Arch rivals to face off in thrilling Cup final

IGNATIUS Park has set up a mouth-watering final-round clash with arch rival Kirwan High to close out the Aaron Payne Cup.

Both schools have already booked a spot in the finals of the annual competition, leaving them to go hammer and tongs in the final round.

While Kirwan has proven itself as a juggernaut with an undefeated run through the Cup, Ignatius Park has found its feet at the right time with consecutive wins.

Both sides boast sizeable forward packs and impressive pace on the edges, so it will be a match that will likely come down to tactics.

Ignatius Park coach Steve Lansley said it was a battle he looked forward to each year and he had immense respect for Kirwan coach Todd Wilson.

“Kirwan will be tactically good, they are a side that is very well coached,” Lansley said.

“He is a very hard person to coach against, but I guess I always keep a few things up my sleeve. We need to try a few things that will unsettle them.” The respect goes both ways. The Bears have refused to be complacent despite Ignatius Park’s loss to The Cathedral College earlier this season.

Five-eighth Harley Taylor said his side would need to go to another level after their win over St Brendan’s on Tuesday.

“We’ve just got to tighten up our middles and get up. I know Iggy (would’ve been) watching that game and saying, ‘We’re going to beat them through the middle,’” he said. “We can’t let them think like that.”

The two schoolboys powerhouses will go head-to-head on neutral turf at Jack Manski Oval next Tuesday.