The school that shaped Johnathan Thurston’s rugby league career grabbed a share of the spotlight as some Confraternity Carnival powerhouses starred on the opening day of the famous rugby league meet in Brisbane.
St Mary’s College, Toowoomba was unbeaten after two matches on the first day of the boys’ competition, igniting hopes that the school that delivered the likes of Thurston, Chris Walker and Ethan Lowe to Queensland’s State of Origin teams can repeat its 2018 Confraternity Shield success.
But the likes of St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon, St Patrick’s College, Mackay and an improved Emmaus College, Rockhampton – whose former players each featured in Queensland’s Origin success last week – are also unbeaten and in the race.
The boys’ Division 1 title is proving difficult to predict after two-time defending champions Ignatius Park College, Townsville, were held to a 6-all draw by Marymount College, Burleigh Waters, coached by former Blues Origin winger Matt Geyer.
Ignatius Park College must topple the unbeaten Emmaus College in their final pool match tomorrow morning to ensure that it qualifies for tomorrow afternoon’s Shield quarter-finals.
The Division 1 showdowns were among the highlights of a gripping first day of the 43rd Confraternity Carnival that featured 52 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams drawn from Catholic and Independent Schools around Queensland. St Laurence’s College is hosting the record number of teams at its playing fields at Runcorn.
St Mary’s College were watched on by proud old boy Dan McErlean, who played for the school in 1947 and addressed the team after a clinical 18-4 win over The Cathedral College, Rockhampton.
St Mary’s College made the most of penalties and errors from The Cathedral College as halfback Braithen Scott orchestrated a four-try performance that ensured the Toowoomba school would qualify for the quarter-finals. Earlier in the day, St Mary’s defeated Division 1 newcomers St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 18-6.
“We were better this afternoon (defeating The Cathedral College) and we know that if we complete our sets then we can play good football,” St Mary’s co-coach Luke Duggan said. “We came here wanting to enjoy this week and have some fun together. That’s what Confro is about.”
St Brendan’s College defeated St Peter Claver College, Riverview and Iona College, Lindum, in a sound start to its campaign to win its first Confraternity Shield since 2015. St Brendan’s is the former school of current Origin players Harry Grant and Ben Hunt.
St Patrick’s College, Mackay – the school of Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans – held scoreless Marist College, Ashgrove and St Augustine’s College, Cairns today to push towards another finals berth following last year’s runner-up finish.
Cameron Munster’s former school Emmaus College, Rockhampton, were impressive today with wins over Marymount College and Padua College, Kedron. Padua College and Iona College were among the Brisbane schools making strong showings in their first matches since finishing their rugby union seasons.
A total of 16 teams each contest the boys’ Divisions 1 and 2 while 20 teams are playing in Division 3.
Aquinas College, Ashmore and Assumption College, Warwick are the only unbeaten teams in a very tight Division 2. Assumption College defeated St Michael’s College, Merrimac and Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers.
In Division 3, two teams were unbeaten today after two matches: Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay; and Chanel College, Gladstone. Some teams played only one match in a draw that is split.
Boys’ Day 1 results
DIVISION 1
Pool A
Ignatius Park College, Townsville 16 d Padua College, Kedron 4
Emmaus College, Rockhampton 10 d Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 4
Ignatius Park College, Townsville 6 drew with Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 6
Emmaus College, Rockhampton 20 d Padua College, Kedron 12
Pool B
St Patrick’s College, Mackay 10 d Marist College, Ashgrove 0
St Augustine’s College, Cairns 6 d Rockhampton Grammar School 0
Marist College, Ashgrove 12 d Rockhampton Grammar 4
St Patrick’s College, Mackay 20 d St Augustine’s College, Cairns 0
Pool C
Iona College, Lindum 32 d St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe 6
St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon 20 d St Peter Claver College, Riverview 6
St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon 26 d Iona College, Lindum 16
St Peter Claver College, Riverview 10 d St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe 0
Pool D
The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 12 d Shalom College, Bundaberg 4
St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 18 d St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 6
Shalom College, Bundaberg 26 d St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 4
St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 18 d The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 4
DIVISION 2
Pool A
Holy Spirit College, Mackay 20 d Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby 16
St Columban’s College, Caboolture 16 d St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie 6
Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby 22 d St Columban’s College, Caboolture 10
St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie 24 d Holy Spirit College, Mackay 14
Pool B
Aquinas College, Ashmore 14 d Marist College, Emerald 10
All Souls St Gabriel’s College, Charters Towers 10 d St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 6
Aquinas College, Ashmore 22 d All Souls St Gabriel’s College, Charters Towers 0
Marist College, Emerald 8 d St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 6
Pool C
St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane 26 d Villanova College, Coorparoo 16
St Thomas More College, Sunnybank 16 d St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane 14
Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers 16 drew with Villanova College, Coorparoo 16
Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers 22 d St Thomas More College, Sunnybank 16
Pool D
Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers 10 d Clairvaux MacKillop College, Mt Gravatt 8
Assumption College, Warwick 28 d St Michael’s College, Merrimac 14
Assumption College, Warwick 24 d Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers
Clairvaux MacKillop College, Mt Gravatt 22 d St Michael’s College, Merrimac 10
DIVISION 3
Pool A
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 28 d Unity College, Caloundra West 0
Emmaus College, Jimboomba 8 d Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham 6
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 16 d Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham 0
Unity College, Caloundra West 8 d Emmaus College, Jimboomba 4
Pool B
Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 14 d St Patrick’s College, Gympie/Good Samaritan College, Bli Bli 12
Trinity College, Beenleigh 10 d St Augustine’s College, Augustine Heights 7
Pool C
St John’s School, Roma 32 d Faith Lutheran College, Plainland 10
Southern Cross Catholic College, Townsville 20 d St James’ College, Spring Hill 4
Faith Lutheran College, Plainland 18 drew with St James’ College, Spring Hill 18
Pool D
Chanel College, Gladstone 36 d St Mary’s College, Woree 4
St John’s College, Roma 28 d Southern Cross Catholic College, Townsville 10
Chanel College, Gladstone 40 d Chisholm Catholic College, Cornubia 12
St John’s College, Nambour 20 d St Mary’s College, Woree 16
Pool E
Ryan Catholic College, Townsville 26 d McAuley College, Beaudesert 0
Good Shepherd College, Mount Isa 32 d St Anthony’s College, Townsville 6
