Top four spots on the line in Aaron Payne Cup
- Author
- Timestamp
All-important top four spots are on the line in the Aaron Payne Cup when the final two rounds kick off today in Mackay.
The Schoolboy competition encompassing schools from across Northern Queensland will finish the regular season with a two-day double-header at the Mackay Junior Rugby League grounds.
The ladder-leading Ignatius Park College can wrap up the minor premiership with a win against The Cathedral College tomorrow after having a bye in today’s Round 5 action.
In other matches today, it’s a must-win game for the fourth-placed Mackay State High School against TCC should they wish to qualify for the semi finals.
Mackay were forced to forfeit their previous round match against Kirwan State High School due to an injury crisis but are back with a vengeance at home in their final regular match of this year’s competition.
Kirwan SHS are vouching for a top two finish when they face Rockhampton Grammar School today, as are St Brendan’s College when they tackle St Patrick’s College, Mackay.
Today’s results are crucial in the makeup of the final four.
Should Kirwan and St Brendan’s both get wins today, tomorrow’s Round 6 clash will ultimately be a mouth-watering decider to secure an illustrious top two spot and a ticket to this year's NRL Schoolboy Cup finals.
Today’s matchup between TCC and Mackay SHS will also decide who takes fourth-spot, unless TCC lose today but upset Ignatius Park by a considerable margin tomorrow.
Follow this week's double-header, the top four sides will qualify for the semi finals to be played on Wednesday, July 24.
In Brisbane tomorrow, Round 4 of the Allan Langer Trophy for Southern Queensland schools kicks off with a mammoth clash between heavyweights Marsden State High School and Keebra Park State High School.
The winner will take the competition's top spot and has been of huge interest after Marsden knocked Keebra Park out of the last year's NRL Schoolboy Cup.
All games will be live streamed via The Courier Mail.
Aaron Payne Cup Ladder
| # | TEAM | P | W | L | B | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ignatius Park | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +62 | 8 |
| 2 | Kirwan SHS | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +80 | 6 |
| 3 | St Brendan's College | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +56 | 6 |
| 4 | Mackay SHS | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -10 | 4 |
| 5 | The Cathedral College | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | -22 | 4 |
| 6 | St Patrick's College | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -64 | 2 |
| 7 | Rockhampton Grammar School | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -102 | 0 |
Aaron Payne Cup Fixtures*
Round 5 - Tuesday, June 11
1.45pm: Rockhampton Grammar School v Kirwan SHS
3pm: St Brendan’s College v St Patrick’s College Mackay
4.15pm: The Cathedral College v Mackay SHS
BYE: Ignatius Park
Round 6 - Wednesday, June 12
9am: Ignatius Park v The Cathedral College
10.15am: St Brendan's College v Kirwan SHS
11.30am: Rockhampton Grammar School v St Patrick's College Mackay
BYE: Mackay SHS
*Round 7 was played on Tuesday, June 4.
