GPS Rugby 2019: Round Eight teams announced, round preview
An upset victory by Ipswich Grammar School against the unbeaten The Southport School in the penultimate round of GPS rugby could open the door for the chasing pack.
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Ice skating and rugby union are unlikely bedfellows but the Stephen Bradbury story will be on the lips of sports-mad students across Brisbane this weekend as the penultimate round of GPS rugby kicks off.
The Southport School have set a commanding lead on the rest of the competition with seven wins from seven but must navigate the final turn of their race by hosting their bogey team, Ipswich Grammar, in their season finale.
If TSS are successful they will coast over the finish line to win their first outright Premiership since 2007.
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If Ipswich can spring an upset, as they did to deny TSS the outright premiership two years ago, a Bradbury candidate could sneak through to share the trophy.
Who that might be is a matter of debate that will be settled by 4pm because the two teams tied in second place will also face off on Saturday.
Brisbane Boys’ College and Nudgee College will both fancy themselves the protagonists of their own Bradbury story but they will need to prove it in a high-stakes clash.
BBC haven’t tasted victory at Nudgee’s famous Ross Oval fortress since 1985 but breaking that hoodoo would open the door to finishing second or even higher, pending TSS’ result.
The hunger to secure the trophy burns brightly at Nudgee, too, with senior players Reesjan Pasitoa and Harry Vella chasing their third premiership in a row.
They would be the first players to go back-to-back-to-back since Elton Flatley won the 1993, 1994 and 1995 GPS titles at Nudgee.
Mid-table battlers Churchie and Toowoomba Grammar School will duel for the chance to crack a top-three finish that seemed miles out of reach at the start of the year.
MORE GPS RUGBY:
● STORY: Meet the Year 10 flanker who reminds coach of Save a
● STORY: TSS put engravers to work on GPS trophy
● STORY: TSS insist job is not over yet
Churchie’s resurgence since conceding 101 points in their opening two matches has been remarkable to witness.
An upset over Ipswich Grammar and come-from-behind buzzer beater win over State High in consecutive weeks has the Vikings’ riding hot into a clash with a Toowoomba side stinging after a big defeat to BBC.
Brisbane Grammar will take Saturday’s match against an injury-depleted State High side as a prime opportunity to score their first win of the year.
PAST TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Teams listed 15-1
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL (7-0) v IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (3-3)
TSS: Dion Samuela, Alex Walker, Jojo Fifita, Joe Devlin, Hamish Roberts, Syris Schmidt, Hudson Meyer, Luc Lyndon, Ngiyaani Waters, Michael van der Schyff, Wilson Blyth, Marlon Jones, Zane Nonggorr (c), Harry Vousty, George Blake.
In: None. Out: None
IGS: Kedan Chan-Tung, Mitchell Harsant, Ethan King, Christian Krause, Orlando Swain, Sam Walker, Kalani Thomas, Xavier Stowers, Konrad Wallace, Jordan Penquitt, Dillon Stone, Jack Webber (c), Romeo Tanielu, Ben Murphy, Dante Freuan
In: Dante Freuan, Orlando Swain. Out: Saipele Tamilo, Malique Douthat-Sjoberg.
NUDGEE COLLEGE (5-1) v BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE (5-1)
NC: Athen Waia, Trezman Banjo, Eyzaiah Ulia, Lastus Auakai, Daniel Muller, Reesjan Pasitoa, Finn Hearn, Titi Nofoagatota, Mitch Lowrie, Jock Thompson, Patrick Long, Angus Mackey, Harry Vella (c), Ronin Nutley, Will Jones
In: Patrick Long, Will Jones. Out: Lemau ‘Daniel’ Maiava-Tapusoa, Johna Luka
BBC: Taj Annan, Brad Altman, Jack Howarth, Lukas Ripley, Jack Bowyer, Conor Claridge, Will Stevens, George Gibson, Sam Kelly-Knowles, Zac Hough, Jacob Blyton (c), Nic Wald, Jake Tierney, James Durheim, Andrew Romano
In: Brad Altman. Out: Byron Johnson
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (3-1-2) v TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL (2-4)
ACGS: Riley Winten, Henry Caswell, Luke Philp, Larson Dale-Doyle, Jack Richardson, Sam Farrar, Henry Wilson, Izi Sword, George Stoddart, Aidan King (c), Ewan Marr, Hugo Schreuder, Ben Ryan, Max Craig, Tom Zuidam
In: Riley Winten, Hugo Schreuder. Out: Hunter Wright, Tom Skerl
TGS: Harry Hanly, Allister Cameron, , Dayne Shadlow, Will Purcell, Baxter Franey, Wilson Cochrane, Jack Waugh, Dougal Gray (c), Hunter Hamblin, Cooper Bridgeman, Finley Whittle, Tim Fainga’Anuku, Charlie Wigan, Tane Pardoe
In: Tane Pardoe. Out: Dominic Mifsud
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL (1-5) v BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL (0-1-5)
BSHS: Jackson Connelly, Damian Vukovic, Sam Sili, Ezra Howe, Ben Nielsen, Moses Jones, Sanni Siliva, Alapati So’oalo, Kai Johnstone, Vincent Sefo, Tom Duke, Ben Bartlett, Jaiden Christian, Josh Mongard, Linston Tafa-Tuimavave (c)
In: Jackson Connelly, Damian Vukovic, Ben Nielsen. Out: Kalvin Leilua (injury), Wian Joubert (injury), Grant Tuisamoa (injury)
BGS: Not available.
Originally published as GPS Rugby 2019: Round Eight teams announced, round preview
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