Peter Mulholland Cup: Farrer MAHS travel to Sydney to face Holy Cross College on Friday

Holy Cross did more than enough in the first 30 minutes to ensure a second-half drop-off wasn’t going to spoil a comfortable NRL Schoolboys Cup win over Farrer. RELIVE the action from our LIVESTREAM.

Farrer MAHS’ hopes of finishing the NRL Schoolboys Cup season with a win came crashing down n the opening 30 minutes of their clash with Holy Cross College.

That they battled back to take the second half 10-4 was testimony to their spirit, but the damage was done early as Holy Cross turned a 28-0 halftime lead into a 32-10 success.

Spurred on by their home crowd and clearly not affected by the absence of key player Mikey Nasser, Holy Cross went on an early try-scoring frenzy.

Scrum half Malakai Iatilevu, right wing Rory Davidson and left centre Jonah Watson all crossed in an impressive spell of play.

The determination of Holy Cross right center Michael Gabrael and the efforts of Harold Matthews Cup representative fullback Cameron Kanaan were also impressive.

Winless Farrer did improve in the second half and scored two tries through left center Jack Hatton while only conceding one.

PREVIEW: Farrer face ‘massive challenge’ to upset Holy Cross

The return of two key players has Holy Cross College in a good place ahead of their NRL Schoolboys Cup clash against Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School on Friday.

Dummy half Cooper Wheelhouse and captain Keenan Lawandos are back after missing the 38-24 win against All Saints Maitland recently.

The game will be live streamed from Holy Cross by KommunityTV from 11am.

Keenan Lawandos.

Cooper Wheelhouse

But coach Tim White, who is also the Australian Schoolboys mentor, did lament his side will be without ‘key super sub and game changer Mikey Nasser.’

“He was exceptional last game. He showed he is a talent of the future and future captain of our team.”

It will be an uphill battle for Farrer as they try to grab hold of a win against a side their coach, Ethan Sherlock, sees as a ‘massive challenge.’

Another away trip only makes the game tougher for the Tamworth-based side, whose have a loss and a draw from their two games.

Sherlock said the squad is “pretty close to full strength” for their third Peter Mulholland Cup game, including extension maths wiz Oliver Sykes.

“The school holidays have been good to us and they’ve had a nice break.”