Colts club rugby: Another title contender emerges, team of the week
Colts club rugby: Another premiership contender emerges after GPS stood up to Brothers, plus the team of the week
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GPS passed its biggest test of the season despite not beating Brothers in a colts 1 rugby thriller this afternoon.
The teams drew 19-all, with Brothers taking away a morale victory after recovering from a 19-nil deficit.
But the bigger picture would probably see Brothers dissatisfied and GPS mildly pleased with the result given the high reputation Brothers have rightly mounted as the season has progressed.
No doubt about it - Brothers would have pencilled GPS in as a round 1 win about a month ago. Indeed probably even on game day.
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Alongside Easts, Wests and Bond Uni, Brothers are seen as the team most likely to fight out for the 2021 premiership after upsetting University to claim the 2020 title.
But now entering from the left of the stage is GPS.
The Galloping Greens have now beaten Bond, Wests and drawn with Brothers in successive matches to close our round 1.
Most impressive about the team’s performance has been its ball control, its urgency to support the fallen player at the breakdown while recycling possession, and the ability of players to back their skills and pass in contact rather than die with the ball.
Forwards Tom Valentine, Ben Byrne, Nick Baker and five-eight Bas Ward were particularly effective yesterday, with Baker and Byrne leading back example and Ben Geraghty’s support play as a runner and at the breakdown outstanding.
GPS completely dominated the first 25 minutes of the match, and were good enough to mount a 19-nil advantage in the process.
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Ward found the tryline first, reaching out from close range after Byrne, Valentine and Baker had driven their forwards deep into territory.
GPS, clearly confident and positive after a recent run of success, were not afraid to counter attack from within their half and winger Harry Barker would have been racing up field soon after Ward’s try, had the pass by prop Peter Halipalo not gone forward.
But GPS won a penalty ruck soon after that turn over after Ward had harassed Brothers lock Cooper Bridgeman, and the resulting kick for touch put GPS deep into attack.
From the lineout win Baker secured ball, then drove through the set piece and over the tryline to score an inspiring try.
With GPS dominating territory after being rewarded with excellent ball handling, Brothers halfback Louis Werchon was then called upon to make a try saving tackle on GPS flanker Ben Geraghty after Ward had freed his hands and offloaded.
But continued pressure by GPS resulted in scrum half Cullin Cooper-Jones sprinting over and a big upset was on the cards with GPS leading 19-nil.
Brothers’ recovery started, of all things,with winger Asher Wilson charging down Cooper-Jones’ conversion attempt from next to the posts.
If that conversion had been successful, would Brothers had snatched a draw?
Then, from the kick-off, excellent pressure from Brothers resulted in a turnover and for the next 30 minutes - 10 minutes leading up to halftime and 20 minutes of the second half - a rejuvenated Brothers found its mojo.
Brothers, engines idling earlier, warmed to the occasion, controlling possession and mounting pressure.
Wilson was rewarded for his early desperation when charging down Cooper-Jones’ conversion by presenting himself on the end of a backline movement which saw him race over.
Then, early in the second half, Brothers’ resurgence continued, leading to a near try in the left hand corner, to be followed by an actual try score by inside centre Riley Brown.
Two yellow cards to GPS players Floyd Aubrey and Campbell Moller then complicated things further for GPS.
But the entry of reserve Lachlan Howse was a turning point, and GPS were able to regather a foothold and finish the game where they started, leading to them hanging on for a draw.
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Brothers coach Tony Wall was most pleased with the direction of his classy halfback Werchon, while prop Hudson Mulcahy spearheaded his team’s recovery in tight.
Souths gave Bond Uni a scare before the Gold Coast-based side won 24-18.
Malon Jones continued to be a tower of strength for Bond, while inside Zalyrius Patelesio-faamausili (Bond) gave his team a foundation to work off.
The Souths performance was led by forwards Brown and Togia, while halfback Sanni Silva was again outstanding for the Magpies.
Norths season continued to gather momentum, this time off the back of a 54-nil win over Sunnybank.
After some near misses earlier in the season, Norths players were starting to get rewarded for their effort.
Again prop Josh Mongard shone, but he had helpers in half George Stokes, flanker Illie Harris and outside centre Ryan ah Yek.
University were back in the winners circle, beating Wests in a local derby 12-7 Oryeaan Kalolo.
Backrower Sam Kelly-Knowles was enormous for The Students, while fullback shone.
For Wests halves Zach Shore and Jake Sargood were the pick.
Team of the week
No.15. Oryeaan Kalolo (Uni)
No.14. Harry Barker (GPS)
No.13. Ryan ah Yek (Norths)
No.12. Zalyrius Patelesio-faamausili (Bond)
No.11. Asher Wilson (Brothers)
No.10. George Stokes (Norths)
No.9 Louis Werchon (Brothers)
No.8. Lytana Togia (Souths)
Flanker: Nick Baker (GPS)
Flanker: Ollie Harris (Norths)
Lock: Joel Brown (Souths)
Lock: Marlon Jones (Bond)
Prop: Hudson Mulcahy (Brothers)
Hooker: George Stokes (Norths)
Prop Josh Mongard (Norths)
Res: Ben Byrne (GPS), Sanni Silva (Souths), Tom Valentine (GPS), Sam Kelly-Knowles (Uni), Zach Shore (Wests), Jake Sargood (Wests), Ben Geraghty (GPS).
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