How round 1 of the GPS First XV rugby season unfolded
GPS First XV rugby round 1: BSHS fire a shot across the bow of all premiership contenders with a stunning round one opening effort against a respected Toowoomba Grammar outfit. See how it all unfolded here.
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BSHS sporting colossus Roman Siulepa was at the headwaters of a dramatic, highlight-laden round one GPS First XV match which saw his side rise 47-28 above visitors Toowoomba Grammar School.
Playing No. 8 but displaying the speed and agility of an outside centre or fullback, Siulepa scored four tries and laid on another in one of the top two or three performances by an individual in GPS First XV rugby this decade.
Only the deeds of Nudgee old boy Rob Toia, BBC premiership winner Jack Howarth and possibly TSS old boy Jye Gray spring to mind as performances which enter the same stratosphere Siulepa found himself in.
ROUND 1 TEAMS, DEBUT BOYS LISTED HERE
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Not even 32kph winds could blow the towering Siulepa off course as he strode toward scoring a 95m runaway try.
All this from an athlete who has been signed by the NBL champions, the Tasmanian JackJumpers.
While 200cm Souths Magpies phenom Siulepa stood out, it was a thrilling start to the season for the entire BSHS squad who had to withstand a spirited TGS scoring three of the last four tries before celebrating the win.
“There are a lot of things to work on which we can get on top of over the next couple of weeks, but I felt we got on top of them quite comfortably and let them back into the game,’’ said BSHS coach Toutai Kefu.
BSHS were not a one man show and certainly flanker Trent Picot and thrilling fullback Angus Tagicakibau showed their side the way to victory.
TGS director of sport Steve Fryer said his young side would make plenty of progress this season.
Indeed TGS’s pick and drive and rolling maul work was outstanding, netting 28 points which says plenty about the firepower of this side.
Front rowers Archie Campbell and Ruben Kruger were to the fore and flanker Joe Gray was tremendous, while prop Harrison Humphreys stood up well against a big pack.
Earlier, BSHS opened the scoring when a trick line out saw possession swing to the blindside where hooker Cyrus Suniula found a channel to the try line.
The only one who stood in his way was a ball boy who sprinted for dear life to get out of the way of Suniula’s rampaging frame after the youngster had retrieved a second ball on the field.
TGS then calmly, methodically responded, and a surge of six or so penalties in a row helped them mount a fierce pick and drive, and also rolling maul attack.
However despite losing lock Manasa Vunibola to a yellow card during this period, the BSHS defence held up.
Then came Siulepa’s 95m runaway try against the run of play after TGS had been thrust deep into attack.
Toowoomba winger Adam Davis had put his side in striking distance with an electrifying run, but as the movement closed in on the BSHS line, a loose ball on the ground was scooped up by Siulepa who ran almost the full length of the field.
TGS persisted, reducing the margin to 13-7 when captain and flanker Gray burrowed over.
However BSHS refused to lose its grip on the match, and constructive forward play led to forward leader Eli Langi crashing over on the cusp of halftime.
BSHS then raised the bar early in the second half, with dazzling fullback Angus Tagicakibau blazing over in brilliant fashion, and then big Siulepa ghosting across the field to put his winger McInally over.
Siulepa’s second individual try then sent his team hurtling out to 37 points, but either side of his five-pointer TGS scored to narrow the lead to 37-21.
On the Village Green, home team The Southport School had a winning start to the season, beating a defiant Terrace 34-5 in a fast-paced showcase.
The platform was laid by front row forwards Kingsley Uys, Blaze Moana and Jonah Rangiwai in both the set piece and around the field, enabling goalkicking halfback Tom Goldie to release an impressive, young backline with good footwork and speed to burn.
It all started with hooker and captain Blaze Moana whose general play and line out throwing in the wind set a high standard. He also came away with two tries, one a pick and drive and the other a rolling maul try, which was a just reward for his efforts throwing the ball straight and far.
Around him young buck forwards Viliami Fifita and Agapetos Lote-Felo, dynamic big men, were outstanding, while lock Hayden Keldie-Genner was not too far behind.
Winger Jake Lane also impressed, not for any Flash Dan anticis, but for his hard work across the match where his last line defence was impenetrable and bursts down the left touchline brilliant.
On the other wing Kingston Seve showed flashes of what was to come when Dallas Ingram and workaholic centres Eli Vea and Kilarney Lavender combined to put him in space.
In the end it was the TSS set piece which was telling, denying Terrace ball after The Brave had come out with vigour in an inspired first half.
Terrace had their own forward powerhouse in Year 11 student Oli Nasser who, from No. 8, was absolutely outstanding.
And so to was winger Sam Russell who made a flurry of individual breaks, timely tackles and once chased a TSS opponent the length of the field to dive and make a trysaver.
It was a sensational covering tackle by young Russell, on runaway lock Dan Wells, who went 90m before being brought down.
“Terrace never give up,’’ praised TSS coach Mike Wallace. “You know you are up for a fight if you are going to beat them.’’
Terrace coach Adrian Thompson admired his team’s spirit and effort considering the possession which flowed the way of TSS.
Moana (two tries), Lane, Fifita, Lote-Felo and Lavender all crossed for the home side, whose imposing centre pairing of Vea and Lavender complimented a fleet footed back division of fullback Dylan Terblanche, Lane and Seve.
In Ipswich, The home side fought and battled hard, but it was premiers Nudgee who scored 19 unanswered points to turn a 12-all halftime scoreline into a 31-12 win.
Powerful Nudgee tighthead Levi Slater scored a momentum shifting try in the 48th minute for Nudgee which snatched a 17-12 lead and another big play followed 12 minutes later when flyhalf Charlie O’Connell backed himself with a beautiful crossfield kick which was gobbled up and scored by right winger Oli Patterson.
This piece of magic saw Nudgee take a 12 point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
Nimble Nick Conway had a great game at outside centre and improving Year 11 winger Paterson had a superb debut performance - showing his wheels, class and IQ in all aspects of the game.
It was an arm wrestle early, with returning hooker Will Pamenter scoring the first points of the day and speedster James Grey his team’s second try with a superb 60m intercept try.
But momentum started to shift in the second half, due in part to robust hooker and captain John Grenfell whose bustling runs and telling defence turned over possession and disrupted an IGS outfit that rushed up in defence and scrambled well on defence.
Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham said his team had to be patient and have faith in the game plan - and they were.
And Nudgee’s defence was also gold star stuff.
“They should be extremely proud of their defence,’’ said Graham.
Lock Ed Kasprowicz was a notable performer for his defensive lineout performance, while winger Patterson showed plenty of skill, but it was very much a team performance.
Kasprowicz’ opposite Harry Scheibel was also a towering presence in a game IGS pack which scrummed well.
Finn Kendall (inside centre), Brock Coombes (winger) were sharp for the home side, as was Nudgee fullback Jacob Johnson who drew on last year’s leanings to make a wonderful impact on this game.
A player with pace to burn, Johnson was great steaming onto the ball in the Nudgee backline and was responsible for a lot of the side’s attacking enterprise.
IGS right wing Marlon Frost also impressed in his debut showing calmness under pressure.
From New South Wales’ Central Coast, the Year 11 boarder absorbed a stack of pressure and made all the wise decisions as his opposition capitalised on their lineout dominance and ill-discipline at times from IGS - who were spearheaded in the forwards by Everywhere Man Ezalle Matautia and tighthead Alex Schumacher before leaving the field injured.
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The match played between Brisbane Grammar and home side Churchie was another close one, emphasising the tightness of this year’s competition.
Churchie won 37-20, the score representing the trend of the match as big plays inside BGS’ 22m saw Churchie snare buffers throughout the game.
BGS showed plenty and Churchie had to be on their A game to come away on top, hooker Tim Allport scoring two tries for the visitors who had a nice mix of speed in the backs and size in the forwards.
BGS tighthead prop and vice-captain Tristan Knudsen used his size and power to score the first try of the day.
In the backline, BGS were well organised with flyhalf and captain Zac Reader steering the side, with the straight running of Harper Enasio and angled carries of outside centre Lincoln Dalton troubling the inside defence.
Left wing Tom Siganto matched that with a brave defensive showing full of cover tackles and Elijah Breen as well but with his clearing kicks.
Siganto’s defensive performance was reminiscent of Russell (Terrace) and Lane’s (TSS) on the Village Green.
With their home crowd cheering them on, Churchie produced two special tries to put a crevice between the two sides.
One of them came when a superb pass by flyhalf Tom Hatzifotis sent Harry Solofa spearing through a hole and the other came when a chip kick from Max Blanch was toed ahead by Oli Chancellor and Hugh Rylance before Rylance dove onto the ball to score.
This try, sparked by a Blanch linebreak, came after captain Blanch had ran 25m to score a cracking try on the right edge.
That was the dagger from a bulked up Blanch, who ran in Churchie’s fourth try muscling his way over to make it 32-15.
TREY’S WAY
Dangerous Churchie fullback Treyvon Pritchard announced himself on the main oval, showing that he will be a highlight waiting to happen in 2024.
An Australian Under-16s selection last year, Pritchard welcomed kicks into his territory, the Springfield local attacking the line or otherwise returning kicks with his big right boot.
In his debut, Pritchard scored a cracking try which he set up, left wing Will Bloxhom unloading in contact to put Churchie’s most exciting fullback since Kalyn Ponga (2015) over.
Round 2
BBC v BSHS
TERRACE v CHURCHIE
TGS v IGS
NUDGEE v TSS
BYE: BGS
Originally published as How round 1 of the GPS First XV rugby season unfolded
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