ignoring the signs placed on the gates at each venue. All pet owners who ignore the signs will be asked to remove their pets from the venue immediately.
Lost Property – Villanova Park
Any items left behind at Villa Park will be stored in the First Aid Room. Students are encouraged to collect these during their next visit to the venue.
FIXTURES, RESULTS and TRAINING INFORMATION
Schedule – Round 4 against Iona College for AIC Sport: Friday 23 May and Saturday 24 May, 2025
This week’s schedule is now available via the “Weekly Fixture/Draw Information” link on the Locker Room page.
Draws are typically posted each Wednesday ahead of the upcoming round. This is the earliest possible time the information can be made available.
Trimester 2 Season Results:
2025 Chess Round 3.pdf
2025 Football Round 3.pdf
2025 Rugby Union Round 3.pdf
AIC Draw 2025
Please find linked the AIC Draw for 2025.
Team Lists
Team lists will appear in the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe sections of the portal by Thursday prior to each round.
Training Schedules
For all updated information regarding training and selection trials schedules, please visit the Locker Room page of the Villanova College website. Please ensure you review the latest version, each week (note the version date, will feature in the title inside the document). The most recent versions include “…version current April 24” in their respective training schedule.
SPORT-SPECIFIC UPDATES
Sport Contact List
For information about a specific sport, please first visit the Locker Room page on our website. If you require further clarification, please contact the relevant Sport Coordinator, listed below.
Note: Report training or game absences directly to the Sport Coordinator.
Director of Sport – Matthew Hannan, matthew.hannan@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC AFL Coordinator – Matt Conlan, mconlan@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cricket Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Swimming Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cross-Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe – bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill, kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Football Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Basketball Coordinator – Stuart Rowland, srowland@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union League Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Tennis Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Track & Field Coordinator – Anthony Kemp, akemp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Water Polo Coordinator – Contact sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au
Composite District Sport – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
Lytton District Sport – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
Chess
Round 3 against Padua proved to be tougher than what we thought, but in true Villa Spirit, games were played with tenacity and vigour. Our first IV, who are our youngest in history, displayed their brilliance once again with a magnificent win 10-6, with sterling efforts from Adam, Tom and Jackson. Our intermediate B team, also victorious 10-6, played in a similar fashion, taking no prisoners. We look forward to another home round this Friday against Iona and it promises to be a afternoon full of ‘Checkmate!’ for the Green and Gold! We would dearly welcome any students in years 10-12 to fill in this Friday in the Senior Division, so if you are willing and able, please contact Mr Kennedy. You will be well fed and very much appreciated!!
Mrs Kath Underhill and Mr Hayden Kennedy, Chess Coordinators
Cross Country
Following a wash out last week Villanova’s cross-country squad, the ‘Running Wildcats’ competed in the first trial for the year with many excellent performances at the St Patricks’ playing fields Cross-Country Course.
The challenge at training is to do the training at 4 minutes per kilometre or quicker. This is a significant pace to run at, but it is the challenge set. There were many boys who in the trial were able to maintain the challenging pace for their entire race. This reflects the effort and intent they have applied to their training and a very positive indication that the training performances has transferred to the racetrack.
Congratulations to all 90 Running Wildcats who proudly represented Villa at the St Patrick’s Warm-up Meet.
The final cross-country trial will be at the playing fields of St Laurence’s College at Runcorn next Wednesday afternoon. I challenge all Running Wildcats to attend to compete for a final chance to ensure their place in the team competing at the AIC Cross-Country Championships on the 4th of June at Curlew Park, Sandgate.
Mr Brian Pascoe, Cross Country Coordinator
Football
As I walked around the ‘Padua College Playing Fields’ last Saturday, it was extremely pleasing to witness such a positive and infectious vibe amongst our Football teams for our round 3 matches Vs Padua College.
The results overall from the weekend were a bit of a mixed bag, the final wash up in terms of results was 7 wins, 4 draws and 19 losses. We had plenty of close matches on the weekend and it always shows the importance of playing out the entire duration of the match and staying completely focused. The game is made up of little moments that can change momentum of the match instantly, if we can turn the 50-50 challenges into our favour, I’m sure that we’ll see some more positive results on the scoreboard across our year groups.
Our first XI team had a tough 2-1 loss against Padua, although I’m sure that the boys are disappointed with the outcome, I was extremely proud of the team’s efforts on the day and the exciting brand of Football that was played. I know that our first XI team will continue to work hard at training and will be looking to put up another strong “team performance” this Saturday against Iona College.
As we approach the halfway point of the football season, I ask all players to keep listening to your coaches at training and to finish the season strong. We face a very strong opponent this Saturday in Iona College, look at it as a great challenge “within the season” to really put your best foot forward and show that true Villanova spirit.
Our years 9-Open Football teams playing at Villa Park this Saturday will have their team photos. Can I kindly remind all students to make sure that they’re wearing the correct playing uniform for the ‘team photos’ and to also check the “photo schedule” so that you arrive in time for your allocated team photo.
Good luck to all teams this weekend in your round 4 matches Vs Iona College.
If parents or students have any questions about Football, please contact the following staff directly:
Years 5-8 Football: Junior Football Coordinator – Ms. Maria Mascadri, mmascadri@vnc.qld.edu.au
Years 9-Opens Football: Football Coordinator – Mr Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
Mr Nathan Dufty, Football Coordinator
Rugby Union
Round 2 Review v St. Edmund’s College
It was a successful day of rugby at St. Edmund’s two weeks ago, with 15 wins and 9 losses in total and claiming 11 aggregate wins out of 12. The boys were putting behind them a tough round 1 and came out ready to play. From the 8Bs early in the morning, till the 1sts kicked off at 3pm, Villa performed well throughout the day. The 1st XV match was a closely fought game early on, before Villa had a dominant second half and ran away with the game.
Round 3 review v Padua College:
Villa came away with 10 wins and 11 losses last Saturday. There were many games played where our boys were up against bigger and faster teams but were committed to playing hard and competing at each breakdown and scrum. The Year 5-8 boys played at Banyo and came away with 7 wins and 6 losses. The Year 5 and 7 teams continue to impress and had comfortable wins and have been successful in the opening three rounds of the season. All three Year 5 teams remain undefeated. The First XV came up short 14-17 and were very close to toppling the current first XV champions.
Round 4 review, Villa 1st XV v Iona 1st XV:
Due to a number of players being selected in the Met East team to contest the state championships this weekend, the game between Iona 1st XV and Villa 1st XV was rescheduled to last Tuesday at Easts Rugby Club. A large crowd gathered around 3pm to witness a pretty dominant performance from the Villa team to run away 33-7 victors. Villa set the tone early on in the game and ran in two early tries on the back of some powerful line running and defensive line that Iona found hard to break. Villa repelled Iona on many occasions as they threatened Villa’s tryline to keep them to 1 try for the match. The crowd went away happy and it would be great to have some AIC fixtures midweek games played at Easts in the future. All other round 4 games will be played this Saturday, with the older boys at home and the juniors at Iona College.
If parents or students have any questions about Rugby Union, please contact the following staff directly:
Years 5-8 Rugby Union: Junior Coordinator – Mr Wian Joubert, wian.joubert@vnc.qld.edu.au
Years 9-Opens Rugby Union: Rugby Union Coordinator – Mr Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
Mr Chris Everding, Rugby Union Coordinator
Villa 1st XV vs Iona College
In a rescheduled Round 4 clash under lights at Bottomley Park, the Villanova First XV delivered a commanding performance, defeating Iona College 33–7 in a spirited local derby.
From the opening whistle, Villa imposed themselves on the contest with powerful line running and relentless defensive pressure. The team’s ability to execute a clear and disciplined game plan was on full display, setting the tone early with two unanswered tries and maintaining control throughout the match.
Hooker Jett T. and prop Sam B. were unstoppable close to the line, each scoring twice in a dominant forward display, while Lachie F.’s tactical kicking under pressure consistently turned Iona around and created space for the team to build momentum. Captain Matt L. led with heart and composure, setting the standard in both attack and defence, and was backed by strong performances from Hudson B., Darcy K., Alex B., and Finn S.
Villa’s defensive structure was a highlight — turning away multiple Iona threats near the try line and keeping them to a single score for the match. It was a true team effort, underpinned by grit, trust, and a commitment to improving each week.
With the Villa faithful in full voice on the sideline, this midweek win was more than just a result — it was a statement. A performance full of heart, pride and purpose that sets a powerful tone for the remainder of the season.
As Round 4 fixtures continue this weekend, we look forward to seeing our junior teams in action at Iona College, while the older grades return to home turf. Thank you to Easts Rugby Club for hosting a memorable evening of schoolboy rugby.
Mr Mannie Navarro, First XV Coach
Football and Rugby Union reminders
AIC Football/Rugby Union Referees needed!
If you can assist with refereeing Rugby Union or Football matches, please contact the staff below. We are still in need of referees for the season.
Rugby Union: Years 5-12 – ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
Football: Years 5-12 – ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
Football and Rugby Union Training – Transport and Venue Details
For teams’ training at Villa Park, please note the following:
- Buses will depart immediately after school from Sixth Avenue, outside the front of the College.
- A teacher will escort players onto the buses.
- Players are to change into their training gear at Villa Park.
- Students must not wear boots on the bus.
Parents are required to collect their son from Villa Park after training. There will be no return bus service from Villa Park. Parents are asked to collect players between 5:15pm and 5:25pm from Villa Park – no later, please. Our aim is to avoid requiring Villanova staff to remain on-site beyond 5:25pm. We appreciate your support and consideration.
Villanova Football and Rugby Union Game Day Uniforms:
ALL students from Years 5-12 in both Football and Rugby Union must purchase the Villanova Football and Rugby Union uniform in readiness for the up-coming season. This includes shorts, jersey and socks. The Uniform Shop will have all Football and Rugby Union gear available for purchase.
Players not in the correct uniform are to receive a warning and may be asked to sit out the following week, if the issue is not resolved. Families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Villanova College Uniform Look Book. This information is found on the College website Uniform Shop web page. Opening hours for the Uniform Shop can also be found below. All students selected in AIC teams are expected to wear the correct uniform for AIC fixtures each week.
2025 Uniform Shop Hours (School Term Only):
Monday: 7:30am – 9.30am
Tuesday: 7:30am – 9.30am
Wednesday: 7:30am – 9.30am
Thursday: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Friday: CLOSED
What to wear at training?
It is acceptable for both Football and Rugby Union players to wear any coloured/club or other old clothes to training. Boys are not encouraged to wear their Villanova playing uniform to training but may do so if they wish. We certainly would not recommend Rugby Union players to wear their PE uniform or any shirt that will get ripped and torn.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parent Volunteers
Join the Villanova College Sports Club in supporting our sporting community. Volunteers are needed at Goold Hall on Saturdays throughout Term 1. Please click the weekly registration link on The Locker Room and Villanova College phone application in the Notices section, in order to register as a volunteer for events. Your contribution makes a real difference to our sporting community. Thank you for your anticipated support!
Sports Club – Villa Park Canteen Volunteers
The Villa Sports Club will be looking for volunteers to assist on the Villa Park canteen in Term 2. There will be a registration link sent out to the community each week for parents to sign up. Proceeds from the Villa Park canteen go directly to the development of all our AIC sporting programmes.
The next opportunity to assist at Football and Rugby Union games is this Saturday 24 May. Please click on the link below to register your assistance. We really do appreciate it.
Villa Park Canteen – Register here – Sat 24 May
SPECIALISED SERVICES
Basketball: Our Wildcats’ Academy – Sharpen Skills each Sunday!
The Wildcats Basketball Academy is back! This popular program returns for an action-packed 7-week block, running Sundays from May 11 to June 22. Sessions will be held in Goold Hall between 7:30am–10:30am (see your son’s allocated time below).
Led by elite coaches from the NBL, WNBL, NBL1 and beyond – including our 1st V staff – each session focuses on:
• Shooting technique and ball handling
• Defensive and offensive footwork
• Court awareness and game IQ
• Team concepts and spacing
• Strength, agility and conditioning
Session Times
Year 5: 7:30 – 8:30am
Years 6/7: 8:30 – 9:30am
Years 8/9: 9:30 – 10:30am
Details
Cost: $140 (NON-REFUNDABLE)
Venue: Goold Hall, Villanova College
Register now via Parent Lounge to secure your place! Let the Wildcats Academy sharpen your son’s skills, fitness and confidence this term.
Physiotherapy
A friendly reminder that strapping is available for all Firsts players in AFL, Rugby Union, Football and Rugby League at a cost of $5 per joint, charged to school fee accounts. This service will continue each Saturday.
Strength and Conditioning Update – Staying Strong in Season
It’s been a massive week for Villanova Rugby. Our First XV delivered two impressive performances – first, a narrow loss to Padua, the competition’s top side, in a gutsy match that highlighted the team’s physical and technical preparation. Then on Tuesday, they backed it up with a dominant win over Iona. The mindset carried through and so did the physical readiness – while the opposition battled cramps, our boys kept pushing with composure and intent.
With contact sports now underway, this is the time to double down on gym attendance. Staying strong, sharp and robust is what separates those who endure from those who break down. For anyone dealing with soreness or minor injuries, our Monday Rehab class offers a targeted way to stay moving and avoid setbacks.
A shout out as well to our basketball and volleyball athletes already putting in the work ahead of their seasons. The effort and consistency being shown in the gym during this pre-season block is exactly what sets a foundation for performance when the games begin.
We also welcome Liam to the team – a PhD student at Griffith University and ASCA Level 2 coach with years of experience. He’ll be assisting in classes from this week and will be a great addition to the program.
Finally, hats off to our teachers who continue to lead by example in the Friday S&C sessions. It’s great to see staff and students pushing together.
Let’s keep the momentum going.
Mr Marco Mastrorocco, S&C Coordinator (from Athletix Team)
REGIONAL & EXTERNAL SPORTS
Composite Sport (13-19 Years)
Nomination paperwork is available from the Sports Office for the following Sports.
Sport |
Age group/s |
Return of paperwork |
Surfing |
13 – 19 Years |
Thursday 22 May |
Baseball |
12 – 14 Years |
Thursday 5 June |
Mr Todd Kropp, Composite Sport Coordinator
SPORT DEPARTMENT REMINDERS
Wet Weather Cancellations
If there is any reason to cancel training sessions or weekend games, this information will be posted to the Villanova College phone application in the Notices section. Please ensure you have downloaded the Villanova College application and updated your preferences and settings.
The Villanova Sports Department will endeavour to cancel morning training sessions by 6am and afternoon training sessions by 1pm. If a training session is cancelled, boys are not able to be dropped off to the training venue as there will not be supervision present. Please check the Villanova College phone application regularly for these notifications.
If any AIC fixtures are cancelled, we will follow the same procedure above. Timing will be dependent on when that information becomes available.
FINAL REFLECTION
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing.” – Pelé
There is something special about this part of the season. Momentum builds, habits lock in and belief rises – and across Villanova Sport we are seeing that spirit come to life.
From our First Chess team’s steady climb to the First XI’s passion on the pitch to our First XV’s physicality and heart – our top teams continue to lead by example. They carry the jersey with pride and remind us what it means to compete with purpose. But it is not just about the Firsts – it is every team, every coach, every student showing up and backing their mates that is creating something powerful.
Now our attention also turns to the runners. Week 7’s AIC Cross Country Championships are almost here – and our squad is shaping up strongly. To every student hitting the trails at Curlew Park: your grit, your discipline and your drive to improve are inspiring. Keep building. Keep believing.
Let us stay the course – one session, one contest, one cheer at a time.
We Can Win and We Will Learn
Go Villa! 💚💛