The stakes don’t get much higher than this. Mackay State High and St Augustine’s will battle it out, with all the points, and a likely finals berth, on the line. Watch it LIVE from 11am, Tuesday.
When talking of high-stakes clashes, there is no bigger example than this.
Mackay entered this season as a favourite to escape Pool B and qualify for the post-season but a loss to Mareeba SHS last week, coupled with St Augustine’s sublime form to start the campaign, has sent shockwaves through the competition.
It was already shaping as a big clash, but the stakes have been raised with it being worth double points.
The clash will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV on Tuesday, with the action kicking off with a Cowboys Challenge clash between the two schools at 11am.
Saints’ Jesse Zielgler in action during the Payne Cup double header last week in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan
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The schools agreed to forgo a return fixture which puts extra emphasis on this clash, with a win now worth four competition points.
For St Augustine’s, it could be enough to see them through to the next stage after they beat Holy Spirit College in a double points game last week.
St Augustine’s College coach Kris O’Farrell said his team had to find more if they were to be any chance of competing with Mackay.
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“It’s a good result but there’s a lot we need to work on,” he said of the win against Holy Spirit.
“We look good in patches.
“We show some good shape, we have good moments, but we just didn’t execute. And that’s what we’re trying to do.
“When we looked over our goals, a lot of today’s were about defence.
“There’s still a lot of improvement we need to find if we are going to compete with Mackay.”
Mackay’s Jaffahl Skillington has been one of the break out players in the Aaron Payne Cup. Picture: Evan Morgan
Mackay, meanwhile, were was restricted to just one try against Mareeba SHS and will need their attack to fire if they are to overcome Saints.
Their efforts will start with defence as they are tasked with containing the best attack in the Payne Cup so far.
Mackay SHS v St Augustine College
at Brothers Townsville
11am: Cowboys Challenge
12.15pm: Payne Cup
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