Nudgee win First XV premiership; but will it be an outright win?
Nudgee College have claimed yet another GPS First XV premiership, but will it be an outright title? Round 8 report and how it could still be a four-way shared title.
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Nudgee College will be GPS First XV premiers again - it is just a matter of who they share the title with.
Nudgee College bristled with attack, but it was a blue and white defensive wall which butted TGS off the premiership track while ensuring their college, at worst, claims a drawn title.
Nudgee beat TGS far and square, 28-21 cementing them at the top of the table with one round remaining.
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Nudgee cannot be denied yet another First XV premiership, but they could share it with TSS, Churchie and TGS.
This can only happen if Nudgee lose against TSS, and both TGS and Churchie win their final round games.
At worst Nudgee will enjoy a drawn premiership, and that must be a great feeling for the boys as they rest their heads tonight,
In other matches today Churchie edged out IGS 27-24, BSHS beat BGS 38-12 and BBC accounted for Terrace in a high scoring game, 39-23.
In Toowoomba, at one stage Nudgee defended late with 14 men, and it was a huge performance rallying to shut TGS down.
Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham said the maturity of the squad, the way they handled the week, with a business as usual approach, was mightily impressive.
“There was clarity in their roles and the way we finished with 14 men, the way we defended our tryline and turned them away on multiple occasions - that has been a strength of this side and the way Andrew Scotney coaches his sides.
“He says defence wins premierships and we always look at our defensive stats and that is something we are really proud of.’’
But Nudgee still have fish to fry.
The message from Nudgee College captain Maricus Pereira was also clear despite the euphoria of premiership success.
“We shared a premiership last year with three teams and there is potential to share it with four sides which is half the competition, so we have a job to do,’’ Graham said.
“It is about enjoying today and starting our preparation tomorrow for next Saturday.’’
It was a great game and TGS need take a bow for their role in the contest.
Down 28-14, TGS scored a converted try courtesy of a typical pick and drive effort, setting up a thrilling finale to what was a match befitting the occasion.
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But what a defence Nudgee put up against TGS.
Yes they scored 28 points - their last try was a beauty to fullback Johnson after all or nothing lead up from Hugo Hart - but their defence for sustained periods in both halves was good as it gets.
I suppose when you have a back row of Hart, Sam Hyne and Noah Rauluni - and a centre like Prestyn Laine-Sietu, it help a lot with defence.
And at the back No. 15 Jacob Johnson ran himself off his feet, both in attack and mopping up. There is a fair bit to like about this young fullback.
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Old boys came from near and far to turn the beautiful surroundings of Old Boys Oval in Toowoomba into a TGS army.
Some wore their old First XV jerseys, others clutched them while old boy caps replaced the akubra as the head west of choice.
All were hoping to see TGS riser to its first premiership in 67 years.
As TGS players made their way onto the field, one TGS student yelled out 67 years, 67 years in reference to their last title in 1956.
But Nudgee silenced the masses by scoring first, using the width of the field one way, and then back the other way where Ed Kasprowicz fired a ball to his winger James Duggan who crossed. Maddox Maclean’s booming sideline conversion made it 7-0.
However, the TGS crowd would not be whisper quiet for long.
Driving tackles and enthusiastic chases had them cheering, then a roar became a din when elite flanker Joe Gray, the type of player every coach would like to clone, scored from a rolling maul after George Griffiths won clean line out ball.
TGS then enjoyed the better of play, with a clearing kick from Chace Oates and an eager chase putting TGS on attack.
Nudgee’s defence in this period was magnificent, the stuff premiers are made of, but finally a wide ball to Oates offered a chance.
Oates was tackled but kept play alive to Gray who fed winger Will Holley who skirted over.
Down 14-7, and inside the final 10 minutes leading to halftime, Nudgee revved up.
The forwards rallied strongly with dynamic runs, and their bettering efforts paid off with a pick and drive try.
Maclean’s simple conversion locked it up at 14-all as Nudgee turned for home with the lowering sun at their backs.
On Miskin Oval, a very entertaining game played out before a fast-finishing BBC showed their class with a 39-23 win over Terrace in their last home game of the season.
With 18 minutes left BBC led 20-18 but three quick tries, two of which were scored by hooker Cooper Hoare, turned the game on its head.
For a seven-point lead up 25-18, the strength and balance of Hoare delivered BBC’s third try as he steamrolled over not one but two defenders.
Outside centre Xavier Rubens then put Samson Tuqiri in with a draw-and-pass after a smart pop-pass from Frank Howarth kept play alive.
BBC struck their third successive blow through Hoare again, who caught a misfired lineout on the 50 metre line, fended off his defender and catapulted away to score the dagger and deflate his rivals.
BBC were on a roll but high praise to Terrace captain Tom Robinson and his hardworking forward pack of Jack Butterfield, Charlie Hollyman, Jovid Aveau, Noah Clifford, Ollie Nasser, Tom Bliss and PJ Su’a who scored the last try of the day courtesy of their well-drilled rolling maul.
That effort rewarded Butterfield with his second, while BBC’s Tuqiri and Hoare also recorded two tries apiece.
Earlier, Terrace withstood a mountain of pressure in the early stages, escaping through an Angus Kelly trysaver and a thumping Henry Hill tackle which resulted in a turnover.
Quickly, a well-oiled Terrace outfit surged the length of the field and went 3-0 up through a Nick Dunstan penalty goal.
Fullback Charlie Bird’s cleaning out and Samson Tuqiri’s cover tackling denied Terrace tries twice but the visitors took the points before storming back and scoring through hooker Hollyman.
Terrace led 8-0 but by half time BBC had a 10-8 upper hand.
Outside centre Xavier Rubens was damaging, wingers Tuqiri and Stan Keats threatening and James Martens (halfback) and Oscar Shaw (fly half) impressive.
Martens played a high-tempo game which included taking dashes, faking box kicks, and kicking downfield. He was also on with his goalkicking.
The headgeared Shaw was elite with his kicks, both torpedoes and grubber kicks.
For BBC’s first try, Shaw’s split-second decision to grubber it in behind was a good one when it sat up for Rubens.
Two Martens penalty goals and a beautiful Tuqiri try later and BBC led 20-8.
For Tuqiri’s try, Bird broke the line with a sidestep and found him in support on his inside.
But Terrace wouldn’t leave. Dunstan’s boot added three before quick hands from Tom Robinson at the ruck base and flanker Tim Bliss put Jack Butterfield through a hole to score.
However whenever Terrace inched closer, BBC would hit back to keep them at bay.
On Fursden Road, Brisbane State High School notched another win when defeating Brisbane Grammar 38-12.
It was Brisbane Grammar head coach Phil Mooney’s last game in charge of the First XV with the Brisbane Grammar Old Boy heading to the Kennel to coach the Wests Bulldogs Colts 1 side in 2024.
Ironically Mooney’s last game as a student of the school was against Brisbane State High in 1983, when Brian Smith (who later became a Wallaby) of BSHS kicked a field-goal to steal the game.
Mooney said “ I have thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching the team … Coming back to my old school.”
When asked for his golden moment coaching, he said it might have been a Dennis Waight full field match-winner against Churchie in 2017.
“That was exciting … I have enjoyed watching the younger boys pick up a footy and play for the first time.”
In today’s clash, Brisbane Grammar outside back Shannon Simpson had a strong game to finish his First XV career.
Meanwhile, making his debut was young No. 8 Lincoln Manuel who filled the shoes of Alex Roe tremendously.
Acting captain Rowan Tong-Law also came to play.
“They turned us over early in the second half and scored,” Mooney said.
“They have some good players and got on a roll.”
Indeed BSHS led 14-7 at the break, and then hit their strap to storm home 26-point-winners.
BSHS head coach Haydn Hirsimaki said the first half was a grind with Brisbane Grammar playing great footy.
Into the second half his side stuck to their structures and played decisive rugby to turn possession into points.
“The boys did really well … That was the most amount of time we have played good footy.”
Fly half Tauave Leofa delivered another highlight when taking off for a 50 metre solo try to set the second half alight.
It was his deadly footwork once again.
Backrower Mattias Agent returned from injury like he never left. “He has been unbelievable. coming back from injury (jaw), and put that effort in today,” Hirsimaki said.
Around him, Trent Picot and Jack Gordon were strong, while winger Seamus Boakes played “outstanding” in his first game of the season.
Moses Manu, Siale Mahina and Jakeb Horne were also standouts in the front row.
In Ipswich, Churchie were 27-24 heartbreakers over a deserving Ipswich Grammar side who were pipped in the 74th minute.
Up 24-22, Ipswich Grammar thought time had expired and kicked the ball out – only for the referee to say 20 seconds remained.
Churchie had one shot and to their credit, they stormed up the field, maintained possession and crossed out wide through matchwinner Harry Cool.
It was a shift through the hands from Hugh Rylance, through Charlie Johnstone Max Blanch, Hamish Ward and Emil Willie-Jawai which broke the hearts of the Ipswich Grammar boys, who have lost more close games than any other side this season.
“The boys toiled so hard and played so well against a classy Churchie outfit.” Concluded Ipswich Grammar head of sport Nigel Greive.
“We were so proud of the way the boys played.”
The Ipswich Grammar forward pack was overwhelming, with Oscar Afflect at the forefront and flanker Domanic Mason not far behind.
Angus Cheatham made his debut in the front row and was superb, while the usual suspects of Nathan Fraser (fly half) and Amaziah Murgha (wing) shone in the backline.
“It’s a really healthy competition,” Greive said.
For Churchie, Hugo McCamley made his debut at prop and was at the fore of their dominant scrum.
Man of the Match Willie-Jawai had a blinder and Ward was also strong according to Churchie head coach Ryan Schultz.
Outside centre Frankie Goldsbrough was a menace on both sides of the ball and flanker Jye Crothers was fierce at the breakdown and strong with his front-on collisions.
And again fly half Charlie Johnstone was marvellous. Not just with his triple-threat run, pass and kick but also his brutal defence.
He scored a cracker through the midfield which put moved Churchie ahead 19-10.
Round 9
TSS v NC
BSHS v BBC
IGS v TGS
ACTS v GT
BGS: Bye
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