GPS First XI cricket: Five things we learned, plus the teams

Here are five things we learned from round 1 of the GPS First XI cricket, while we give details on the teams for round 2.

Brisbane Grammar School will be off and running after a first round bye when round 2 of the GPS First XI competition continues on Saturday.

BGS, to be captained by Hugh Weibgen – with Angus Tolhurst his deputy, will host Brisbane State High School at Northgate.

Below we tell you five things we learned from round 1.

Nudgee takes a break for a drink GPS First XI match between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday January 29, 2022. Picture, John Gass

NUDGEE – T IS FOR TEAM

You cannot be anything but impressed with Nudgee’s first round win over the competition benchmark, The Southport School. The Southport Strangle was on again when Nudgee were 2-69 after 25 overs, curtailed by disciplined TSS bowling and astute off-side field placings. But finding its way to 218 – when only one batsman – Kane Neilsen (78) passed 30 – was a true team performance.

RELATED LINKS

GPS TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 1

ROUND 1 REPORT

ROUND 1 PICTURE GALLERY

Then, with TSS 0-78 after 15 overs, there was an even team bowling effort which has set a lofty standard for the squad to follow in the matches ahead. Typically TSS showed fighting spirit and batting ability right down the lower order. TSS will take some beating from here on in.

Churchie captain Lochy Butterworth-Love. Picture, John Gass

TERRACE TOUGHNESS

St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace started in emphatic fashion this season, finding a way to 200 despite having the worst of the batting conditions. Brayden Laffan (70) and Toby Weston (62 not out) played contrasting innings, then in the field Terrace produced a nice, even bowling effort to unseat Churchie. That bowling performance – where all five bowlers contributed – will please the coaching staff. Churchie will also be better for the outing. You can train all you like, but the group will be better for being placed under the blow torch in the heat of battle like they were against Terrace.

BSHS boys Jack Sonter and Miron Nanayakkarawasam at the drink break. Picture, John Gass

TALENT SHINES BRIGHTLY

Be careful of BSHS and BBC’s batting line-ups this season. BSHS trio John Isoardi (40), Jack Sonter (59) and Miron Nanayakkarawasam (27) showed plenty with the bat while BCC’s Darcy Graham (81 not out) was the round 1 top scorer across all four games. While The Southport School, Nudgee College and Terrace have some star-power, don’t take your eye off this foursome this season.

St Joseph's Gregory Terrace celebrate a wicket. Picture, John Gass

PRIZED FIGHTERS – IGS and TGS

The fighting qualities of Toowoomba Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School were there for all to see during the round 1 thriller when the two teams slugged it out. At Mills Oval, IGS and TGS jousted for 89 overs, with one team and then the other inching their way to the front. At 9-92 TGS were out of the contest, but at all-out 140 they were a fighting chance courtesy of Wilhan Kruger’s last stand with Will Nason (38 not out). Then IGS were on the skids at 7-124, but Cody Dalziel batted for an hour for his 14 not out to thread together the winning runs. There was fighting spirit aplenty from both teams. Win, lose or draw, that is what it is all about, isn’t it.

Wihan Kruger in round 1. Picture: Nev Madsen.

We also notted BBC’s tenacity to hang tough when BSHS were 4-175 eyeing off 240. But a run out by Angus Down was the turning point and from there spin-twins Javen D’souza and Sam Bell – backed up their field – dismissed BSHS for 201.

RELATED LINKS

GPS FIRST XI – PLAYERS TO WATCH

GUN GPS FIRST’S OLD BOYS XI TO HELP THE HEAT, BULLS

Terrace v Brisbane Boys College

Terrace: Brayden Laffan, J Joyce, Tom Campbell, Toby Weston, R Forrester, Harry Dutton, Sam Loch, Michael Harper, Tom Casey, Hayden Evetts, Tom Stubbin, Lucius Stockdale. Full squad members included Tom Noonan, Jono Morgan and MacGregor Sargent.

BBC: JD D’souza, A Down, P Gibson, N East, D Graham, *S Bell, +L Biggs, DJ Fawkner, H Bowles, J Alexander, JW Hogarth.

Brisbane Boys College appeal. Picture, John Gass

BGS v BSHS (Northgate)

BSHS: P Singh, S Dhillon, J Kranen, +DJ Crees, *JL Martin, John Isoardi, J Sonter, M Nanayakkarawasam, T Mahaarachchi, B Mclean, B Meegama

Brisbane Grammar School: Matthew Love, Brad Macintosh, Will Sheedy, Hugh Weibgen (c), Angus Tolhurst, Ethan Du Payne, Oliver Spence (wicketkeeper), Soham Sane, Toby Matthews, Lachlan Mackay, Callum Vidler, Charlie Thomas, Ben Mooney

Nudgee v TGS

Nudgee: Carter Corless, Isaac Mills, Lachlan Russell, *+Daniel Seaton, JA Kuzevich, Naite Grauf, Jack Balkin, M Fielding, Tom Malone, Fergus McFadyen, Kane Neilsen

TGS: Cooper Webster, JJ Ryan, A Singh, *Callum Galvin, William Nason, +H Tzannes, R Tooley, JS Brocherie, Wilhan Kruger, P Menon, T Samarawickrama

Churchie v IGS

Churchie: C Brady, H Zietsch, Joshua Welsh, *L Butterworth-Love, Hamish McDonald, Henry Hillier, L Cooper, R Devereaux, S Hawker, J Ryan, +JS Draper

IGS:Harry Sheppard, L Wegner, Zane Newton, AG Thanki, C Dalziel, Hayden Bloomfield, Jack GELDARD, Jackson Evetts, Kori Ramsden, Lachlan Holmes, +LC Sefont

Bye: TSS: *Justin Faber, Connor Veivers, Jacob Bath, Gabriel Leitch, Spencer Alcock, B Raymond, +Daniel Statham, Zac McDermott, GO Williams, Nick Williams, Joe Madden

Our coverage continues on Saturday, with a round two and pictures report filed late afternoon at www.courermail.com.au

ROUND 2

BGS v BSHS

Nudgee v TGS

Terrace v Brisbane Boys College

Churchie v Ipswich Grammar School