Approaching the half way mark of the Schools of Excellence Cup season, the ladder is hotting up with plenty to play for including places in the Semi-Finals. Who are the schools to watch?
The 2013 Schools of Excellence Cup has provided some excellent footy so far this season with some great battles ahead before the finals.
Midway through the third round of games, the two pools’ ladder orders are gradually taking place leading into the Qualifying Finals.
In Pool A, the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach Currumbin lead the Senior competition after two hard-fought wins against traditional rivals Helensvale and second-placed Mountain Creek, and a smoother victory against Narangba Valley.
Helensvale will be pushing to make second spot theirs when they meet Mountain Creek this Friday at Zillmere.
After leading PBC by a slender margin in their first round meeting, a controversial third quarter count found 19 players on the field for Helensvale and their score was consequently erased.
Mountain Creek Seniors started their season with a strong win over northern rivals Narangba Valley after the ‘Viper’s’ strong junior side cruised to victory earlier with the reliable Steve Clarke among the best so far this season.
The highlight of the season, according to Coach Justin Pritchett, was not only playing their Round 2 match against PBC in front of the CEO of the AFL, Andrew Demetriou, but to have played the best game of their young history in the competition.
The winner of the ‘Creekers’ and Helensvale match will determine who joins PBC in the Semi Finals.
In Pool B, three teams sit within two points of each other with only one game left before the finals start.
The traditionally strong Sandgate, and Coast newcomers Benowa, sit first and second respectively and both undefeated.
Sandgate opened their season with a tough win against Victoria Point, and then backed up against a much improved Park Ridge.
Benowa’s season has seemed to echo Sandgate’s so far, so when the two meet in their Round 3 match it is sure to be one to watch.
Park Ridge is the surprise packet of the season, with some strong performances in their matches including a big win at home against Sandgate’s juniors.
A nail biter against Victoria Point completed a great day of footy at Redlands in their third round, with a triple-header including a senior girls clash.
Victoria Point ‘Vikings’ lost a lot of depth from last year’s grand final runners up side but has put up some good displays during the season, especially through their strong junior side.
The top two sides from each pool will progress to the semi finals, where winners will progress to the grand final and losers will contest a consolation final for third spot.
The other teams will play a cross over round followed by a final round to determine the final ladder places.
In North Queensland there is plenty going on.
Townsville’s Kirwan State High and William Ross State High, along with Mackay’s Pioneer State High, will play their annual competition during the North Queensland High School Championships in Cairns, which leads into the Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast SUNS match at Cazaly’s Stadium in July.
More information on this will be available soon.
For results and reports from Schools of Excellence Cup matches, follow the ‘Fixtures & Results’ link under the SCHOOL menu above.
