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| 30 Jul 2026 | |
| Written by Prue Kline | |
| SPOC Sport |
| Andrew Strangways | Isaiah Luc | Bill Bradshaw | Samuel Wheaton | Jonny Silcock | |||||
| Peter Gao | David Ogilvie | Matthew Walsh | Andy Paull | Jason Ahmad | |||||
| Basketball, Tennis, Chess, Badminton, Golf, Hockey, Cricket |
The Intercollegiate competitions are a tradition dating back to the 1870s. These matches and games have been the source of memories for so many of us - of hard-fought victories and some devastating defeats.
As old scholars we continue our friendly rivalry with Princes throughout the year with Intercols held across 11 sports.
In Summer SPOC won the Tennis (122 -111points) and lost the Chester Bennett Cup for Cricket and the Bowls.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Tennis SPOC vs. PAOC
Photo: 2026 Intercol Tennis SPOC vs. PAOC
In July we hosted the Winter Intercol against Prince Alfred Old Collegians. The week started with the Intercol Golf Day at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club with a packed course of 120 players. Over lunch the individual prize were announced and overall winner. Congratulations to all the prize winners, a great result for SPOC retaining the Cup for another year!
Photo: 2026 Intercol Golf SPOC vs PAOC
SPOC Badminton had a very successful Old Scholars Intercol week, winning both the Badminton and Pickleball Intercol matches. In the Badminton, PAOC had a strong start, taking two of the three doubles matches. However, SPOC made a strong comeback, winning all six singles matches to regain the trophy after two years with a final score of 7–2. We were delighted to host the inaugural Pickleball Intercol. SPOC won all but one of the doubles and singles matches to lift the inaugural trophy.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Badminton Team
Photo: 2026 Intercol Pickleball Team
The Basketball Intercol was held on Monday 27 July at the SPSC Burchnall Sports Centre. SPOC C relinquished the Russell Trim Cup with a 44/46 loss. After an early deficit, the Cs clawed back momentum and had foul shots to tie at the death but were unsuccessful. Leading scorers: Fraser Balnaves (MAC 2022) 16 points, Dom Perrotta (HWD 2018) 11 points.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Basketball - SPOC C Grade team
SPOC B were locked in a tight 4 quarter battle that didn’t exceed a 6 point margin all game. PAOC snuck ahead at the end 46/50 and claimed the William Strangways Cup for another year. Leading scorer: Jared Vandersluys (FRR 2010) 19 points.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Basketball - SPOC B Grade team
SPOC A started slow and were held to a 10point buffer throughout. We lost the Caronia Cup 45/64. Leading scorers: Thomas Goodall (SHT 2015) 16 points, Ben Korte (HWK 2021) 12 points.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Basketball - SPOC A Grade team
The Hockey Intercol was held under lights at the PAC Hockey Fields on Wednesday 29 July, with the Old Blues delivering a dominant performance to defeat the Old Reds 12–4. The team featured an impressive line-up of premier, state and national-level players, including Australian Burras Under-21 representative Bryce Hammond (MAC 2024).
Photo: 2026 Intercol Hockey Team
SPOC hosted the second annual Texas Hold’em Poker Intercol. There was a great turnout for the tournament with 21 Blues and 14 Reds. The final points scoring table had an impressive 7 Blues and 2 Reds.
Giving us the victory with 26 / 9. This event has room for a few more players if you wish to try your luck next year!
Photo: 2026 Intercol Texas Hold' Em Poker team
The Snooker Intercol matches were played between two-man teams in the relaxed hospitalityof the Naval and Military club. This year’s Old Blues team consisted of Jason Ahmed (FLL 1987), Andrew Paull (SHT 1987), Karl Kirsten (YNG 1992), James Wilson (DAC 1982), David Barker (FLL 1993), Josh Crook (S&A 2020), Jock Gilbert (W&A 1970) and Jon Cocks (FLL 1972).
The Reds showed some fight early, grabbing an early lead. However, skipper Jason Ahmad’s solid play and dominant snooker by the Sydney-based visiting first-timer James Wilson gave us the upper hand and the trophy, nine frames to four. One highlight of the night was a magnificent frame-winning double across the table on the black by Jock Gilbert, and in the next frame an even more staggering length-of-the table winning double on the pink by Gilbert’s partner Jon Cocks.
Interrupted only by the Covid years, in 2027 it will be twenty years straight that we have held the annual Theodore Bruce trophy for SPOC vs PAOC snooker.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Snooker Team
Due to insufficient player numbers, the official Intercol Bridge and Chess fixtures did not proceed this year. To maintain the spirit of connection among the Old Blues, a social game of Bridge was held in the Big School Room. The occasion also provided an opportunity to honour the late Robert Black (SHT 1956) in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the Intercol competition.
The Squash Intercol was held at the RED Centre on Tuesday 28 July. The Old Reds proved strong opponents, with the Old Blues going down 6–0. Despite the result, the matches were, as always, played in excellent spirit, reflecting the friendly rivalry and camaraderie that define the Intercol tradition.
Photo: 2026 Intercol Squash team
The Annual Intercol is made possible through the ongoing support and generosity of our old scholar community. We extend our sincere thanks to this year's SPOC event convenors for their time, dedication and commitment:
2026 Results Summary
| EVENT | WINNER | RESULTS |
| Bowls | PAOC | 92 - 83 |
| Cricket | PAOC | |
| Tennis | SPOC | 122 - 111 |
| Badminton | SPOC | 7 - 2 |
| Basketball | PAOC |
64 - 45 (A Grade) |
| Golf | SPOC | 21 - 7 |
| Hockey | SPOC | 12 - 4 |
| Pickeball (NEW) | SPOC | 5 - 3 |
| Texas Hold'em Poker | SPOC | 7 - 2 |
| Snooker | SPOC | 9 - 4 |
| Squash | PAOC | 6 - 0 |
If you are interested in representing the Old Blues in the 2027 Intercol events, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at spoc@stpeters.sa.edu.au or phone 08 8404 0526.
