Jack Howarth stars as BBC defeats Terrace 31-17 in GPS Rugby

He’s being targeted by both union and league scouts, and Jack Howarth showed why on Saturday with a dominant display for BBC against Terrace. Read the full report here.

A Jack Howarth masterclass handed Brisbane Boys College back-to-back wins in GPS rugby after the outside centre inspired Saturday’s 31-17 rout of St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.

Howarth proved exactly why he’s been the target of union and league scouts with a rampaging performance for the visitors, scoring a try in each half to condemn Terrace to consecutive home defeats.

Jack Howarth in action for the U18 Queenslanders against. Picture: Adam Head

Each try showcased a different aspect of his play; the first 10 minutes in was sheer will and leg drive to power over from an attacking ruck while his second just after halftime saw him three defenders from a set piece play before plonking down for the visitors’ third score.

Howarth’s midfield dominance belied the overall efforts of a BBC side that will genuinely threaten TSS and Nudgee’s title bid but coach Shane Drahm was less convinced.

“We weren’t great today,” Drahm said.

“Too many lapses in concentration, too many bad moments.”

“I thought we started very well in those first 10-15 minutes or so but after that we flicked the switch and let them back into the game.

“We gave them (Terrace) too many opportunities and we can’t afford to do that against those stronger sides like TSS with our tough draw coming up.”

Drahm rightly reserved some praise for his pack after a voracious effort from loose forward trio Zac Hough, Sam Kelly-Knowles and George Gibson, who ran like Duracell bunnies all afternoon.

Jacob Blyton was disruptive for BBC. Picture: Liam Kidston

Skipper Jacob Blyton and Hugo Perceval, too, were supremely disruptive at set piece with Terrace’s lineout a particularly juicy target while front rowers Andrew Romanod, James Durheim and Henry Pettit starred in close quarters.

“I thought the forwards were good but we could still execute a little better when we’re in an attacking position,” Drahm said.

In the backs, five-eighth Mason Gordon showed more than a few shades of older brother Carter in an assured performance complete with passing and deft tactical kicking inside halfback Will Stevens.

Vice-captain Lukas Ripley built into his game nicely alongside fellow centre Howarth and scored from a beautiful under line in the dying minutes while Taj Annan also impressed from fullback.

In the end, the scoreline somewhat flattered hosts Terrace, who failed to fully capitalise on Durheim’s 22nd-minute yellow card.

Trailing 14-0 after early tries to Howarth and Gibson, Terrace found space almost immediately after Durheim’s send-off with winger David Vaihu scoring from a sharp set piece line-out.

The hosts kicked on with new-found confidence but should have entered the shed with another five-pointer after Ben Hearne’s late effort was ruled a knock on.

Howarth’s second try then proved a fell blow just after halftime and when Gordon threw a pin-point cutout for Annan to score untouched, the game began to slip away from Terrace.

A rolling maul five-pointer pulled the score back to 26-10 but Ripley’s try put the result beyond doubt with Ezekiel Amituanai’s late consolation try giving Terrace fans something to cheer about.