Peter Mulholland Cup live stream: Central Coast Sports College take on Hunter Sports High School

Hunter Sports have dented the quarterfinal chances of their southern rivals with a gritty victory at Maitland Sportsground. Relive all the action from the LIVE STREAM.

Due to a significant technical failure at the ground beyond our control, we were unable to show the Hunter Sports v Central Coast Sports Peter Mulholland Cup match. We apologise for the inconvenience. A full replay of the match has been provided above.

One team is a missing its skipper, while the other welcomes back some of its big guns.

However, what the Central Coast Sports College and Hunter Sports High have in common is the need for a win in their Peter Mulholland Cup clash on Wednesday.

The game will be exclusively LIVE STREAMED at 11.30am from Maitland Sportsground on KommunityTV as part of our season-long coverage of the NRL Schoolboys Cup. See the full week-long Schoolboys schedule below.

The Kariong-based outfit enters the final round of the group stage on top of the northern pool with four points after two impressive victories against All Saints, Maitland (20-16) and Tamworth’s Farrer MAHS (18-6).

Meanwhile, Hunter Sports are sitting in third on two points after a narrow 14-12 win over Farrer and a 38-12 thumping at the hands of All Saints, but could still qualify for the next stage if they defeat CCSC by 20 points.

Complicating matters on what is a huge double-header at Maitland Sportsground is the fact that All Saints, also on two competition but with the best points difference in the group, could also make it through to the quarterfinals if results go their way.

The Central Coast Sports College going into the final round on top of the group.

While the Central Coast side is in the box seat, they have been dealt a blow leading into the match, with captain and forward Coby Thomas, x-factor winger Xavier Singh and fellow outside back Samisoni Talakai all ruled out with injury.

“Three pretty big players in our team are out, unfortunately,” said coach Michael Sullivan.

“But that’s part of our game. The group’s still really confident.”

Offsetting the losses is the return of the talented Dayne Jennings and middle forward Tanner Mahon, who missed the win over Farrer.

“Although it’s testing our depth and it’s new ground for some guys, they seem to keep stepping up,” said Sullivan.

The college, which was only established in 2012 and launched its rugby league program four years ago, has made an excellent start to its inaugural campaign.

“We were quietly confident going into it that we’d do well, but you don’t want to be overconfident. While we were confident internally, you never know until you get out there,” said Sullivan.

The Central Coast has been impressive in its first season in the competition.

“Having a young team, I think enthusiasm has been a real key. They’re a hungry group, they love playing for our college and every time they pull on that jumper we say that they’re pioneers and it’s something special, especially in our first year in the competition.”

And while the team may have its work cut out on the back of some key absences, Sullivan says it will be a good test for his charges.

“It’s an old cliche, ‘Pressure’s a privilege’, and that’s what they’ve got – some pressure. We’ve been floating under the radar, but if we can win this game and get into the quarters, that’ll be a big achievement.”

On the other side, Hunter Sports have been buoyed by the return of some key players as they seek to make a late charge into the next stage.

Skipper and forward Beau Slade, who recently represented the NSWCHS side at the national titles, returns from injury.

“It’ll be good to get him back, he’s our front rower,” said coach Tony Gleeson. “He’ll be a really good inclusion.”

Slade will be joined by the returning Newcastle Knights junior rep player Taimana Elers.

Taimana Elers is back for Hunter.

“We’ve regrouped after our last game against All Saints and we’ve got a strong side,” said Gleeson.

“We were missing quite a few players in that last game, but in the last few weeks we’ve got a lot of those guys back, so we’ve had a lot of good training sessions and we’re really looking forward to it. It should be a really good challenge against the Central Coast.”

After a disappointing loss to local rivals All Saints, Maitland in round two, Gleeson says his team has been working hard to make amends for that performance.

“It’s going to be won through the middle of the park, which is what we lost in the last game – so that’s been a key focus,” said Gleeson.

“We’ve got to defend well as a priority, and we’ve got some really good attacking players in guys like Connor (Votano) and Taimana Elers, as well and a few other players who’ll be beneficial for us.

“So we’re hoping those boys recapture a bit of that form against the Central Coast.”