GPS First XI cricket premiership winners crowned
Who won the GPS First XI cricket premiership? It was the first title by this school since they had a future Test cricketer playing for them 10 years ago.
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Brisbane Boys’ Grammar was today crowned the 2022 GPS First XI premiers, continuing the winners touch by coach Pete Steindl.
Victory over Brisbane Boys College at Oakman Park sealed the deal and capped a remarkable about face by BGS who two years ago were competition battlers.
But captained by Hugh Weibgen, the young side matured with experience, culminating in today’s glorious triumph.
It was BGS’s first premiership since 2013 when former Test opener and current Bulls ace Matt Renshaw, outstanding Western Suburbs all-rounder Paddy Dooley and South Brisbane representative batsman Aryan Jain were in the team.
Victory continued a dream season for coach Steindl whose club side, Western Suburbs, were also playing in this weekend’s Premier Cricket grand final against the Hornets.
The win is also a triumph for BGS director of cricket Trevor Irvine.
RELATED LINKS
GPS FIRST XI TEAM OF THE SEASON
SONS – AND BROTHERS – OF GPS FIRST XI GUNS
Brisbane Grammar School claimed the title from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.
Ultimately the premiership came down to BGS’s stirring victory over Terrace at Northgate in a tense, low scoring match.
You sensed that match was the Mt Everest of the competition and whoever triumphed would have a down payment on the premiership.
“Grammar were the best team in the competition,’’ praised Terrace head of cricket Blair Copelin. “We didn’t play our best game that day but I still strongly believe that (BGS were best) to be the case.’’
BGS doyen of sport, the retired Ron Cochrane, heaped praise on the BGS coaching staff and playing squad.
“Winning the GPS first XI premiership is a difficult task,’’ he said.
“Most premierships over the years have had the follow ingredients:
+ Outstanding attack
+ Well coached
+ And a Captain who understands the game
The 2022 BGS First XI had these ingredients in abundance. A genuine fast bowler (Cal Vidler) plus spinners Hugh Weibgen (captain) and Angus Tolhurst (vice-captain).
“On reflection the boys may be disappointed with the amount of runs they scored however with the exemplary bowling attack oppositions we’re always under pressure.
“Personally I am very pleased for the coach Pete Steindl and the leadership team of Hugh and Angus for an outstanding season.’’
Grammar was a beautifully balanced side and they were a team.
They did have the fastest bowler in the competition, Callum Vidler, an astute batting captain in Weibgen and arguably the best all-rounder in the competition in Angus Tolhurst.
But around them they were beautifully balanced, with everyone contributing.
In a nice touch, the side also included Matthew Love, the son of Queensland Bulls batting great Martin.
BGS captain Weibgen celebrated the occasion by scoring 79 to lead his team to 8-217 against BBC.
He batted positively during a two hour innings, and with a Tolhurst (40, 58 balls) he hustled BGS toward 200.
BBC did well to curtail BGS at the death, but it was still a stiff run chase.
When BBC batted, Thomas, Sheedy, Vidler and Tolhurst pinned their rivals down across the first half of their innings in a four pronged bowling effort that basically condemned BBC to a sub-200 total.
But BBC captain Steve Bell refused to raise the white flag and together with Declan Fawkner, he motored his side forward.
A target of 115 off the last 15 overs was reduced to 76 off 10, but Fawkner (29, 31 balls) was dismissed by Weibgen, giving BGS the upper hand again.
In Toowoomba, home skipper Callum Galvin produced an enterprising 87 from 76 balls as Toowoomba Grammar School reached 5-238 in a thriller against St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.
Sing (42) and Tzannes (44) batted around Galvin who lit up Mills Field.
When Terrace replied, opener Brayden Laffan struck a lovely half century from 87 ball before posting 79 while Ryan Forrester made 39.
Laffan’s innings put Terrace in a position to win the match, needing 79 runs off the final 10 overs and then 45 runs from five overs. But Terrace made 8-209.
But TGS bowlers Jem Ryan (3-30) and Cooper Webster (2-31) held their nerve under pressure.
In Ipswich, Lachlan Holmes and Jackson Evetts were batting heroes for IGS in a gripping win over TSS.
The pair added an unbeaten 34 as IGS made 8-188 replying to TSS’s 187.
Evetts scored 28 (26 balls) and Holmes 10, but the performance of Harry Sheppard to anchor the innings cannot be under estimated.
In the morning session Zac McDermott went desperately close to a batting gem, scoring 96 for The Southport School against Ipswich Grammar School.
The son of Queensland Test bowling champion Craig McDermott, McDermott made our GPS Team of the Season as a new ball bowler - although we all know he is an all-rounder.
But batting is another string to his bow and his near century effort was impressively constructed over 176 minutes.
Nick Williams also made an even 50 - and it is just as well as the never-say-die IGS bowlers mounted one last effort for the season.
TSS went from 1-101 to all out for 187 as Hayden Bloomfield (3-35), GELDARD (2-37) and
Holmes (2-45) finished the season in style. It was an appropriate finale for GELDARD who has been one of the competition’s best this summer.
When IGS batted, McDermott bowled a typically tight new ball spell before Leitch, Veivers, Alcock, Carrick and Hanrahan kept things tight.
But Sheppard batted 48, 158 minutes) through the new ball, into the middle of the innings and out the other side to give IGS a chance.
Bloomfield (36) then hit out at the end, and with five overs remaining IGS needed 33 runs with three wickets in hand.
Then Sheppard was run out and TSS were back in the box seat, but Holmes got his team home with one over to spare.
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