GPS First XV rugby: TGS out of the blocks in thriller
GPS First XV: Toowoomba Grammar’s George Griffiths scored three tries on a stunning day 1 of rugby featuring a thrill-a-minute opening in all four games.
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Toowoomba Grammar School captain George Griffiths scored three tries as his team had a golden start to the season over a promising Terrace.
TGS shocked Terrace early with two tries, fell behind 14-12 and then won the second half hands down before a late Terrace rally. The score was 34-28.
And there was a thriller at Churchie, with a rolling maul launching the home side to a 22-21 thriller over a talented Brisbane State High School, while BBC and TSS had first round wins.
ROUND 1 TEAMS, FEARLESS FORECAST FOR THE PREMIERSHIP
GPS RUGBY TEAM OF THE DECADE SO FAR
On the International’s Field at Tennyson, Terrace came late and hard, scoring two late tries to get within six points of their rivals.
Terrace’s late challenge said everything about their spirit, and they will give teams plenty of cheek this season.
But TGS deserved to win. Skipper and lock Griffiths had a day out, including a rollicking second half run to the line from a long way out.
The win was even more impressive given TGS played without its ace, Chace Oates, who has an injury.
TGS’s second half was compelling, with forwards Tom Bailey and Jimmy White leading the charge off the back of astute kicking from Richard Dean and Baravilala.
Terrace were seemingly out of the match, but their good form of the first half returned and they will full of vim and vigour at the death before running out of time.
But it was a close call for TGS who had looked home.
TGS challenged early with a brisk up tempo display, with players backing their handling skills.
Once the onslaught was over, Terrace settled into its rhythm, with astute tactical kicking positioning the forwards.
Terrace’s forward execution was a joy to behold, and it was off the back of composure, patience and good handling that they were able to engineer two tries from close quarter combat and snare a 14-12 halftime lead.
Clancy McCosker’s first try of the season for Toowoomba Grammar will take some beating for try of the year – a scintillating chip and chase effort from 50m out.
After his initial burst he kicked for himself, showing the poise of a Broadway dancer to regain his balance after snatching the ball from the air and running a further 20m to the line.
Then came Terrace’s robust response, turning their first attacking ball into a heaving pick and drive try.
After TGS’s shock start, Terrace were in their groove.
Again powerful forward efforts, including a rolling maul threatened, before more pick and drive play gave the Red and Black five-eight Sam McGahan a gap to run into after a lovely ball from fullback Nick Dunstan. With Dunstan’s conversion it was 14-12 to the home side.
But what Terrace could do, TGS could do better, with Toowoomba Grammar’s own pick and drive netting Griffiths his second try and the lead again, 17-14.
More field position off the back of a nice kicking game gave TGS more ball, and with White’s second charge at the line, he found a try.
TGS had the better of the opening salvo’s, claiming the battle for field position leading to a concerted display of forward fire power.
The result? TGS put together textbook pick and drive rugby, ending in the opening try scored by captain George Griffiths.
Griffiths had also produced a booming first up tackle from the kick off and could not have had a better start. Jeremiah Sialau also started strongly and maintained his form, across the game.
At Northgate, Brisbane Boys’ College got their season off to a convincing start with a 38-14 win over Brisbane Grammar.
What a sight it was for BBC supporters – four years on from the dominant Jack Howarth and Lukas Ripley centre pairing, younger brothers Frank Howarth and Delazcruz Ripley were giving the GPS rugby community their own highlights.
Frank, 16, is built just like his older brother. He’s tall and strong. Like really strong. And Delacruz was an intimidating figure on Howarth’s outside.
In the centres, the pair were defensively damaging and there was no way through for Brisbane Grammar centres Jonty Davis and Shannon Simpson.
Davis was a beast himself, a thickly set inside centre who ran strong and hard.
But he had his hands full with Howarth, who scored BBC’s final try with an unstoppable right foot step which bested two defenders before he slammed the ball down.
Delacruz Ripley scored too, but it was his defence which took the bite out of BGS. He is an entertainer.
A final highlight from Ripley came when Davis met him in defence with a huge hit, but somehow Ripley shrugged him off and got away an offload.
He is muscle personified.
It was a good win, but full credit to a plucky BGS whose home turf defence was led by hooker Kody Perry.
The 38-14 scoreline should excite BBC supporters.
Brisbane Grammar played smart rugby, and they were impressive despite the scoreline.
BBC had a bit more oomph in the backline, and an imposing forward pack to compliment that.
But Brisbane Grammar took no backward step, and this will be a strong start to build on.
Speaking of strong, Perry was just that for the home side. Tight-head Tristan Knudsen was too, as was blindside flanker Mika Chrichton and lock Will Pascoe who ran at full throttle.
The headgeared Pascoe was Brisbane Grammar’s best forward.
In the backs, Elijah Breen was top notch.
A slicing run from Breen set up the first points of the game when he cut through and offloaded back inside to halfback Flynn Horton.
BBC hooker Cooper Hoare muscled over to equalise it at 7-7 and then BBC threatened to move ahead but were denied on three occasions by gutsy BGS defence.
1) Knudsen made a great pilfer to turnover ball.
2) Tireless defence by a retreating Perry denied fast paced Samson Tuqiri a chip and chase try.
3) A minute later Chrichton’s defence was so strong his opposition fumbled the ball.
There was plenty to like from BGS.
Finally BBC took the lead and it was the easiest try Tuqiri would ever score.
Jamie Alexander perfected a 50-22 kick and as it (the ball) was on its way out, Oli Spence opted to tap it back infield.
He was hoping a teammate was there not an eager Tuqiri. BBC took a 14-7 lead.
Then Ripley scored with a burst down the right touchline. BBC were on a roll.
Fly half Oscar Shaw and flanker Ronan Mellick had touches in the passage but it was a big tackle from Howarth and the deflection of busy winger Stan Keats which turned BGS pressure into a counter attack opportunity.
BBC then scored first in the second half to extend their lead at 24-7.
Quick thinking and a superb left to right cut out pass from Keats to wing lurking flanker Gray O’Neil put the wheels in motion before Hoare wriggled over.
The play before, unlikely breakdown hero Breen won BGS ball.
His deed was erased by the brilliance of Keets and O’Neil.
BGS’ Perry was rewarded for his work off the ball when pile-driving his way in for his team’s second try of the day shortly after and despite BBC dominating possession, the home side were only down 10 at 24-14.
20 minutes remained.
In that final quarter, it was one way traffic for the promising BBC.
Tuqiri found Keats for 29-14 and classy fullback Charlie Bird found Howarth who settle the scores at 38-14.
BBC halfback Jamie Alexander was excellent, with his goal kicking and general play kicking. As was Shaw, who caused trouble for the BGS back three with his torpedo-bomb.
At Churchie, both teams played magnificently before Churchie’s forwards got the chocolates for their side, 22-21.
BSHS led most of the game and played really well after a brilliant first half between both sides.
It was back and forth, a great spectacle as both forwards went at it.
You can do all the ball work in the world, work the backline moves so on and so forth, but by heavens it is great for a team to possess a rolling maul of quality like what Churchie produced.
Twice it saved the team, both times in the second half including a late effort to pinch victory from BSHS. Both five-eighths, Leofa (BSHS) and Charlie Johnson (Churchie) were outstanding in getting their teams set, while the packs were eveningly matched.
Leofa has all the tricks and Johnson was so calm under pressure.
In the other match at Southport, The Southport School young TSS prop Kingsley Uys was magnificent and Ipswich Grammar winger Brock Coombes electric as the home side prevailed 34-26 over Ipswich Grammar School.
It was a very entertaining game between two evenly matched teams which came down to key moments, including when IGS capitalised on TSS losing a player to a yellow card.
In this period IGS seized momentum, but with cool as a cumber TSS No.10 at the helm, TSS kicked on to victory.
TSS certainly took their opportunities – spreading the ball wider more often and taking advantage of overlaps.
Ipswich Grammar were consistently ploughing forward, threatening the TSS line and getting exciting winger Coombes into the game.
But TSS showed good heart to keep them out, more than once.
Resilient was the word Ipswich head of rugby Nigel Greive used to describe his side’s performance.
The Ipswich boys were vigorous at the breakdown and that was one of many positives shown by the side.
TSS drew away early in the second half when Ipswich had a man down, the reigning premiers taking advantage like premiers do.
Ipswich were spearheaded by fullback Tyson Walker. A Year 10 student, Walker was brave in the air and did a stunning job for a young man.
On the wing, Coombes was a terrific finisher, as was Amaziah Murgha.
Fly half Nathan Fraser was a stabilising factor in defence as well for Ipswich.
His opposite Spencer Alock controlled the game beautifully with his intelligent kicking game, while TSS veteran lock Fergus Dillion was close to be best on the ground.
“Credit to TSS they deserved the win and it was a really positive game of football,” Greive said.
Loose head prop Kingsley Uyis young fellow who was physical, defensively strong around the park.TTS jumped to a three try lead, but then a yellow card happened off the back of that IGS seized the momentum.It became an even contest and at the end the cool as a cumber Fergus Gillion at lock was elite and up there with the best players on the park and he needed to be, given the strength of the IGS forwards.IGS did well to utilise
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