GPS rugby 2020: Is Brisbane Boys College the side to beat in the GPS rugby 2020 season?
Is Brisbane Boys’ College the side to beat for the 2020 GPS rugby union premiership? Yes according to a former Queensland Reds player and premiership winner who watched in admiration as BBC revved up their engines in yesterday’s trial against Terrace.
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Tyron Mandrusiak has given Brisbane Boys’ College the ultimate endorsement on the eve of the start of the GPS rugby premiership competition next weekend after watching the side demolish St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace in trial action this afternoon.
BBC beat Terrace 69-12 in an impressive performance ahead of BBC’s premiership opener against Brisbane Grammar School.
Mandrusiak, a former Queensland fly-half who played in multiple premiership winning Souths’ sides alongside Wallaby greats Tim Horan, Jason Little and Dan Crowley, said BBC were the real deal.
“They are pretty handy,’’ he said. “They will take some beating.
“They are well organised, have a good kicking game, a good No. 10 (Mason Gordon), very good centres (Jack Howarth) and speedy wingers.
“And they seem a decent group of kids as well. They were respectful, no yahooing,’’ said Mandrusiak, who is the Terrace director of rugby.
More pleasing news for Terrace was that the Red and Black boys won a majority of other matches today, but in the big clash it was all BBC.
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While BBC were racking up a big score against Terrace, another competition heavyweight, St Joseph’s Nudgee College, were doing some of their best work against Brisbane State HIgh School.
Nudgee won 52-3 and despite the scoreline, Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham said BSHS never threw in the towel.
“They kept trying, kept coming and played through to full-time.’’
Graham said most pleasing from Nudgee’s aspect was that a number of players on the fringe were able to gather experience by coming on as second half replacements.
“It was good to give them an opportunity,’’ said Graham, saying Nudgee had considerable depth in its squad.
At Ipswich, Ipswich Grammar School also put the foot down to defeat BGS 50-19 on a fast track.
IGS skipped to a quick 20-nil lead with some crisp passing and support play, but then
BGS warmed to the game and were very physical throughout the competition, including in the scrum.
Despite being down 31-nil, BGS seemed to gather confidence in the second half and were ultimately rewarded with some tries.
Best for IGS included No. 8 Xavier Stowers and outside centre Ethan King who was effective in defence.
IGS head coach Kieren Moffat suggested it was a solid hit out with both teams learning a lot about themselves.
He commended BGS on their physicality and durability and pleasingly there were no major injuries to either side.
At Southport, Anglican Church Grammar School gave TSS a fright before TSS claimed a
31-29 win.
Churchie director of sport Sean Tasker said it was a good, close match.
“We have had three weeks of trials and preparation and we look for to starting the competition in round 5 (August 15),’’ he said.
Premiership competition round 1
August 8
Terrace v Nudgee
BGS v BBC
BSHS v TSS
TGS v IGS
Bye: Churchie