GPS rugby: Churchie won a thriller and Terrace edged out BSHS in stunning round 6 action
GPS rugby round 6: The competition rests on a knife’s edge after a round which saw Churchie and Terrace win thrillers while Ipswich Grammar secured their first win of the season.
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The GPS rugby competition rests on a knifes edge after a stunning round which saw Churchie and Terrace win thrillers while Ipswich Grammar notched their first win of the season.
At Ross Oval, Nudgee were strong in their 24-10 victory over BBC and at Northgate, Ipswich were comprehensive 53-26 winners over Brisbane Grammar.
But at Churchie, the home side overcame a 16-point deficit to win a 22-21 spectacle against The Southport School.
In another blockbuster at Tennyson, Terrace turned a 17-all deadlock into a 27-22 win over BSHS to bring up their second win.
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At Churchie, TSS fly half Spencer Alcock was inches away from capturing a 24-22 victory in the 70th minute but his field-goal attempt sprayed left and Churchie came out on top.
TSS led 21-12 at the break and were kept scoreless in the second half on the back of some inspired defence by the home side, who were cheered on by a vocal crowd.
Fly half Charlie Johnstone set up a try to Frankie Goldsbrough and slotted an important penalty goal to snatch his team’s first lead of the game in the 64th minute.
Despite strong defensive efforts from Max Blanch and Hugh Rylance, TSS surged downfield through powerful prop Kingsley Uys, agile forwards Amare Milford and Billy Wellard and outside backs Charlie Coffey and Charlie Dwyer – and managed to get a good look at the goal.
It wasn’t to be but without Alcock, TSS wouldn’t have been in a position to win such was his impact on the game.
Churchie’s Johnstone and TSS’ Alcock entertained in a high-class kicking duel, won late in the piece by Johnstone when his smart switch-play sent Goldsbrough in for that crucial five-pointer.
Earlier TSS were ahead by 16 (21-5) but had their lead cut to nine when hooker Hamish Ward scored a try on halftime.
Fly half Alcock and outside centre Mason King pulled of a try-saver each to keep Churchie out in the opening five minutes.
Alcock made a crucial tackle on the right touchline and then King on the other touchline, but Churchie’s third wide-shift of the ball was a successful one with Goldsbrough putting winger Oscar Harris in for the first try.
TSS struck next in the form of a Billy Wellard rolling maul try, capturing their first lead at 7-5.
TSS threatened to extend it however a pilfering Blanch had different ideas when he earned a timely breakdown win.
It was a big play, but TSS soon enjoyed a wealth of possession and with the muscle of Uys and height of lock Sebastian Smith-Power motoring them forward, Churchie were thrusted on the back foot.
In the 25th minute, TSS snapped up momentum and moved in front 14-5 courtesy of some Billy Tonkin brilliance.
Tonkin broke the line and with his back turned, flicked a pass to King who was in support.
The visitors fed off of Tonkin’s miracle play and with Dwyer (fullback) returning the ball and Tom Goldie (scrumhalf) providing quick service to Alcock, they found themselves in again.
This time it was mobile No. 8 Milford who peeled off the back of the scrum and crashed over.
TSS led 21-5, only for Churchie to score one on the half-time siren, and two in the second half to come from behind and claim victory.
Johnstone, Blanch and Goldsbrough were monumental in the backs, while Diamond Fifita, Ward and Emil Willie-Jawai were game front rowers.
Together, they helped Churchie overcome a TSS side who played so well they did not deserve to lose.
POINTS TABLE
TSS 10
TGS 8
CHURCHIE 8
NUDGEE 8
BBC 4
BSHS 4
GT 4
IGS 2
BGS 0
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On Ross Oval, Nudgee flanker Hugo Hart scored a hat-trick in his team’s 24-10 win over BBC.
Fly half Maddox Maclean and captain Macarius Pereira (prop) showed their First XV experience and added the finishing touches for the home side.
Illusive fullback Jacob Johnson again had a stellar performance, highlighted by his ability to create chances with his counterattacking.
Johnson was the best back on the field but there were strong performances abound, namely by Prestyn Laine-Sietu and Nicholas Conway of Nudgee.
BBC fullback Charlie Bird made a cracking trysaving tackle on James Duggan to begin the day but he could not stop Duggan a second time just moments later.
Elite fullback Johnson showed his turn of speed creating that try which Duggan dotted down without a worry.
BBC responded instantly through hooker Cooper Hoare, who had a strong showing.
Flanker Hart, who had his best game of the year, hit back for Nudgee to retake the lead at 12-5.
That remained the score up until halftime with scrappy scramble defence from the home side ensuring they remained with their noses in front.
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Into the second half, the kicking of Maclean was precise, the passing of Sam Watson accurate and the edge defence of Nicholas Conway crucial.
It was a 50-22 from Maclean which created Nudgee’s third try.
Maclean had it on a string all game and as such Nudgee were able to call upon their powerful rolling maul to deal their next blow, again through Hart.
The home side led 17-5.
Hart then scored his third and in doing so the dagger.
Captain Macarius Pereira shrugged off his tackler and in support was Hart, who swan dived in under the sticks to secure back-to-back wins for Nudgee.
BBC breakaway Tyler Mayberry was abrasive at the breakdown and Jamie Alexander (scrumhalf) and Oscar Shaw (fly half) a dangerous combination who tested the Nudgee defences.
Indeed the visitors were fierce competition and stayed in the fight until the final whistle when prop Cameron Ray scored a consolidation try two minutes before full time.
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At Northgate, Ipswich Grammar notched their first win of 2023 with a confidence-boosting 53-26 victory spearheaded by three-try-hero Brock Coombes.
Winger Coombes had been in a tryscoring drought up until today and in his hat-trick was a set-piece-screamer.
His other two tries did not come easy.
In order for Coombes to cash in on the edges, front rowers William Pamenter, Jean-Paul Sia and Alexander Schumacher had to be on their game.
That is exactly what the Year 11 trio were according to head of sport Nigel Greive.
“The Year 11 front rowers scrummaged well … Between them they had some very strong carries.
“We are very happy for the boys they have been competitive and close all year.”
It was an arm wrestle in the opening stages with both Brisbane Grammar and Ipswich Grammar scoring well-constructed tries.
Where Ipswich Grammar gained the advantage was on the defensive end, the visitors tightening the screws after a loose start.
Influential Ipswich Grammar fly half Nathan Fraser was a calming presence who managed the game brilliantly to compliment a committed team effort in defence.
“The boys clicked and they got a lot of confidence out of that and hopefully we build on that going forward into the back end of the season,” said Greive.
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At Tennyson, gutsy defence by Gregory Terrace centres Angus Kelly and Henry Hill, strong carries from No. 8 PJ Su’a and a super try from prop Jovid Aveau won a tight contest 27-22 over Brisbane State High.
It was a clash well within BSHS’ reach but simple mistakes and errors proved costly.
Led by fleet-a-foot Tauave Leofa and his threatening outside backs Netani Lesimaikimatuku, Josh Takai, Paddy McInally, Jackson Hill and Laquan Afamiliona, BSHS looked the goods playing the free-flowing-footy we are used to seeing.
Chances arose, but they were not taken, BSHS letting Terrace off the hook with turnovers at crucial times.
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The tradesman like Terrace boys ran in five tries to BSHS’ three, with the windy breeze meaning the extras weren’t added.
The teams were deadlocked 17-all at the half, before tries to Nick Dunstan (fullback) and Sam McGahan (fly half) saw Terrace turn consistent pressure into points and a hard-fought five-point-victory.
ROUND 7
TGS v TSS
GT v BGS
NC v ACGS
BBC v IGS
BSHS v Bye
Originally published as GPS rugby: Churchie won a thriller and Terrace edged out BSHS in stunning round 6 action
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