Iggy Park heart wins it
IGNATIUS Park has sent a clear warning to semi-final rivals The Cathedral College.
They are not going to lie down for anyone.
The underdog outfit came with a game plan and executed it to the letter as they shocked Aaron Payne Cup heavyweights Kirwan High 24-8 in Townsville yesterday.
It was a plan built off their defence and wrestle, with their forwards winning the battle of the play the ball.
And with Kirwan struggling to roll through their sets, it was left to the Ignatius Park spine, led by skipper Maverick Pegoraro and halfback Thomas Duffy, to control the rest of the game.
While it was a clinical performance on the field, Ignatius Park lock Luke Jack admitted there was a fair bit of emotion in their efforts.
“I think the game plan helped, but the pride that the boys showed and the courage they showed despite a good start from Kirwan, that was the difference,” Jack said.
“We lost to Kirwan in the warm-up before the Cup and I think it really drove some of the boys who played in that game, we really wanted to get it over them.
“After a loss to The Cathedral College, and then Kirwan beat them, I think everyone thought we were off the pace, we were the second team in Townsville. But after the win today, I think they will be turning their heads.”
Jack was key to the Ignatius Park advantage in the middle third of the field.
The boys in blue refused to deviate from a tenacious game plan.
“It was tough and fast,” Jack said. “I had to stand up for the boys. I couldn’t let them down. Kirwan are a way bigger side than us but our boys showed that heart and that Iggy Park spirit.”
Kirwan struck first through skipper Clay George after overturning some early Ignatius Park momentum but it only appeared to fire up the opposition.
Ignatius Park would run in three quick tries through Pegoraro, Sean Bourke and centre Jake Mcaulliffe-fickling to take a comfortable 18-4 lead into the halftime break.
But Ignatius Park coach Steven Lansley said he never felt comfortable.
“I was worried for the first 10 minutes after half time. I thought if we didn’t show up after the break they could power back into the game,” he said.
“I said to the boys you have to continue what you started. You have to work your backsides off and control that play the ball. I thought they did it well.”
Braithen Knox would put the result beyond doubt with an impressive slicing run back through tired defenders before Kirwan enforcer Jeremiah Nanai picked up a consolation try off a crossfield kick late in the game.
Kirwan coach Todd Wilson kept his players in a postmatch huddle for several minutes as they dissected the game and began planning for next week’s semi-finals.
Wilson said with the finals series being knockout football, he had to drive home to his players that there were no more second chances.
“We didn’t control possession, we didn’t create pressure with our kicking game and we had too many errors,” Wilson said. “We defended our line a number of times, and did it well, but that took the juice out of us.
“We have some work to do, we have to bounce back.”