Confraternity Shield: The champions crowned
Confraternity Shield: St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon, claim thrilling win in schoolboy final.
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The most successful team in Confraternity Carnival history returned to the top today when St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon won a stirring battle with local rivals Emmaus College, Rockhampton in the schools’ rugby league meet in Brisbane.
IN PICTURES - HOW TODAY’S FINALS’ DAY UNFOLDED
St Brendan’s claimed the boys’ Confraternity Shield when it broke down an Emmaus College defensive wall that held firm until the second half of a frantic final at St Laurence’s College’s playing fields at Runcorn.
Emmaus College was seeking its first Shield win and it conceded only four tries in five matches this week leading into a decider player in front of more than 2000 supporters.
At halftime, Emmaus College had withstood the raids from St Brendan’s to lead 4-0 but the Yeppoon team blasted through with four tries in the second half for an 18-10 victory.
St Brendan’s laid the platform through their quality big men who continually charged at the Emmaus pack, sparking three tries in 10 minutes to deliver a treasured win for the school that has delivered a host of NRL stars including current Queensland players Ben Hunt and Harry Grant.
They were coached today by former NRL winger Scott Minto and included the sons of two former Queensland players: hooker Braelan Marsh (son of PJ Marsh) and prop Carter Ford (son of Origin hardman Carl Webb).
Webb made an emotional appearance at the Confraternity dinner this week as he continues his battle with motor neurone disease and he couldn’t help but be proud of his son’s outstanding performance today.
Ford was one of the most dynamic of the St Brendan’s big men as he lined up for run after run for his team. He was later chosen in the Confraternity Carnival merit team along with Player of the Carnival Cooper Bai (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters), son of PNG legend Marcus Bai.
The Confraternity Carnival, sponsored by CQ University and staged by Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League, brought together 52 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams from Catholic and Independent schools across Queensland. The first carnival was played in 1980 with a host of Queensland’s greatest players emerging from the event.
This was St Brendan’s 14th Confraternity Shield – extending their carnival record – but it was their first since 2015 after heartbreak in recent seasons.
In 2019, St Brendan’s led Padua College 18-0 in the quarter-final but did not reach the last four. After Covid-19 ruined the 2020 and 2021 carnivals, St Brendan’s fell to Ignatius Park College in an epic semi-final.
And the pressure of those near misses led to an overflow of emotion as St Brendan’s scored their final try with minutes remaining to put a gallant Emmaus College out of reach.
“The chips were down for a while in that game because Emmaus were playing really well and we had some bumps and bruises that were challenging for us,” Minto said.
“I’m really proud of these boys for what they’ve done. There is always pressure around St Brendan’s at Confro because of the history of the school here and it’s so pleasing for the school to get this result.
“This is such a good Carnival as history and these results mean a lot to the boys.”
The second-tier Bob Lindner Trophy went to Marist College, Ashgrove when a team featuring the sons of rugby union guns defeated St Peter Claver College, Riverview 20-16 in extra time.
Tim Howard (son of former Wallaby Pat Howard), Tobias Graham (son of former Queensland coach Richard Graham) and Lachlan McCall (son of Brothers player and renowned poet Rupert) were members of the Ashgrove team.
Division 2 turned up one of the best Confro moments this year when Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers defeated hosts St Laurence’s College 16-12 in the final of the Neil Bloxsidge Plate.
Columba, with only 25 Year 12 students, showed remarkable spirit to overcome the quality of St Laurence’s which includes about 2000 students from Years 5 to 12.
The Division 2 second-tier Confraternity Bowl wen to Villanova College, Coorparoo over St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie.
The best team in Division 3 was Gladstone’s Chanel College, winning the Confraternity Cup final against Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 24-4.
The Division 3 second-tier Men of League Challenge went to extra time and was decided by a field goal by St James’ College, Spring Hill over St John’s College, Nambour 23-22.
The 44th Confraternity Carnival will be hosted by Ignatius Park College and held in Townsville in June next year.
Boys’ Friday results
DIVISION 1
Confraternity Shield final
St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon 18 d Emmaus College, Rockhampton 10
Positional play-offs
Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 4 d St Patrick’s College, Mackay 0
Shalom College, Bundaberg 24 d St Augustine’s College, Cairns 6
The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 22 d Iona College, Lindum 16
Bob Lindner Trophy semi-finals
Marist College, Ashgrove 20 d St Peter Claver College, Riverview 16
Positional play-offs
Ignatius Park College, Townsville 24 d St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 22
Padua College, Kedron 22 d St Edmund’s College, Ipswich 12
Rockhampton Grammar School 10 d St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe 4
DIVISION 2
Neil Bloxsidge Plate final
Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers 16 d St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane 12
Positional play-offs
St Columban’s College, Caboolture 12 d Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby 0
Assumption College, Warwick 18 d Aquinas College, Ashmore 6
Marist College, Emerald 30 d Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers 6
Confraternity Bowl final
Villanova College, Coorparoo 16 d St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie 0
Positional play-offs
St Thomas More College, Sunnybank 16 d Holy Spirit College, Mackay 10
St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 12 d All Souls St Gabriel’s College, Charters Towers 10
St Michael’s College, Merrimac 18 d Clairvaux MacKillop College, Mt Gravatt 16
DIVISION 3
Confraternity Cup final
Chanel College, Gladstone 24 d Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 4
Positional play-offs
St Patrick’s College, Gympie/Good Samaritan College, Bli Bli 14 d Good Shepherd College,
Mount Isa 10
St John’s School, Roma 34 d Southern Cross Catholic College, Townsville 6
Trinity College, Beenleigh 10 drew with Ryan Catholic College, Townsville 10
Men of League Challenge final
St James’ College, Spring Hill 23 d St John’s College, Nambour 22
Positional play-offs
Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 22 d Unity College, Caloundra West 14
Emmaus College, Jimboomba 20 d St Augustine’s College, Augustine Heights 6
Faith Lutheran College, Plainland 18 d Chisholm Catholic College, Cornubia 10
Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham 6 d St Anthony’s College, Townsville 0
St Mary’s College, Woree 26 d McAuley College, Beaudesert 4
Confraternity Carnival Boys’ Merit Team
1 Seth Carpenter (Emmaus College, Rockhampton)
2 Phillip Coates (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
3 Zy Gall (Ignatius Park College, Townsville)
4 Rydell Tyrrell (St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon)
5 Bailey Anderson (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
6 Clancy Hohn (Emmaus College, Rockhampton)
7 Tyler Melrose (St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon)
8 Oscar Laffranchi (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
9 Mitchell Rogers (Padua College, Kedron)
10 Baylee Meilland (Emmaus College, Rockhampton)
11 Cooper Bai (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
12 Leon Karena (Marist College, Ashgrove)
13 William Lane (Iona College, Lindum)
14 Kayne Smith (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
15 Carter Ford (St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon)
16 Wyatt Lourigan (Ignatius Park College, Townsville)
17 Jake Pierce (St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon)
18 Izaya Leedie (Ignatius Park College, Townsville)
19 Jack Bragg (Ignatius Park College, Townsville)
Coach: Rohan Dixon (Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers)
Manager: Chris Lenan (Aquinas College, Ashmore)
The Cathedral College girls’ team gathered around their injured teammate on a medical stretcher for a rousing rendition of their team song after claiming the Rockhampton school’s first Confraternity Shield today.
Harmonie Fauid suffered a leg injury during a stirring 14-10 Shield final win over St Patrick’s College, Mackay and could not complete the match. She was receiving medical care while her TCC teammates fended off a comeback from a brave St Patrick’s team in front of a large crowd at St Laurence’s playing fields at Runcorn.
The TCC team ran to their injured player to celebrate the win, which was the second Confraternity Shield final for girls following last year’s inaugural decider in Mackay. This
carnival featured 12 teams in the girls’ division and 52 boys’ teams from Catholic and Independent schools across Queensland.
Confraternity Carnival is conducted by Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League and supported by CQ University as major sponsor.
And in boys action, St Btendan’s Yeppoon will play Emmaus in Friday’s grand final.
In today’s firls’ final, a 10-all deadlock in the girls’ final was broken with seven minutes remaining when player of the carnival Caitlin Tanner scooted down the short side and passed to Mackayla Oakley for a try that will be celebrated at TCC.
The College joined Confraternity Carnival 30 years ago and forged a strong reputation in the boys’ competition, including two grand final appearances, without claiming the Shield.
The girls’ team ended that drought today but only after a dramatic match that had to be moved to another field as medical assistance was provided to Fauid.
TCC began in style when fullback Zoe Robson sliced through the St Patrick’s defence for a 60-metre run and a 6-0 lead. In the 12th minute, Cadence Lee was on the end of a series of passes to the left that pushed TCC 10-0 lead.
But the change of field sparked a renewal for a St Patrick’s team desperate to claim a Shield
that eluded them in front of a home crowd last year in a grand final loss to Marymount
College, Burleigh Waters.
St Patrick’s, without injured prop Ciara Thomson, scored within seconds of the game re-
starting through winger Hanna Humphries and then followed with a try to Shaylee Hazledine
that levelled the scores.
The final was decided by a TCC defensive wall with 10 minutes remaining that snuffed out St Patrick’s attack. The Mackay team camped in TCC territory after receiving a fifth tackle-penalty 40 metres out from the tryline which was followed by another penalty and then a six-
again call late in the tackle count.
But TCC repelled the attack before moving downfield for Oakley’s try.
TCC coach Scott Peters, who manages a cattle station outside Rockhampton, praised the toughness of his team and their ability to soldier on without their impressive forward Fauid.
“This is a massive result for our girls and for the College,” Peters said. “And it’s a positive for Central Queensland rugby league and all of the history that we have there.
“We knew this would be a tough game because St Patrick’s have played so well and that’s how the game turned out.”
Fauid was recognised for her excellent carnival with selection in the Confraternity Carnivals girls’ honorary team alongside Tanner, Robson and forward Shayla Powell.
The St Patrick’s front row of Thomson, Hazledine and Chelsea McLeod were named in the
honorary team with teammates Gracie Watt and Ruby Lucas.
Earlier today, St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba claimed the second-tier Confraternity Trophy
with a win over St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville.
Girls’ Final results
Confraternity Shield
Final
The Cathedral College 14 d St Patrick’s College, Mackay 10
Positional playoffs
Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 10 d Emmaus College, Rockhampton 4
St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon 12 d Shalom College, Bundaberg 10
Confraternity Trophy
Final
St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 18 d St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville 0
Positional playoffs
Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 18 d Southern Cross Catholic College, Townsville 4
Trinity College, Beenleigh 10 d Emmaus College, Jimboomba 4
2023 Confraternity Honorary Team
1 Zoe Robson (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
2 Armanii Freeman (St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon)
3 Ruby Lucas (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
4 Liberty Hoath (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
5 Dominique Saunders (Emmaus College, Rockhampton)
6 Emily Sheather (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
7 Caitlin Tanner (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
8 Ciara Thomson (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
9 Shaylee Hazledine (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
10 Chelsea McLeod (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
11 Tori Dakin (Emmaus College, Rockhampton)
12 Harmonie Fauid (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
13 Gracie Watt (St Patrick’s College, Mackay)
14 Hayley Sheather (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
15 Bailey Sorbello (Mt Maria College, Mitchelton)
16 Olivia Dagge (St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville)
17 Shayla Powell (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
Coach: Scott Peters (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
Manager: Hannah Richardson (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters)
Day 2 report
A new champion will be crowned for the girls’ Confraternity Shield after an excited St Patrick’s College, Mackay walked a tightrope into today rugby league decider in Brisbane.
Last year, St Patrick’s were cheered on by a huge home crowd in their loss to Marymount College, Burleigh Waters in the historic first girls’ Confraternity Shield final.
Earlier in the week, they had a smaller crowd at St Laurence’s College’s playing fields at Runcorn but the players let out an almighty roar when they scored the last try of their 16-0 win over Marymount College.
The Cathedral College halfback Caitlin Tanner scored the decisive try in the 25th minute and the 8-6 scoreline held for the final 15 minutes of a tense match in fading light.
Thursday’s final promises to be a close match with both teams unbeaten across the first two days of the tournament and each boasting a win over the talented Marymount College.
St Patrick’s haven’t claimed a Confraternity Shield since 2003 when the boys’ team last won the major prize.
Twelve teams are contesting the girls’ competition at Confraternity Carnival, which is run by
Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League featuring Catholic and Independent Schools from across the state.
The girls’ competition features the second-tier Confraternity Trophy for the first time this year.
St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville and St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba will play for the Trophy in today’s final after they won their semi-finals this afternoon.
St Joseph’s College defeated Shalom College, Bundaberg 14-4 while St Margaret Mary’s College overcame St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon 18-16 with a try to hooker Logan Roncato in the final minutes.
Meanwhile, St Patrick’s will meet The Cathedral College in today’s final after they won a thrilling all-Rockhampton semi-final with Emmaus College.
And in the boys side of the draw, Marymount will meet St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon in the semi-finals.
The Confro heavyweight has won its four matches across the first two days and showcased its power with a 46-0 win over St Augustine’s College, Cairns in the quarter-final.
Today’s second semi-final brings together Emmaus College, Rockhampton and St Patrick’s College, Mackay.
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