Schoolboys Cup Live Stream: Mackay State High v Holy Spirit College, Aaron Payne Cup, Round 4
A fullback masterclass from Mackay’s Jafahl Skillington has kept the side’s slim Payne Cup finals hopes alive after rolling through a willing Holy Spirit. Watch the REPLAYS.
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For the second time this Payne Cup season, Mackay State High School has piled on the pain against Holy Spirit College, running away 40-8 victors on Wednesday evening.
It follows their 20-4 defeat of Holy Spirit in round one.
Jaffahl Skillington was the chief painmaker for the Mackay High side, setting up two crisp tries in a four-try flourish to close out the second half.
Nehemiah Wutai-Davis set the tone for Mackay in the second minute, capitalising on a crafty off-load to cross in the right corner.
Holy Spirit College v Mackay SHS (Aaron Payne Cup)
Carlton Wotherspoon would double Mackay’s advantage from close-range soon after, the foundation for his try laid by a dynamic Ryan White run.
Mackay State’s unrelenting pressure was maintained by a well-weighted kick from Noah Levitz, forcing a goal-line drop out. The follow-up set would see Brandon Jorgensen cross the line in the right corner courtesy of an overlap, making it three tries within 11 minutes.
Holy Spirit’s first advance of promise came via an intuitive rush forcing an off-side. Unfortunately an unforced error would see them cough the footy up three tackles later.
Will Veitch was potent on Mackay’s left edge, and after a number of dangerous runs he finally crossed, taking his side’s lead to 20 points.
It capped off a suffocating period of dominance that saw Holy Spirit rarely take the ball out of their half, if at all.
Holy Spirit College v Mackay SHS (Cowboys Challenge)
Holy Spirit fullback Balin Burnett provided his side’s first counterpunch, slicing through the Mackay State defence off the back of their first real attacking play.
The 20-4 scoreline that ensued would remain until the half, with Holy Spirit showing some resolve to close out the game’s opening stanza.
And momentarily it looked as if the may mount a comeback, with Balin Burnett muscling his way through a handful of defenders for his double, putting Holy Spirit within 12 points.
From there however it was a complete Mackay State domination as they piled on four tries to close out the contest.
Noah Levitz scored back-to-back tries, his first assisted by a strong run from Jaffahl Skillington.
Levitz was in the thick of the action again soon after, this time the victim of an ugly dump from Holy Spirit’s Caleb Owens that saw him land on his head and sparked an agitated melee.
But it was Levitz and Mackay State who had the last laugh.
Mason Ryan-Ellul burrowed into the left corner, before a brilliant long range floater from Skillington - to put the icing on a sublime showing - put Jorgensen over in the right corner.
PREVIEW: Holy Spirit searching for first win of the Payne Cup
Holy Spirit College will be looking for its maiden victory of this season’s Payne Cup when they play host to Mackay State High School on Wednesday.
The one-month competition hiatus couldn’t have come at a better time for Holy Spirit, with the school losing each of its three games by an average of 24 points.
Having only managed a lone try against Mackay State and St Augustine’s, they showed glimpses in their 16-36 loss against Mareeba, crossing the line on three occasions.
You can catch the Cowboys Challenge from 4:30pm, and the Payne Cup from 5:45pm, LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV on Wednesday. Find the full schedule below.
Holy Spirit rugby league co-ordinator Nathan Thompson says he can see development within the group despite the results.
“This competition provides our players with the chance to play against some really strong teams which has assisted in their development and knowledge of the game,” Thompson said.
“We are improving every game. We play quality opposition every week, and we aim to stay engaged in the contest … and continue to improve.”
On the other hand, consecutive 20-point losses at the hands of St Augustine’s and Mareeba has halted the momentum of Mackay State High following their 30-4 opening round walloping of Holy Spirit when the sides last met.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, with Mackay still in the hunt for finals, just one game off the pace of second-place Mareeba. but will need results to go their way.
With only one team from Pool B advancing, Mackay must win all of their remaining games to be within a shot of catching a high-flying St Augustine’s College.
A loss to Holy Spirit on Wednesday would end their finals hopes, meaning this match is make or break for Mackay.
Equally, it looms as a crucial fixture for Holy Spirit, who will be staring down the barrel of a winless season if it can’t exact revenge for their round one defeat.
Originally published as Schoolboys Cup Live Stream: Mackay State High v Holy Spirit College, Aaron Payne Cup, Round 4
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