Kooringal High ensured they are a big chance of making the Hardy Shield final with wins over Mt Austin High and Wagga High School at Paramore Park.

Kildare edged out arch-rival Mater Dei Catholic College 6-4 in a rematch of last year's final, then defeated Mt Austin 32-0 to finish the night.

Mater Dei recovered with a win over Wagga High School to ensure they remain a chance of making the final.

Kildare coach Matt Conn is already looking forward to two big games next week against Kooringal and Wagga High.

"I think it will come down to us, Mater and Kooringal. If we win one of the two we should be good for the final. Then it will come down to that Mater Kooringal game to see who meets us," Conn said.

"Kooringal have got some big kids. They've got some size there. The kids know best and they said Kooringal will give us a hard game. I knew Mater Dei would be good, and they had a few out. Whoever it is it's going to be tough.

"We're going to need to have our heads on next week that's for sure, for both of those games to make sure we get there first."

Mater Dei led Kildare 4-0 at half-time but Bodean Tereva was able to crash over in the second half to level the scores.

Jake Hay then slotted a conversion from close to the sideline to put his team ahead 6-4.

"It was tough. We were down 4-0. The back end of the second half, they had two sets on our line and if they had of scored it was all over," Conn said.

"Those games, they're 15 each way and seriously, in the tight ones, we were lucky. We made one error, they made three and we had five penalties against us, and most of those were deserving because we did the wrong thing but we got away with one, well and truly."

Kildare then proved too good for a tired Mt Austin, who were playing their third game, later in the night. Sam Emery, Tereva and Braith Crane were the standouts.

READ MORE