St Patrick’s College and Mercy College are the toast of Mackay after meritorious achievements at the CQUniversity Confraternity Rugby League and QISSN Netball Carnivals last week.
Co-hosted by both schools for the first time in its proud 42-year history, the 2022 CONFRO sporting extravaganza proved a resounding success on and off the field and courts with more than 2600 athletes, officials and volunteers participating in one of the smoothest run events on record.
Sporting enthusiasts were treated to a feast of quality rugby league and netball during the five-day event with the host schools carving out their own slice of history.
In a tremendous feat, St Patrick’s College reached the Grand Final of both the Boys and Girls Confraternity Shield Rugby League competitions and finished fifth and third respectively in the QISSN Netball Division 1 Girls and Boys categories.
The celebrations continued when Diana Bailey’s talented Mercy College netballers lifted the Division 6 Trophy after a thrilling 16-15 victory over Marist College Emerald on the final day.
Proud rugby league nursery Ignatius Park College captured a seventh Confraternity Shield title when they overpowered a gallant St Patrick’s outfit 32-0 in the Boys decider.
Maestro half back Matthew Hunter, power forwards Jamal Shibasaki, Jamaine Stanley, hooker Jonah Raidaveta, fullback Elijah Joe, winger Tekelu Menu and five eighth Reece Foley led the way as Ignatius spoilt the Mackay team’s bid for a ninth trophy with jarring defence and sheer pace and skill.
Ignatius Park – who have produced Australian Kangaroo representatives Danny Moore, Scott Prince, Aidan Guerra, Valentine Holmes, Michael Morgan and Queensland Origin stars Kalyn Ponga and Coen Hess since established in 1969 – led 14-0 at the half time interval following tries by centre Jack Prior and lock Stanley and three Brodie Dinneen goals before adding three tries after the break.
St Patrick’s just couldn’t produce the slick form that netted them victories over St Peter Claver College Ipswich (34-10); Rockhampton Grammar (20-6) and Iona College Wynnum (10-6) in Pool fixtures before tipping out St Augustine's Cairns (28-0) in a quarter final and The Cathedral College Rockhampton (16-6) in a semifinal.
As a just reward four players – centre Kai Simon; five eighth Jaxon Purdue; hooker Xavier Kerrisk and inspirational lock and skipper Henry Thorpe – were named in the 2022 Confraternity Merit Team along with stalwart Matthew Paul, who was chosen as Honorary Coach after 20 years of distinguished service.
Officials also presented industrious forward Patrick Vella with the Spirit Award while rising hooker Kerrisk took out the Best & Fairest trophy.
Other players to shine were fullback Will Shears, winger Coby Arthur, centre Beau Jones, five eighth Harry Thorpe, props Levi Love and Matthew Watts, back rowers Liam Doherty and Bray Tait, Decy Jones and Hudson Galletly.
WOMEN CREATING HISTORY
St Patrick’s women players created history when they featured in the inaugural QISSRL Confraternity Shield Girls Grand Final.
Marymount College in Burleigh Waters claimed the title with a gritty 18-10 triumph over a determined Mackay team that fought tooth and nail in an absorbing contest.
Promising lock Lily Rose Kolc engineered the victory with a Player of the Match performance and was supported by hooker Hayley Sheather, centre Liberty Hoath, props Keely Harris and Piper Stockell and second rower Ellie Sommerville.
Both sides were locked 4-all at the interval following first half tries by Hoath and St Patrick’s dynamo hooker Paityne Johns before Sommerville and winger Sienna Jones nabbed two quick tries out wide as Marymount jumped to a 14-4 lead.
Strong running lock Gracie Watt kept St Patrick’s in the hunt with a determined try after 42 minutes that was converted by forward Lauren Jones.
St Patrick's College Mackay Open rugby league squad that finished runners up at the 2022 Confraternity Shield Rugby League Carnival
Industrious St Patrick's forward Patrick Vella in action with the ball during the Confraternity Shield Rugby League Grand Final against eventual winners Ignatius Park College with teammates Henry Thorpe and Xavier Kerrisk in support. Vella was the recipient of the St Patrick's Spirit Award
