The historic Confraternity Shield will bring together semi-finalists from across the state on Thursday after a thrilling finish to today’s quarter-finals in Charters Towers.
Watched on by a host of NRL scouts, Confraternity powerhouses Ignatius Park College, Townsville, were joined in the final four by The Cathedral College, Rockhampton, St Peter Claver College, Riverview and St Mary’s College, Toowoomba.
Ignatius Park and Rockhampton Grammar featured in a compelling quarter-final which blew open in the first minute when Ignatius Park scored from the kick-off. But Rockhampton Grammar hit back, scorching to an 18-10 lead in the final minutes of “heartbreak Tuesday”.
The day is so named because of the energy needed to play four matches across Monday and Tuesday, culminating in the first quarter-final matches in the afternoon.
>>> Day 1 results can be view here
Rockhampton Grammar, last year’s champions, felt the disappointment of “heartbreak Tuesday” as Ignatius Park scored two late tries, atoning for their loss when the teams met in last year’s grand final.
Matt Geyer’s Marymount College (Burleigh Heads) also experienced Tuesday disappointment after their inspiring run through the pool matches ended in a 16-24 loss to The Cathedral College. Marymount had emerged as a title contender after Geyer’s son Cole led the team to an upset win over Rockhampton Grammar on Monday.
St Peter Claver’s 10-0 win over St Augustine’s College, Cairns, came after a scoreless game broke open in the final minutes. St Mary’s had an easier run in their 36-4 win over Aquinas College, Ashmore.
Ignatius Park College, whose previous players include Origin players Michael Morgan, Valentine Holmes and Coen Hess, will meet Johnathan Thurston’s former school St Mary’s in Thursday’s semi-final. Anthony Milford’s former school St Peter Claver will meet The Cathedral College, which is seeking its first Confraternity Shield.
The Confraternity Carnival brings together teams from 48 schools across Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Catholic schools Carnival has developed a reputation as a fine rugby league nursery with its graduates including more than 150 NRL players, more than 30 Origin players and 20 Kangaroos representatives.
The Confraternity Carnival is staged by the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools’ Rugby League with this year’s matches played at Charters Towers’ Columba College. The fields have been turned out in superb condition.
QISSRL president Peter Elmore said the second day of play was again well contested.
“These young men do their schools proud. They play hard rugby league on the field but we’re very encouraged to see the way that they continue to hold up the Carnival’s ideals of sportsmanship, respect and fellowship,” Mr Elmore said.
“We’ve got an exciting conclusion on Thursday and Friday but tomorrow these players get a well-deserved rest.”
Full results from the opening day can be found on the Confraternity Shield app: Apple: http://apple.co/2tt17LK or Android: http://bit.ly/2ttr6CJ
Day 2 results
Pool matches
Division 1 - Round 3
Ignatius Park College, Townsville 34 d St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 0
The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 14 d Emmaus College, Rockhampton 6
Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 18 drew with St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon 18
The Rockhampton Grammar School 28 d Marist College, Ashgrove 0
St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe 4 drew with Aquinas College, Ashmore 4
St Peter Claver College, Ipswich 22 d St Patrick’s College, Mackay 12
St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 26 d St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie 18
St Augustine’s College, Cairns 26 d Padua College, Kedron 14
Division 2 - Round 3
St Joseph’s College, Stanthorpe / Assumption College, Warwick 16 vs All Souls St Gabriel’s College (1), Charters Towers 8
Faith Lutheran Plainland 18 d Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers 14
St Thomas More College, Sunnybank 34 d St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 0
Marist College, Emerald 18 d St Mary’s College, Maryborough / St Patrick’s College, Gympie 12
St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane 24 d St Columban’s College, Caboolture 0
Clairvaux Mackillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt 10 d Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers 6
St Michael’s College, Merrimac 22 d Ryan Catholic College, Townsville 0
Iona College, Wynnum 16 drew with Holy Spirit College, Mackay 16
Division 3 - Round 3
Shalom College, Bundaberg 18 d St James’ College, Spring Hill 0
St Mary’s College, Casino 10 d Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 6
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 38 d Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham 4
Chanel College, Gladstone 36 d St Augustine’s College, Springfield 0
Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby 16 d Trinity College, Beenleigh 4
St Anthony’s Catholic College, Townsville 18 d St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree 6
Emmaus College, Jimboomba 30 d All Souls St Gabriel’s College (2), Charters Towers 6
Good Shepherd Catholic College, Mount Isa 24 d St John’s Catholic School, Roma 0
>>> After the pool matches were completed, teams were divided into qualifying finals for the Confraternity Shield and also the Trophy, Plate, Bowl, Cup and Challenge competitions. Eight teams were allocated to each competition depending on their finishing position in the pool matches. The Confraternity Shield contains the highest-ranked teams followed by the Trophy, Plate, Bowl, Cup and Challenge.
Quarter-finals
Confraternity Shield
Ignatius Park College, Townsville 20 d The Rockhampton Grammar School 18
The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 24 d Marymount College, Burleigh Heads 16
St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 36 d Aquinas College, Ashmore 4
St Peter Claver College, Riverview 10 d St Augustine’s College, Cairns 0
Confraternity Trophy
St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon 32 d St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 6
Marist College, Ashgrove 18 d Emmaus College, Rockhampton 0
St Patrick’s College, Mackay d Padua College, Kedron 8
St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie 42 d St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe 6
Confraternity Plate
St Michael’s College, Merrimac 20 d Faith Lutheran Plainland 8
Clairvaux Mackillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt 28 d St Joseph’s College, Stanthorpe / Assumption College, Warwick 12
Iona College, Wynnum 26 d Marist College, Emerald 8
St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane 14 d St Thomas More College, Sunnybank 10
Confraternity Bowl
Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers 22 d All Souls St Gabriel’s College (1), Charters Towers 12
St Mary’s College, Maryborough / St Patrick’s College, Gympie 12 d Holy Spirit College, Mackay 10
Blackheath & Thornburgh College, Charters Towers 26 d Ryan Catholic College, Townsville 22
St Columban’s College, Caboolture 32 d St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 6
Confraternity Cup
Trinity College, Beenleigh 22 d Emmaus College, Jimboomba 12
Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby 28 d Good Shepherd Catholic College, Mt Isa 0
Chanel College, Gladstone 30 d Shalom College, Bundaberg 0
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 34 d St James’ College, Spring Hill 4
Confraternity Challenge
St John’s Catholic School, Roma 18 d St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree 6
St Anthony’s Catholic College, Townsville 44 d All Souls St Gabriel’s College (2), Charters Towers 12
St Augustine’s College, Springfield 14 d Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 10
Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham 36 d St Mary’s College, Casino 0
Photo: Ignatius Park College (blue and white) v Rockhampton Grammar in the quarter-final.
