GPS First XI football round 2 Team of the Week
GPS First XI football: We reveal the schoolboys who stood out in round 2, as Terrace and Brisbane Grammar soar and Ipswich Grammar deliver a giant killing effort against competition benchmarks.
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Ipswich Grammar and Brisbane Grammar were now atop the GPS First XI football table after gripping victories on Saturday.
Ipswich won the game of the round, giant-slaying last year’s premiers Nudgee College 1-0 at home, while Brisbane Grammar grabbed their second consecutive win away from home with a 2-0 result over Churchie.
Meanwhile, Gregory Terrace got their campaign underway with a 4-1 triumph over Southport, as did Toowoomba Grammar who pipped Brisbane State High 1-0.
GPS FOOTBALL ROUND 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
But in Ipswich, a riveting game unfolded with both teams playing a fast paced and physical brand of football.
Ipswich head of sport Nigel Greive said his First XI were determined to compete against a very good Nudgee side.
And a good side they have been not just last year, but for the last decade where they have secured a whopping five premierships.
Greive said the game was played in wonderful, competitive spirit and both Ipswich and Nudgee should be congratulated given the quality of the contest.
Toowoomba Grammar School, with three changes to the starting line up, still played with greater cohesion and were braver on the ball throughout.
BSHS did pose a significant test but eventually it was evident that TGS had a better structure and more importantly a greater desire.
Whilst the result will only say 1-0, the possession and shots on target paint a much different picture.
Ultimately the game was won because Grammar dominated the midfield with the tenacity of Taku Doherty and Luke Parish.
“The headlines will say Richard Dean scored the decisive goal with a tap in but this GPS has many throws of the dice to go before a Champion Team is known,’’ said TGS director of Sport Steve Fryer.
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Round 2 Results:
Ipswich Grammar beat Nudgee 1-0
Gregory Terrace beat Southport 4-1
Toowoomba Grammar beat Brisbane State High 1-0
Brisbane Grammar beat Churchie 2-0
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Ipswich Grammar beat Nudgee 1-0
Jack Pye (Ipswich)
Pye was very assured at the back, making expert decisions with and without the ball.
Will Booth (Ipswich)
Booth was a midfield kingmaker, breaking everything down, stopping numerous counter attacks while having a fantastic passing game.
Nelson Deng (Ipswich)
Not dissimilar to Pye, Deng was a sure thing.
He made all the right decisions defensively and was a threat at the set piece.
Jamie Washington (Nudgee)
It just wasn’t Nudgee’s day, but in a tough loss, centre back Washington was the man of the match for his side.
Head coach Condon praised Washington who fought hard against a “physical and determined Ipswich team.”
“The Nudgee boys never got into rhythm and played into Ipswich’s hands.
“Ipswich were structured and deserving of the win,” Condon said.
Gregory Terrace beat Southport 4-1
After a bizarre finish between Terrace and Toowoomba in round 1 where both teams shared the chocolates, Terrace responded in fine fashion.
Scoring early was Zack Damianakis before Southport immediately hit back through their main man Cook.
From there, it was an end to end arm wrestle as both team’s probed for the next goal.
But, Southport had a player sent off just before half time which for the early going in the second wasn’t evident, such was the push-back from the gritty Southport outfit.
But finally, Damianakis broke their defence and the 1-all deadlock with a cracking goal from a corner.
Southport threatened on the break but Terrace’s substitute Joe McKenna came on and closed the game out at 4-1 with a late double.
For Southport, James Greenup did an excellent job man-marking one of Terrace’s dangerous midfielders.
Around him was Matty Surgeon who looked lively as ever down the left hand side, beating his man and getting countless shots at goal.
Despite the result, head coach Owen Baker was proud of the effort shown by his team.
“The boys battled hard and showed a lot of spirit,” he said.
Toowoomba Grammar beat Brisbane State High 1-0
James Kim (Brisbane State High)
Kim came in as an injury replacement at centre back and stepped into his role with ease.
In what was a physical and energetic encounter, Kim had a mature performance for someone fresh on the First XI scene.
Taku Doherty and Luke Parish (Toowoomba Grammar School)
Taku Doherty and the flair of the irrepressible and indefatigable Luke Parish who was the difference between the sides. They were the difference between the sides
Freddie Brock (Brisbane State High)
A central defensive midfielder, Brock broke up play very well, displaying his passing skills as he created multiple chances.
Brisbane Grammar beat Churchie 2-0
It was another tight game for Churchie but this time they were unable to snare a result.
Churchie had more of the play but Brisbane Grammar proved to be the hungrier and more aggressive team, scoring clinical goals either side of half time.
The second, a dagger with five just five minutes left to play.
Quinn MacNicol (Churchie)
MacNicol was Churchie’s best on ground, with his speed and trickery proving a handful for the Brisbane Grammar defence.
Every time he touched the ball he looked threatening.
Churchie head coach Alex Rados lauded Brisbane Grammar’s skipper Andrew McLeod.
“Man of the match, for me, was the Grammar skipper.
“He was a tower of strength at the back, did not make a mistake all game and totally dominant in the air.”
That’s two weeks in a row McLeod has proved vital in his team’s victories.
And helping McLeod was Vinny Van Brunschot, who scored hissecond goal in as many games.
High praise to the Year 10 rookie.
Originally published as GPS First XI football round 2 Team of the Week
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