GPS First XV rugby’s Team of the Week after round four stunner
GPS First XV rugby: Brisbane Boys’ College boy wonder and four Brisbane State High School forwards headlining our Team of the Week revealed.
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Brisbane State High School has been rewarded for its come from behind win over Nudgee to claim five positions in our Team of the Week squad.
St Joseph’s Nudgee College, a whisker from winning themselves, have three in the squad while the celebrated clash between Brisbane Boys College and Toowoomba Grammar School has led to us choosing six players from that thrilling encounter.
What a sight it was seeing BBC scrum half Jamie Alexander score a length of the field try to turn a 17-12 loss into a 19-12 victory at Miskin Oval.
“In terms of the moment it was right up there,’’ he said.
“He has a knack for recognising the moment and executing it.”
Earlier in the year in a First XI cricket clash on Ross Oval, Dammers recalled BBC were all but gone.
“They (Nudgee) needed six runs off two overs with 2 wickets in hand and the ball was played back to him and he threw the stumps down.”
The next ball was another wicket for BBC who, sparked by Alexander’s fielding brilliance, ran away winners.
“My gosh he knows what the moment is and he’s not scared by it,” is what Dammers said to himself as Alexander stormed down field, two days after calling his parents and urging him to come to school on Thursday.
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“I had to drag him out of bed to get him to school on Thursday … he was sick early in the week.
“We didn’t think he would play this week.
“He got himself to school Thursday and trained. He obviously got better.
“It’s good to see him take the game on. When it’s forced upon him he’s just got it.
“He’s such a good player, sometimes he’s really unselfish. There’s times where he passes up opportunities in respect to being a team player. He has elite food speed.
“He is one of those kids you can rely on to do the right thing at the right time.”
So who joined Alexander, who played the old Michal Jordan flu game, in the Team of the Week? See below ahead of our Saturday GPS First XV coverage.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Richard Dean (Toowoomba Grammar)
Dean has been one of the competition’s best so far in this position and on Saturday he was top-notch returning the ball from the back for Toowoomba.
He ignited their counter attack with his footwork and direct running, and with that Toowoomba quickly departed their 22 and advanced into BBC’s half.
Wing: Emmanuel Taviri (Nudgee)
The blistering counter attacking returns or entries from set moves involving winger Taviri threatened BSHS every time he touched the ball. You always had a feeling he and fullback Jacob Johnson had the ability to take the game away from BSHS.
Outside Centre: Henry Hill (Gregory Terrace)
Terrace worked its way to its first win on the back of defence and desire against a spirited IGS, and to the forefront were centres Hill and Angus Kelly who did their best to block the midfield.
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Inside centre: Dajuan Manase (Ipswich Grammar)
The head-geared centre hit his strap at the weekend, testing Angus Kelly and Henry Hill with his hard line-running and ability to draw and pass.
It was a great match-up between Terrace’s Kelly and Hill and Ipswich Grammar’s Manase and Finn Kendall.
Wing: Charlie Coffey (The Southport School)
Coffey was an effort player – finisher, enthusiastic chaser and sound defender. He is just what the doctor ordered and suits this no-frills, winning TSS outfit down to his boot laces.
Fly half: Tom Goldie (TSS)
We just had to get Goldie into our top XV, so we named the TSS halfback here at No. 10 to enable BBC matchwinner Jamie Alexander to deservedly get the halfback gig – see below. Goldie is a big body who can challenge defences on the fringe, but he also has beautiful service to kicking ace Spencer Alcock and can also put his team forward with well judged box kicks. He is a great all-rounder.
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Halfback: Jamie Alexander (BBC)
This kid is made for big moments and he packed his cape for Saturday’s game against Toowoomba.
All hope was lost for BBC when they were down 17-12 with five minutes to go, five metres from their goal line getting ready to defend a Toowoomba lineout.
Insert lineout destructor Harrison Angel and big time player Alexander and we were treated to the try of the year.
“When they (Toowoomba) moved the ball down field I thought we were gone here and then from that to Alexander’s try in 40 seconds was a rollercoaster of emotions,” recounted Dammers.
No. 8: Will Pascoe (Brisbane Grammar School)
Flanker: Tyler Maybery (BBC)
Maybery was here, there and everywhere, pinching ball at the breakdowns and laying the law down on defence.
A genuine workhorse.
Flanker: Mattias Agent (BSHS)
Were there two of him last Saturday. At times you were forced to do a double take to make sure the person you had seen involved in one play, was the same one involved in another two plays later. His blank head band helped us track his considerable mileage.
Lock: Jonah Allen (Toowoomba Grammar)
Although they lost, Toowoomba should draw confidence from the game against BBC.
They have this backyard footy style of play where they keep the ball alive with offloads in contact and a telepathic connection between the forwards and backs.
That’s why, at times, they looked like the Fiji Sevens team the way they spread the ball.
Indeed was a back in disguise.
Lock: Jack Gordon (BSHS)
The BSHS community must love Gordon being in their side. He is an effort player, a grand tryer who plays the same whether their side is three in front or 23 behind. He richly deserves recognition here.
Prop: Macarius Pereira (Nudgee)
Macarius Pereira matched it with BSHS’s big boys both in the set pieces, his role in rolling mauls or carrying the ball forward. He and Princeton Ioane battled boldly against stirring rivals.
Hooker: Jakeb Horne (BSHS)
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Prop: Siale Mahina (BSHS)
BSHS have one of the best front rows in the competition, with Mihane, Horne and Moses Manu proving a handful across the opening month of the competition. Mihane bruising ball carrying would surely have inspired his teammates that all was not lost at 17-3 down.
RESERVES
Eli Langi (BSHS)
The athletic Eli Langi was like an extra loose forward, with his bustling defensive efforts and powerful ball carrying which challenged the Nudgee front line.
Oscar Affleck (Ipswich Grammar)
Affleck led his side with the one-percenters and effort plays.
That is his trademark, along with coming up with a big play or two when his team needs it most.
Joe Gray (Toowoomba Grammar)
Like Allen (see above), Gray was a back in a forwards jersey. He was mobile when running the ball and damaging down the edge when he linked with his backs.
The same goes with Toowoomba No. 8 Jimmy White.
Samson Tuqiri (BBC)
Tuqiri had limited chances with the ball. It was his defence which has him in this company.
He was a master defender on his edge, keeping Will Holley and Co out for the entire game.
He saved the best for last when he ran from one end of the field to the other to tackle his rival into touch and prevent an almost certain try.
The rest was history.
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Alexander Schumacher (Ipswich Grammar)
At lock, Schumacher complimented the tireless Affleck with an unwavering effort of his own, ensuring Ipswich were never out of the fight.
Finn Kendall (Ipswich Grammar)
The Ipswich outside centre was a brick wall in defence, throwing himself in front of every Gregory Terrace player that charged in his direction.
A fearless Year 10 gaining valuable First XV experience.
Fergus Gillan and Sebastian Smith-Power (TSS)
Both boys were reliable servants against BGS. You know what you will get from lock Gillan, while Smith-Power has been a revelation this season as TSS, against predictions, stretch its winning streak to four games.
Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
Both Nudgee breakaways Noah Rauluni and Hart helped Nudgee maintain its first half momentum, and when possession turned in the second half, fought hard to prevent momentum swinging the way of BSHS.
ROUND 5
ACGS v TGS
IGS v BSHS
TSS v BBC
BGS v NC
GT v Bye
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