GPS First XV rugby passes the halfway mark of the competition
GPS First XV rugby: There was an epic clash between two grand old rivals while both BBC and BSHS pounced in a gala day of schoolboy rugby. Latest from round 5 here.
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Nudgee College retained the St Joseph’s Cup as the Blue and White boys joined BSHS as the only unbeaten teams in the GPS First XV season which has passed the halfway mark with no clear cut favourite for the title.
Both competition leaders had to fight tooth and nail for victory, with BSHS coming from behind to beat The Southport School 29-23, while Nudgee wriggled past traditional arch rivals St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, 25-12.
In the other matches, BBC consolidated third after coming from a 5-17 deficit before finding 36 points in its win over Churchie, while Toowoomba Grammar School beat Brisbane Grammar School 47-12.
On the Internationals Oval at Tennyson, a superb two try double by dangerous left wing Nick Conway was among the highlights for the visitors, who secured bragging rights with their telling defence and lineout brilliance.
Busy lock Ed Kasprowicz spoiled a Terrace lineout five minutes from time when it was now or never for the home side, and across the match himself and Armistead were again faultless at the set-piece which is where it all started for Nudgee.
Indeed tireless flanker Hugo Hart and young gun prop Isaac Rauluni both scored tries on the back of a lineout win, but it was Nudgee’s quickfire start to the second half after trailing 7-5 at the break which broke open the match.
Prop Charlie Hollyman had bounded over for Terrace The Brave in the first half, but Nudgee started like a house on fire in the second period of play to lead 20-12 with 18 minutes to go.
Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham said the only area which separated the teams was his squad’s set piece.
“We got a lot of reward from the defensive line out and they were under pressure in the scrum as well,’’ Graham said.
He had high praise for the Adrian Thompson coached Terrace who were not far off a major upset. “Full credit to their defence - they covered the field well and made it uncomfortable for us,’’ Graham said.
“There defensive break down pressure was also accurate.’’
Terrace coach Thompson heaped praise on his side which “defended the house down’’.
Frustratingly Terrace could not find enough points to complement its tackling, something not helped by the loss of centre Connor Clifford (broken leg).
Still his replacement, young Frank Iraguha, performed splendidly in the mid field, but Terrace’s best was easily flanker Nate Wines.
PINPOINT SERVICE
Nudgee College’s unsung hero on the day was their scrumhalf Sam Watson, whose accurate and speedy service was to be admired for the entire 70 minutes.
Watson wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the ruck and gave fly half O’Connell great ball which he promptly distributed to crafty inside centre Carter Welfare, Prestyn Laine-Sietu, who did well in his return from injury, and left winger Conway whose kick-and-chase solo effort to score was outstanding.
Watson too scored a beauty, and it was the momentum shifter that kicked Nudgee into gear after Terrace had started well despite one of their best in Clifford leaving the field early with an injury.
To kickstart proceedings after the break, the Norths junior attacked the blindside, dashed away 30m and evaded last line defender George Joseph with some telling footwork.
Terrace’s scheming scrumhalf did some great work for his team as well, the quick between the ears George Hales offering good service, while proving a running threat when opting for quick taps and catching Nudgee’s back peddling defenders off-side.
CONWAY IS KING
For the second week in a row left wing Conway has been a difference maker.
Last week against Brisbane Grammar the headgear wearing hot stepper was slippery as could be and again this week, in a gruelling clash that delivered plenty of highlights for onlookers, he was deadly when he got his chances.
With Jacob Johnson terrific under the highball, Conway wreaked havoc down his left edge with Nudgee at their most dangerous attacking that side of the field.
After regathering his own chip kick to score, Conway was back on the scoresheet to settle the scores at 25-12 when Laine-Sietu broke through and offloaded to Conway who was bursting through in support.
IMPRESSION MADE
After a scrappy win over BGS in round four and a week off with the competition bye, the Terrace boys sure got up for this one and gave Nudgee a real run for their money.
Losing representative inside centre Clifford early did not help their cause, but replacement centre Frank Iraguha, a powerhouse midfielder signed by the Cowboys, was top notch when he came onto the field.
With Saia Poese also offering plenty on his outside, Terrace tested the defence of Nudgee’s backs and midway through the second half saw success when Iragahu shed a tackle and unloaded to Poese who kicked away to score and move within three, Terrace trailing 15-12.
The clearing kicks of the McGahan twins Joe and Sam was also a positive for the home side, who were not once out of the game.
BANG BANG
To seal the deal and maintain their unbeaten record, Nudgee made two all-important plays nearing full-time that eclipse why many think they can again go all the way this year.
After a lineout steal from the towering Kasprowicz denied Terrace the chance at using their rolling maul a little over 5m out from the tryline, blindside flanker Ben DiDonna swooped to win a penalty at the breakdown.
With time dwindling down and Terrace on the charge, DiDonna delivered with a wonderful pilfer to win a penalty.
At Southport, BSHS won the match in a 10 minute period after halftime when they denied a highly skilled TSS points.
At the time TSS led 15-12 and could smell blood in the water, but somehow BSHS responded with a match turning defensive effort that included:
+ BSHS fullback Angus Tagicakibau tackling TSS outside centre giant Kilarney Lavender, the best player on the field;
+ BSHS hooker Cyrus Suniula scrambled to a legs tackle on a try bound TSS winger Jack Lane;
+ Eli Langi pinched ruck ball after that man Lavender had pounded his side close to scoring;
+ and BSHS winger Paddy McInally somehow tackled Viliami Fifita despite the physical miss match.
BSHS head coach Steve Kefu was so impressed with that period of play by his side, he said he would “clip it’’ and use it in future preparations.
Kefu said it was crucial his team’s defence stood up after the break, while also keeping the ball in play as the game progressed.
BSHS captain Eli Langi was again top notch in all departments, while halfback Marley Ngatai was a spark with his up-tempo play.
After BSHS had turned TSS away, BSHS found a second wind after a Seamus Boakes clearing kick had landed on halfway.
From that line elite forward Trent Picot drove 15m forward, and off the back of that No.8 Roman Siulepa, well contained for the most part, found space down the left hand sideline.
Siulepa laid the ball back and prop Tyrece Herniman scooped up possession to drive over.
A Boakes penalty then extended BSHS’s lead to 22-15, before a stunning counter attacking try moved 80m across the field as fullback Tagicakibau, winger Jackson Hill and halfback Marley Ngatai combined.
Hill’s centre kick bounced perfectly for Ngatai who raced the final 18m to score. At 29-15 BSHS were almost there.
And although Lavender scored late for TSS, BSHS were able to retain its unbeaten record.
The game would have made frustrating viewing for TSS supporters who could see their side had the fire power to win - but they finished behind on the scoreboard despite suppoer efforts from centre Lavender, prop Uys and hooker Moana.
It was a huge away victory for BSHS against a TSS side which had athletic big men littered across the field, none better than outside centre Lavender.
Lavender beat defenders all day long.
It was also Lavender’s thrilling catch from kick-off ball which enabled TSS to regain possession to score the home team’s first try.
Lavender presented the ball on a platter to Dallas Ingram who found Tom Goldie and then onto prop Kingsley Uys, another big man sculptured masterpiece.
Uys then fed right winger Dalton who sizzled to the line like he had heard the starters gun at a GPS track and field meet.
It was a big moment for Dalton, a boy on debut who hails from Grafton. He is the cousin of decorated NRL player Cody Walker.
TSS looked set to score again, but a fumbled ball fell nicely into the arms of BSHS winger Jackson hill who outlasted TSS No.8 Agapetos Lote-Felo in a 75m sprint to the line. The scores were locked up at 12-all.
Earlier, TSS opened the scoring courtesy of prop Kingsley Uys after the front eight displayed raw forward horsepower. A rolling maul thundered forward from a lineout, and when it appeared to have come becalmed, Blaze Moana carried it on.
A pick and drive attack then resulted in Uys punching a hole in the BSHS line. It was 7-nil.
TSS had been placed into try scoring territory by a booming penalty kick for line by Tom Goldie that must have travelled 50m with the wind.
BSHS’s first try came from prop Tyrece Herniman who picked and drove his way over the line.
At Churchie, Churchie second rower Caleb Godfrey had an extraordinary first half - but it was BBC who remained composed to finish with 36 points and an important victory.
At one stage BBC were down 17-5, but they went back to basics, swung momentum with some tough, grinding play, and then ran in some nice tries toward the end.
BBC director of rugby Todd Dammers said one of the great traits of the side was its ability to remain composed under duress.
“They did a good job keeping things nice and calm despite being behind.’’
Off the back of big men like Howarth and Donovan, BBC gained a platform, and around the field flanker Jack Randell cleaned up a lot of ball while linking with the backs.
Reserve utility Keats then swung between halfback and wing to spark some second half attacks.
It all started so well for Churchie.
The game started when, from broken play, Godfrey did his best to resemble an outside centre when he produced a startling 75m try.
Soon after he again swooped from out wide, this time on the right hand side of the field, and his thrust was supported by Max Blanch who raced over to score. Churchie led 12-nil.
BBC then settled into the match, regaining composure through the set piece and a power game.
Twice BBC scored from well rehearsed line out plays, and on another occasion crossed off the back of a secure centre field scrum.
And it was just as well BBC did strike back, because they were down 17-5 after Churchie winger Oliver Chancellor swung a try his team’s way with a desperate charge down off a clearing kick.
From that possession the polished Churchie side did not waste the ball, sweeping it across the field to left winger Will Bloxham who dived over to make it 17-5.
Then came BBC’s recovery to lead 19-17.
BBC’s first try had come from a rolling maul which saw hooker Tyler Maybery spear through strewn defenders to score.
Halfback Isaac Kefu then pulled the trigger on the move from a scrum.
Kefu wrapped around his five-eight, and ultimately BBC winger Ryder Koia did his best to impersonate a freestyle swimmer’s dive from the blocks - so far did Koia dive to score.
BBC then scored another try from a beautifully rehearsed line out which saw prop Oscar Donovan sweep a blindside channel to cross.
For Churchie, flanker George Ward was first class covering kilometres of green grass, while also making more than 20 tackles. He was outstanding.
At Northgate, Toowoomba Grammar School enjoyed its first win of the season over BGS.
TGS produced a more complete performance across the 70 minutes, displaying much improved defence.
Ethan Ramsay scored two tries to continue his impressive season, while Jack Brown also crossed for two tries.
Tom Bailey defended well for TGS, while Iliesa Baravilala directed the attack well and was dangerous with the ball.
BGS displayed plenty of promise, but struggled to capitalise on chances which were created.
The core players in BGS’s performance were Lincoln Dalton, Dyer Akauloa and Elijah Breen, while Flynn Horton tried his heart out.
ROUND 6
IGS v TSS
TGS v Terrace
BSHS v Churchie
BBC v BGS
Bye: Nudgee
Originally published as GPS First XV rugby passes the halfway mark of the competition
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