Schoolboy rugby league heavyweights Ignatius Park College Townsville and St Patrick’s College Mackay continue to flex their muscles in the Aaron Payne Cup Open age competition.
On the eve of the finals and with the minor premiership at stake, the proud sporting nurseries will square off in a preliminary round fixture in Townsville this week in a bid for bragging rights.
Four weeks ago the crack outfits met in the Grand Final of the 2022 Confraternity Shield Carnival in Mackay where Ignatius Park lifted the championship trophy in resounding fashion.
The St Patrick’s team is keen to exact revenge over their arch rivals and stake a claim for Cup honours but know they face a tough assignment.
Head Coach Michael Comerford believes his charges can turn the tables on Ignatius Park in coming weeks and restore some pride following the heavy 32-0 loss in the Confraternity Shield decider.
“The boys really have a point to prove and know their performance in the Confro final was under par,” explained Michael.
“We weren’t at our best but full marks to Ignatius Park who simply outplayed us on the day,” he said.
“The Aaron Payne Cup is a new competition and there is so much improvement to come from our squad – we have been building nicely leading in to the finals and gathering momentum” added Michael.
St Patrick’s College edged out Kirwan State High School 22-20 in an absorbing schoolboy Cup encounter at Mackay Junior League Fields last week.
The hard-fought win was the ideal tonic for the Mackay giants in preparation for the big clash with Ignatius Park with powerhouse forwards Matthew Watts, lock Henry Thorpe, Bray Tait, Levi Love and Patrick Vella producing stand out games.
Watts and Thorpe were superb as the St Patrick’s middle inspired a second half revival to nab two valuable competition points.
Tait and gun centre Kai Simon posted early tries as St Patrick’s jumped to a 10-0 lead before Kirwan State High responded with 20 unanswered points.
Clever half back Jaxon Purdue dashed over for an important try after the break that was converted by Simon before Emerging Queensland U/18s hooker Xavier Kerrisk fooled the defence to grab the match-winning try in a thrilling climax.
By Chris Karas
Mercy Stays On Top Of Cowboys Challenge
Mercy College Mackay maintained top position on the Cowboys Challenge competition table after toppling Kirwan State High 16-10 at the Mackay Junior League Fields.
The Mercy warriors turned in a trojan-like defensive effort to stave off a determined Kirwan side that dominated possession in the second half.
Talented Mercy forwards Hudson Clark, Hunter Harris, Saxon Crofts, Reuben Saren, centre Lachlan Whippy and astute five eighth Adam McSherry were instrumental in the six-point victory that keeps the Mackay school entrenched at the top of the competition ladder.
Clark and Whippy crossed for first half tries converted by McSherry to help Mercy establish a 12-6 lead at the break.
Livewire fullback Lane Maunder sealed victory for the home school midway through the second half when he weaved through the Kirwan defence to notch Mercy’s third try of the match.
Mercy kept the visitors at bay with bustling defence and the sound kicking game of playmaker McSherry, who menaced his Townsville-based rivals with uncanny ball placement in a tense finish.
Rising forward Matthew Watts turned in a powerful performance for St Patrick's College in a thrilling 22-20 victory over Kirwan State High School in the Aaron Payne Cup competition last week.
Skilful lock and inspirational captain Henry Thorpe is a player to watch for St Patrick's College when the Mackay school squares off with Ignatius Park College in a top of the table Aaron Payne Cup clash in Townsville this week
Talented Mercy College hooker Hudson Clark spins the ball to supports during a recent Cowboys Challenge Shield fixture
