The walking wounded from St James’ College hopped and hobbled across the main field at Marist College, Ashgrove today to celebrate their stirring win in today’s girls’ Confraternity Shield final.
St James’ defeated a valiant Rockhampton Grammar School 26-8, overcoming the setbacks that a week at rugby league’s famous ACU Confraternity Carnival can throw at each of the 16 girls’ teams.
Three St James’ players used crutches to join the celebrations with teammates. Another ignored a broken nose while co-captain Sinalei Tupu nursed an ankle injury suffered on the school steps before this week’s carnival began.
Tupu had to convince her coaches during today’s warm-up that she could play after she was kept out of Tuesday’s extra-time win in the semi-final that gave St James’ a chance for Shield redemption.
Last year, in their first attempt at the girls’ competition, St James’ led by six points late in the final before The Cathedral College, Rockhampton, stormed back for a hometown win.
This year, despite losing seven players to representative duties before “Confro” began, St James’ surged away from the classy Rockhampton Grammar School which fielded players from all corners of the state and beyond.
It was an entertaining finish to the sixth girls’ tournament at the Confraternity Carnival, which brings together Catholic and Independent schools from across the state. This carnival is run by Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League and sponsored by Australian Catholic University.
Strong lock Chloe Barnsdale scored three tries, stepping off her left foot and finding a hole through the middle of the Rockhampton Grammar defence.
Winger Scarlett Gear scored two tries for a Rockhampton Grammar team that had plenty of character. The boarding school today featured players whose hometowns range from Williamstown in South Australia to Injinoo, Hope Vale and Coen in Queensland’s Cape region.
Rockhampton Grammar coach Nikki Carpenter blended players who specialise in league with some from rugby union backgrounds for an excellent campaign.
St James’ co-coaches Ana Fotu and Brandon Finnegan steered their squad through a luckless injury run.
“It’s really been the toughest girls’ carnival I can remember and the standard of play has been really strong. Both teams should be proud of how they played,” Finnegan said. “We’re proud of how our team stuck together even with the injuries we had.”
Earlier, St Patrick’s College, Townsville claimed their first Division 2 girls’ Trophy win. In just their second year in the carnival, St Patrick’s defeated Emmaus College, Rockhampton 20-4 in the decider.
St Patrick’s is a girls’ boarding school made up of 600 students. Like Rockhampton Grammar, St Patrick’s squad featured strong numbers of boarders whose hometowns stretch to Thursday Island and the Northern Territory.
Coach Mark Graham is an electrician who has taken the week off work to coach St Patrick’s.
“I’ve been coaching on and off for the last 25-30 years and this is my best coaching experience. They’re a really good bunch of girls and it’s been great to help to bring them together,” Graham said. “Our forward pack is made up of a majority of Year 10 and 11 girls. We went okay last year, had a few injuries but it is really a great bunch of girls who kept working for each other.”
St Patrick’s scored five tries in the final and dominated the match from the start.
Photo by QISSRL / Bradley Kanaris
GIRLS FINALS RESULTS
DIVISION 1
Confraternity Shield final
St James College, Spring Hill 26 d Rockhampton Grammar School 8
Positional playoffs (in order of placing)
The Cathedral College, Rockhampton 8 d St Patrick’s College, Mackay 4
Marymount College, Burleigh Waters 8 d St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville 6
Chanel College, Gladstone 10 d Shalom College, Bundaberg 4
DIVISION 2
Confraternity Trophy final
St Patrick’s College, Townsville 20 d Emmaus College, Rockhampton 4
Positional playoffs
St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba 12 d Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 10
Emmaus College, Jimboomba 10 d St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon0
Marist College, Emerald 20 d Mt Maria College, Mitchelton 16
