Dominant displays, concussions aplenty and talented captains in Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge

There were dominant displays, talented captains and injuries scattered across the park in the Aaron Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge matches.

Round five of the Cowboys Challenge and Aaron Payne Cup is in the books.

Mackay High’s junior program was the only local victor across the four games, with Ignatius Park and Kirwan strong opponents.

Here are five things we have learned from the action in Mackay.

Will Shears is a talent

Mercy College has a beauty at fullback.

The side’s captain controlled the pace of the game, directed traffic and provided headaches for Iggy Park’s defence.

Shears had a strong start to the Cowboys Challenge before school holidays halted the tournament but has returned with vigour and was Mercy’s best player in the side’s 18-10 loss to Ignatius Park.

His days in Mercy’s uniform are numbered, but Shears will transition seamlessly into the St Patrick’s College line-up and will be a force as he continues to fill out his frame.

Mackay High with an upset for the ages

Kirwan has been a rugby league powerhouse for years with North Queensland scouts using the school as a breeding ground for future Cowboys.

But Mackay High, in an unexpected result, toppled the perennial contenders in the Cowboys Challenge 24-16.

Kirwan had defeated St Patrick’s College 26-20 after trailing by 14 points, but struggled to contain the rampant Mackay squad that was winless coming into the match.

Ignatius Park is the team to beat

St Patrick’s College struggled to contain a surging Ignatius Park in the Aaron Payne Cup clash.

Ignatius scored three tries in the first 30 minutes and led 14-0 at the break, before St Pat’s registered its first points through the work of Kai Simon.

Iggy Park then piled on the pain, scoring four unanswered tries to run home with a 32-6 victory.

St Pat’s had enjoyed a strong start to the Aaron Payne Cup, as well as an undefeated Confraternity Shield, so the comprehensive loss was an unexpected result.

Mercy will be okay

Mercy College had a tough assignment in beating Ignatius Park, and the side was within striking distance with just one minute left in the match.

Iggy Park finished with a try and conversion to push the scoreline to 18-10.

Mercy scrapped with the victors all game but failed to convert at key moments late in the second half.

Coach Matthew Paul will find positives from the grand final rematch, but Mercy still has some work to do.

Bloodbath on the field and scoreline

Mackay High’s Aaron Payne Cup squad struggled against a dominant Kirwan with the final scoreline 66-0.

But injuries and concussions were littered across the pitches, with Mackay High left without a bench and Mercy’s game having to stop to escort players from the field.

Mercy’s Mikey Hinchey and Will Whippy clashed heads in a tackling attempt, with Hinchey knocked out and unmoving on the pitch.

Whippey was able to remove himself from the field with minimal assistance but will receive scans to confirm concussion.