Unsung BBC No.10, BSHS son of a gun join star power in Team of Week
GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week: An unsung BBC No.10, a BSHS son of a gun and yet another Walker joins star power in the round 7 side ahead of Saturday BBC v Nudgee “grand final’’.
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Grand final day has come early for Brisbane Boys College who must beat Nudgee in a Super Saturday clash at BBC to have a slice of the premiership pie.
With two rounds remaining Nudgee and BSHS remain unbeaten, but BBC loom just one win behind and can draw alongside Nudgee by mounting a successful Miskin Oval ambush.
BBC would then have a chance to draw the premiership with either BSHS or Nudgee who play each other in round 9.
A win for Nudgee would sling shot them into a round 9 premiership decider against BSHS - providing BSHS were not upset by Terrace at Fursden Road this Saturday.
Before your eyes over the latest Team of the Week before the latest round unfolds.
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND SEVEN TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Adam Davis (Toowoomba Grammar)
Fearless Toowoomba Grammar winger Adam Davis was heavily involved on both sides of the ball and made inroads.
Before leaving the field late in the match with a head knock, Davis dug his boots in deep to repel Nudgee ball runners with stoic defence and channelled the same energy with some ripping runs in attack.
14. Tai Taka (BBC)
BBC’s wing twins were as good as it gets in schoolboy rugby last weekend.
Both Tai Taka and DJ Colaivalu were razor sharp finishers, dynamic runners who can detonate a match with their explosive running.
Watching them play is worth the admission price alone.
13. Trace Beattie (TGS)
Tough as teak, Trace Beattie channelled his success as a very fine rugby league second rower with hard running and defiant defence.
The straight running Central Queensland weapon was also involved in one of the tries of the match when Illy Baravilala crossed.
When the momentum of the match swung away from TGS, Beattie maintained his presence in the game.
12. Tom Siganto (BGS)
On the surface BGS went down in a burning heap against BSHS, but it must be stressed there are plenty of promising signs this season that a rugby recovery is underway at Brisbane Grammar School.
One of the players leading the way is inside centre Siganto, featured last week’s the Unsung Heroes of First XV rugby story.
Tough in defence and a running threat outside the impressive Elijah Breen, Siganto also scored a lovely try.
11. Paddy McInally (BSHS)
Paddy McInally was a three try hero in BSHS’s big win over BSHS by:
+ supporting a break from Eli Langi;
+ chasing a delicately judged kick from his five-eight Seamus Boakes for his centre Junior Latu, before looming to snare the pass from Latu;
+ supporting impressive fullback Angus Tagicakibau.
McInally, the son of Damian McInally, has had the hot hand all season and Saturday it finally showed on the scoresheet.
10. Illy Baravilala (Toowoomba Grammar)
The Toowoomba Grammar playmaker has really hit his straps now.
After a steady start to the season, the ball playing connoisseur has exploded in the final weeks of the season and really flourished.
His performance at the weekend, while shadowed by a 38-3 run by Nudgee, had all the makings of a first flight flyhalf where twice he scored exceptional tries.
9. Isaac Kefu (BBC)
Super crisp passing by Isaac Kefu is feeding an attacking frenzy which could take Brisbane Boys’ College all the way to the premiership.
The fact he has forced Stanley Keats into an interchange utility role says everything about how well the son of former Wallaby champion Toutai Kefu is performing.
He can also threaten with a run from the feet of his forwards, but it is that rolled gold passing game and decision making that gets him a berth here.
8. Adam Latham (Nudgee)
The son of former Wallaby Chris returned from the bye round in style to have Nudgee supporters creeping forward on their seats in the Ross Oval grandstand.
The first year No.8 did the tough stuff well, ran the ball hard and fast with purpose to get Nudgee on the front foot and created a special 80m try scored by none other than the illustrious Nick Conway.
7. Trent Picot (BSHS)
Openside flanker Trent Picot’s remarkable season continued at pace against Brisbane Grammar School when he again led the way in BSHS’s unbeaten season.
He was in everything and it would surprise no one if he had offered to fill the water bottles and peel the oranges at halftime, so involved and invested was he in BSHS’s performance.
6. Gray O’Neill (BBC)
He wears red hea gear so it is impossible to miss him on a rugby paddock, but he could don an invisible cloak and still stand out - he is that impressive.
His runs, his link play to his backs and his defence make this mobile back rower one of the very best players in the competition.
He is also a reliable line out receiver that gives the BBC set piece multi threat status.
5. Jack Randall (BBC)
It must be stressed Jack Randall has made the Team of the Week for his performance as a No.8 against Terrace, but to fit the best players of round 7 in, we named him at lock.
Randall was a revelation with his runs, catch and pass skills and bruising defence.
He was a great all-rounder in a comprehensive showing by BBC.
4. Sam Williams (Churchie)
He scored two of his team’s three tries and maintained that tough, tenacious persona across the entire match in a losing effort.
Against a fired up Ipswich Grammar pack with size, he held up his end of the bargain.
3. Charlie Hollyman (Terrace)
Hollyman, hooker Cody Harkin and fellow prop Alec Weir were grand toilers on a difficult day against high class opposition.
Elite hooker Hollyman swept onto the ball with vim and vigour, made his tackles and was defiant over the ball at the breakdown.
His mate Harkin earned a place on the reserves bench.
2. John Grenfell (Nudgee)
When the chips were down the captain rose to the occasion.
He set up the first try when he took the ball himself from the ruck and unloaded while falling to ground.
He was also involved in a brilliant set piece try just before halftime which captured the lead for Nudgee for the first time - after Nudgee scrambled, down to 14 men.
Then later in the match Grenfell scored a try himself.
1. Oscar Donovan (BBC)
A brute of a front rower, Donovan is a mobile tight forward marvel who threatens with his ball carries from anywhere on the field.
He has that No.8 look about him in attack, harasses in defence and is a potent force close to the line as evidenced by his two tries against Terrace.
RESERVES
Tyler Maybery (BBC)
The powerful BBC captain has a nomination for individual try of the season after a remarkable, leg driving performance over 18m against Terrace.
Maybery must be Hulk in the gym because his ball running is as effective as anyone in the competition. He is also remarkably versatile, set piece CEO Maybery swinging between flanker and hooker this season with ease.
Joey Gray (Toowoomba Grammar)
The Toowoomba Grammar captain did plenty of grunt work to get Toowoomba Grammar off to a flying start and maintained a strong presence at the breakdown to relieve pressure throughout the game.
He won two penalties jackaling the ball and could have had more.
After Nudgee’s second half explosion, he did well to settle the troops and rally a late game heave.
Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
Talents like the BSHS No.8 don’t fall from the trees that often, and he is one of the very best Queensland youth players to surface this century in rugby union, rugby league or Australian football - all codes he could play with distinction. The sport of basketball is lucky to have him.
Cody Harkins (Terrace)
Harkins was a spirited campaigner, a gallant hooker who carried the ball with courage into the teeth of the waiting BBC defensive line, saved a try with his desperation and tried to stem the tide with his tackles. He and props Charlie Hollyman and Alec Weir deserve recognition for their effort.
Toby Kennedy (BBC)
With a dominating forward pack and a half back ace in front of him, and a brute of an inside centre outside of him, it is easy for Kennedy to be dwarfed. But the steady No.10 is the perfect foil to the power and pace that encircle him with his option taking, kicking game and, most importantly, his unsung defence. If BBC’s defensive line was leaking where Kennedy stands, the team’s premiership campaign would deflate. But Kennedy is hanging tough with his tackling.
DJ Colaivalu (BBC)
Who doesn’t like a bit of Fijian flair? Colaivalu scored one of the tries of the season last weekend with a brilliant performance across 60m which included making a break, clearing out a ruck and reclaiming possession from a tackled teammate before continuing on the final 30m to score. It was an outstanding exhibition.
Sam Watson (Nudgee)
Nudgee are the complete package with Sam Watson playing scrumhalf. We have not seen Nudgee without him this season and that has been a gift for the reigning premiers.His service is first class, but it’s the speed at which he distributes the ball from the ruck and his rare but effective carries that bring out the very best of Nudgee’s First XV.
Joseph Post (Ipswich Grammar)
Ipswich Grammar scrumhalf Joseph Post is ensuring the race for the Team of the Season No.9 jersey ends as a dead heat with his performances as of late.The clinical halfback had his fingerprints all over Ipswich Grammar’s Jones-Bell Trophy triumph with a try assist to Finn Kendall and a cracking try of his won when he stepped right to left and pegged his ears back.
Nick Conway (Nudgee)
There’s little wonder the Queensland Reds moved to sign this fantastic finisher.
A little like boom Reds winger Tim Ryan, Conway captivates more often than not with the ball in hand and his chip-and-chase try last weekend was just extraordinary.
Outside of that magic moment in the second half, Conway was a key in Nudgee’s set piece attack that orchestrated a huge shift in momentum after Toowoomba Grammar capitalised on a one man advantage.
Ezalle Matautia (Ipswich Grammar)
Ipswich Grammar’s imposing No.8 had his hand in a couple tries on the weekend and when he carried the ball, he attracted multiple Churchie defenders. On various occasions the galloping gazelle scooped the ball from the back of the scrum and created overlaps and it was those carries that set a foundation for tries just moments later.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Eli Langi (BSHS)
Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
Myles Rosemond (Toowoomba Grammar)
Fletcher Austin (Churchie)
Harry Solofa (Churchie)
Brock Coombes (Ipswich Grammar)
Jackson Hill (BSHS)
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