GPS First XV round 2: St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace v BSHS, Nudgee College v BBC, Churchie v The Southport School
Churchie produced the biggest upset this side of the black stump while Terrace’s Red, Black army can now be mobilised after a second win in GPS First XV rugby season.
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Churchie produced the biggest upset this side of the black stamp while Terrace’s Red, Black army can now be mobilised after a second win to start the GPS First XV rugby season.
Churchie downed premiership giants The Southport School at Churchie, a stunning result which has thrown the race for the premiership wide open.
And Brisbane Grammar School remarkably fought back from a round 1 drubbing to beat IGS while Nudgee tackled their way to victory over BCC on Saturday.
Churchie won 34-29 over TSS, with coach Ryan Schultz saying a first round bye gave his more time to prepare against quality opposition.
“The boys showed a lot of character, were physical, worked hard for each other and executed the game plan,’’Schultz said.
“It was just an awesome game of footy from both sides.
“It was a really high stardand.’’
Schultz said his team execution of the game plan was first class.
“We had a big focus on our tactical kicking because they have a pretty dynamic counter attack and that paid dividends.’’
“The right side won today. It was a cracking game of rugby,’’ said TSS coach Mike Wallace.
“It was never a case of Churchie wanting it more. Both teams wanted it equally, but well done to Churchie for executing a little better when it counted.’’
And at the International’Oval, St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace proved round 1’s upset 13-7 win over Ipswich Grammar School was no fluke.
Terrace produced a 20-5 victory which was not dependent on any particular area of the game, but rather a well rounded performance capped by an increasingly dominant scrum.
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Terrace, a founding father of GPS, is a traditional rugby powerhouse which still produces Reds’ and Wallabies without its first First XV reproducing the success of past winters.
But under the captaincy of flanker Joe Liddy, this Terrace side is doing the hall of fame wall justice with its effort and execution. After all, no one can ask for more.
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Today’s win against a threatening BSHS side was built on patience, time in possession and solid execution.
How often does a team score three tries and two of them attributed to props as was the case today, and the third after a tighthead scrum win gave rampaging No.8 PJ Su’a ball for his bullocking, game clinching try.
Around the pack - which was expertly led by Liddy and lock Angus Munn - halfback Archie Xavier was an unsung hero.
On a windy day his passing game was precise, his option taking faultless and the young fellow should take a bow.
BSHS has skill and power and can never be taken lightly, and it was to their credit they finished the game strongly trying to spark a late rally.
No.5 Stuart Tualima was again excellent, flankers Soli and Sekona dangerous and No.8 Magautai a powder keg.
But Terrace defenders had their measure, and that of big BSHS outside centre Kaleb Winters who was dangerous.
Terrace dominated the first half territory but as much as they huffed and they puffed, they could not blow down the BSHS defence - that was until a minute to halftime.
It was then, from a lineout win, Terrace prop Jovid Aveau swept in the line out back to the blindside where he found a channel to the tryline.
No doubt the brainchild of forwards coach Nick Stiles, it was a clever variation which gave Terrace a 8-nil advantage at the break.
Into the second half and Terrace continued to pressure their rivals, with prop Xavier Stiles producing a pick and drive to the tryline after his inside centre Will Hancock had laid a perfect platform.
The joyous Stiles then ran back to halfway, giving year 12 students a thumbs up who responded with a chant: Come on Stilesy, give us a wave.’’
But BSHS were not done with.
After fullback Jackon Connelly had charged down Mitch McGeever’s conversion, Terrace fumbled kick-off ball and BSHS swept into action.
After a succession of pick and drives a wide ball to No.12 Jackson Chang resulted in the centre pumping his legs in contact and making his way over to score.
At 13-5 it was anyone’s game, but Terrace’s second tighthead scrum win of the game - from 10m out - proved decisive, leading to Su’a’s rampaging try.
How rewarding it was for the Terrace front seven to have a big No.8 able to gloss and polish tighthead scrum ball.
Scores: Terrace 20: X Stiles, J Aveau, PJ Su’a tries; M McGeever conv, pen def BSHS 5 J Chang
To cap off an afternoon of surprises, Brisbane Grammar School remarkably fought back from a round 1 loss to beat IGS at Grammar.
“We were obviously disappointed with our first up effort because a goal this season is to earn respect back,’’ said coach Phil Mooney said. “It was about working hard at training.
“We were winning 17-nil and Ipswich came home strongly.
“But at the end of the day we played some really good rugby. It took a bit of character and they showed they’ve got it.’’
IGS director of sport Nigel Greive congratulated BGS on the 17-12 win.
“They played well in the conditions and deserved their win,’’ he said.
“It was another very exciting finish for the second week in a row.
“IGS just failed to execute in critical positions on the field however continued to battle on in admirable fashion in defence.’’
IGS No.9 Braydon O’Sullivan and winger Denzal {erkins both did well.
Meanwhile, Cormac Pearson reports Nudgee College defended its way to a 15-12 win against Brisbane Boys College.
He wrote - defence will win you premierships and the Nudgee’s blue and white wall has helped them over one of the years biggest hurdles in a nail biter.
Nudgee and BBC faced off in one of the games of the year in front of around 5,000 people at a raucous Ross Oval.
The last time they met sealed BBC’s historic premiership but they would have to do it away from home and without star fly half Taj Annan.
Nudgee controlled the first half and used their used their strike centre Rob Toia to come up with the points.
The Sydney Roosters junior looked like a man among boys, beating players with ease.
He opened the scoring by busting through two defenders from close range.
BBC struggled to find rhythm in the first half with errors and Nudgee in control of the breakdown.
Nudgee’s hard work paid off when they produced one of the team tries of the year.
Three consecutive offloads through the middle of the ruck and a quick spread to inside centre Tony Fuimaono who produced an offload to guess who Robert Toia.
Toia beat three defenders carrying them over the line to score his second.
A try on the stroke of halftime against the grain through BBC’s elite driving gave the reigning champions some hope heading into halftime.
BBC came into the second half without captain Zac Hough but they started to dominate possession.
The resilient Nudgee defence cracked with winger Delacruz Ripley scoring off an overlap.
Just three points split the sides and BBC again found themselves just metres from taking the lead.
But the blue and white wall stayed in it and a deliberate knock down from winger Ripley led to him being yellow carded.
A questionable decision from Nudgee to take the tap in their 22 led to a last gasp effort for BBC to steal the victory but it wasn’t to be.
Nudgee’s Director of Rugby Sean Graham said hooker Oahu Davey-Phillips was crucial to the sides ability to hold on.
“A lot of that work in that tight stuff was him he came up with some massive plays and got the turnover right at the death there,” Graham said.
“The bodies he was shifting and defending in those narrow channels was great.”
“Defence wins you games, defence wins you premierships and you’ve got to be able to defend your line in these sort of games.”
“Credit to BBC they were gutsy, they should be proud of their performance.”
Game Stats
Halftime 15-5
Full time 15-12
Tries
Nudgee - R. Toia 12’, 25’
BBC - U. Senituli 35’, Delacruz Ripley 52’
In other news, for round 3 First XV rugby will return to the Brisbane State High School’s home campus in South Brisbane on July 31 as part of State High Day celebrations.
The community is gearing up for a celebration of blue-red-blue when the BSHS Parents and Citizen’s Association host the third State High Day at the upper campus, Vulture and Edmondstone Streets.
Sporting highlights include:
11am: senior girls Firsts’ basketball
1pm: Senior boys basketball
2.15pm: First XV rugby v BGS
“We are pumped to do our school, our friends, families and alumni proud, especially on the 100th anniversary. It will be great to have heaps of supporters along to make some noise.” said First XV captain Luke Hatherell.
But sport is only a portion of the entertainment.
Around hotly contested GPS centenary sporting rounds there will be buskers, bands and music.
Raggazi choirs, the BSHS chorale, State High Girls Crew and Bollywood dance displays will feature, along with a marvel market, student led museum tours and a food festival - all between 10:30am and 5:30pm.
The finale will feature DJs, live entertainment and fireworks at 5.20pm. Come one, come all.
Wade Haynes, BSHS executive principal, said: “We are so proud and excited to be
sharing State High Day with the Brisbane community. It is set to be an unmissable event on the local calendar. There is something for everyone on this day.”
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