GPS First XV rugby round 9 premiership triple treat
The GPS First XV rugby premiership race turned into a premiership triple treat after an amazing tie between three schools
South East
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The grand GPS First XV rugby competition finished in a three-way tie today when Nudgee College, Churchie and The Southport School shared the spoils.
The schools each lost one match after Churchie defeated Brisbane State High School 55-5 and TSS beat an im[impressive Ipswich Grammar School 36-21. Nudgee had a bye.
Victory was a triumph for Churchie coach Ryan Schultz and his players and they built on last season’s improvement to claimed its first title since 2015.
For TSS coach Mike Wallace and his young men, the joint premiership followed the college’s last triumph in 2019.
Nudgee College director of rugby Sean Graham and his coaches and players are more far used to such lofty standings. Although there was no formal premiership awarded last year due to a reduced season caused by COVID-19 disruptions, they were regarded as the best side in 2021 after a resounding win over TSS.
Churchie coach Schultz said the win was several years in the making and the “quality people who contributed to the Churchie program for a number of years’’ all had something to do with the win.
“What I love about the group are some stars in their, but there are also real workers.’’
He also praised captain Thomas Stoddart who he described as a “genuine person who everyone in the squad looks up to and respects.’’
“He is not a man of many words, but everyone has seen this year he leads by his actions,’’ Schultz said.
Graham said the most satisfying aspect of the season was the squad’s response after losing the gun player of the competition, centre Rob Toia, and elite winger Rocco Gollings in the round 3 clash against Churchie.
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Such was Toia’s dominance at the time, Nudgee had to display they were good enough to implement a Plan B and it was an examination the group passed with flying colours.
Graham said Toia and Tanner or not, premierships were still won on defence and his side finished with the best defensive statistics in the competition, including two clean sheets.
Graham also praised rivals teams for the standard of the competition.
“It was a really good competition,’’ Graham said.
“All teams and coaching staff need to be congratulated. You needed to be on your game each weekend and prepare well.’’
Today, Churchie finished the season in style against BSHS, mixing its horsepower rolling mauls with withering counter attack from the back.
Churchie hooker Toby Kennedy feasted on his teams rolling maul expertise while Wilson and Johnson’s service to their outside back division ensured BSHS were confronting a multi-pronged attacking unit.
Churchie led 19-5 at halftime against a spirited BSHS which played with passion and enthusiasm.
If Churchie had not been so resolute with their goal line defence countering both pick and drives and wide sweeps to Toshi Butlin’s wing, BSHS would have been closer at the break.
BSHS found plenty of energy and effort and Emil Willie-Jawai’s try to start the second half would have been welcomed by the Churchie supporters.
His try and Archie Wilson’s conversion made it 26-5, and with Pakeho and Goldsbrough asserting midfield dominance, Churchie’s forwards were rumbling hard and fast.
Two perfectly executed pick and drive tries from more Ben Daniels line out wins blew to score out to 41-5, and Will Herbert’s counter attack to put Pakeho over continued Churchie’s March to victory.
Earlier, with lock Daniels continuing his ball winning habits, Churchie found enough early possession to lead 12-nil and then 19-5 heading toward halftime.
Daniels’ unsung lock forward mate Alex Kerr took BSHS on through the teeth of their forwards to score, while Charlie Johnson started and finished a sizzling 40m team try.
This was after Churchie inside centre Dre Pakeho skidded over after quick thinking halfback Archie Wilson had offered him quick tap ball from a penalty.
Credit also needs to be heaped upon blindside Churchie winger Connor Simpson whose crash ball running in traffic freed speedster Mac Kelley to enjoy life as an open side finisher.
Hooker Kennedy, a two try hero today, was also another of his unsung heroes his coach referred to as was No.10 Johnson, while props Fifita annd Jawai were enormous.
BSHS have some exciting young players like Tuave Leofa, Netani Lesimaikimatuku and D15, Dredyn Takave.
The Southport School First XV grinded it out to edge their name next to Nudgee and Churchie as the 2022 GPS rugby premiers, with a mammoth effort to topple Ipswich Grammar at Ipswich this afternoon.
An army of Southport students watched on anxiously, but eventually swarmed their victorious schoolmates. The First XV were taking it all in as the Southport community became premiers once more with a 36-31 win.
It had only been three years since their last, but given the Covid complications in both seasons since then, this achievement has to be up there with the best. Especially with a test like this to finish.
Southport, without their captain Jye Gray who was injured in the warm up, called on their depth to do the job and indeed they did. Judd Andrews came in on the wing and fullback Keahn Skipps moved to No.12, where he shone like a beacon.
Next to the Southport bodies stood an exhausted Ipswich outfit who finished their season off admirably. They tested Southport for the full 70, no doubt leaving the Southport faithful nervous in their seats as their last rival threatened an upset.
Ipswich were not going away without a fight, hitting back whenever Southport edged forward.
Southport coach Mike Wallace said: “We knew Ipswich were going to grind for 70. In the end, the guys that came in did a great job. Our forward pack turned up and worked really hard for us.”
“We set ourselves a goal with three games to go to climb the three highest mountains in the world. We knew Ipswich were going to be the highest, playing away. If we could get through the two, Ipswich would be tough to finish.”
Ipswich struck first, only two minutes in. It was strapping centre Israel Leota who did what he does best. Powerful running and scoring tries.
But, hooker Blaze Moana detached off a strong rolling maul to give Southport their first try of the day and thanks to the pin point kicking of Spencer Alcock, the scores were equal.
Then, No.8 powerhouse Nick Hilton went bang bang. With a dazzling try off the lineout and a barnstorming run, Hilton sent Southport up 19-7 in no time.
For his second, fast service from halfback Fraser Cowan was enough, Hilton charging and trampling on top of Ipswich bodies to score.
Ipswich set up an exciting second half when fullback Kohen Briggs scored one minute before the break. Centre powerhouse Stanley Huen put on a fine step and blitzed his way through the line before dummying left and linking with Briggs in full flight on his right.
At 19-12, a tense 35 minutes remained. And it did not disappoint.
Southport went up 12 when replacement winger Judd Andrews scored Southport’s best of the day. With 10 metres to muster all the pace he could, Andrews marched into some fierce contact and prevailed.
With nothing but power and determination he surged over his defender and slammed the ball down. Southport were back in business.
But, not for long as Briggs had different ideas. The crafty No.15 dabbed in a sneaky grubber and of course it was perfectly waited, sitting up for winger Matt Barrow who stormed through to regain and plant it down.
Like a boxing match, each side continued to trade blows. Southport centre Blake Ruaporo was next to land a telling blow, thanks to set piece magic by Alock and flanker Amare Milford.
Alock and Milford broke open the Ipswich defence with quick hands and great change of direction. As you can imagine Southport did not keep their 31-19 lead for long, as Israel Leota joined the party with his centre partner Huen.
With a lethal step, Huen carved his way through the defence and found a happy customer in Leota on his inside. With 13 minutes to play, Southport were only just ahead 31-26.
Then, a quick inside step from stand in centre Keahn Skipps put Southport in the clear 36-26.
Ipswich left two or three tries out there, with a questionable knock-on and forward pass calls on Leota, who would have scored one and set up another.
In the 76th minute, speedy winger Rhys Woods gave Ipswich their final five pointer of the year, but it was too late. With some thumping tackles and crucial pilfers, the Southport boys only just held off Ipswich in the final 10 to win 36-31.
In other matches, Angus Munn led Terrace to a 15-14 in a cracking game to finish the season against the close game kings Toowoomba Grammar School.
“We have had a number of closes loses so it was good to have a close win, kicking a penalty (Nick Dunstan) with a few minutes to go to win,’’ said Terrace director of rugby Tyron Mandrusiak
“It was a reward for our boys who have been in the mix.’’
TGS director of sport Steve Fryer said it was a wonderful season by the TGS First XV squad and the community was looking forward to 2023 when many of the boys return.
TGS centre Chace Oates was again a handful out wide in the match dominated by forwards and set pieces.
In the other game, Brisbane Boys College won 44-28 as they finished the season in style against an improved Brisbane Grammar School.
An intercept try by Samon Tuqiri was among the many tries scored in an entertaining afternoon which at one stage had Grammar ahead before BBC conjured up a fast finishing second half.
“BBC have a tall pack and their line out was good, and our guys played to the end,’’ said Grammar coach Phil Mooney.
When BBC got rolling, they had the speed to get the job done and with a few fortunate bounces they bounded away.
Year 11 students like Tuqiri, Xavier Rubens, Daniel Malan make up an exciting outside back line-up, while play makers like James Martins and James Alexander loom for 2023.
Meanwhile yesterday’s round 9 was a “Spirit of Fellowship” themed round which encouraged the GPS community to reflect on mental health and wellbeing “of themselves as well as those around them’’.
“GPS Spirit of Fellowship” celebrates the courage, determination, commitment, teamwork and
respect that has united the GPS Association’s nine member schools since its foundation in 1918,’’ a GPS spokeswomen said.
Honouring the occasion, rugby teams wore custom-designed socks representing the
colours of each of the member schools.
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