The GPS First XV rugby 2020 season hit by fog and rain in trials
The fog was in on the Darling Downs and the rain set in around Brisbane, but it was a case of who cares as the respective GPS First XV rugby union teams celebrated a return to the pitch in trial action this afternoon.
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The fog was in on the Darling Downs and the rain set in around Brisbane, but it was a case of who cares as the respective GPS First XV rugby union teams celebrated a return to the pitch in round one of trial matches today.
Ipswich Grammar School impressed with a 26-nil win over Brisbane State High School, Toowoomba Grammar School edged out Gregory Terrace 22-12 in the fog bound Toowoomba while The Southport School skidded in three late trials for a come-from-behind win over Nudgee, 24-21.
At Brisbane Boys College, BBC overcame a spirited Churchie 15-7.
The teams were not playing for sheep stations today in round one of two trials to be played before the start of the competition on August 8.
But the matches were a celebration of sport, pure and simple, after the students from the respective sides endured a bumpy and uncertain road during the COVID-19 shutdown earlier in the year.
BSHS director of rugby Matt Thornton could not help but be impressed by IGS.
“It was obviously very tough conditions for the boys,’’ Thornton said.
“I was very impressed with Ipswich around their physical play at the breakdown and they played really smart, wet weather football.’’
IGS director of sport Nigel Greive said “both teams produced strong defensive efforts to stifle most attacking raids’’.
“The IGS backs took advantage of the limited attacking opportunities by scoring four enterprising tries considering the conditions.’’
Head coach Kieran Moffat was pleased with the effort of his forward pack which laid the foundation for the steady backline.
“BSHS never gave up throughout the wet weather arm wrestle,’’ Greive praised.
The best players for IGS were flyhalf, Zac Alley who managed the game well in difficult conditions and hooker Saipele Tamilo.,
But despite the scoreline, BSHS did roll their sleeves up as well and challenge IGS.
“We tried to attack where we could and I was really impressed with our boys’ effort and attitude, especially in the contact areas.’’
RELATED LINKS
GPS rugby 2020: How Churchie are looking
GPS rugby 2020: Nudgee College preview
GPS rugby 2020: Brisbane Grammar School
GPS rugby 2020: Brisbane State High School
In Toowoomba, the Garden City turned on its best winter weather to welcome the city slickers from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.
Rain poured through fog and the Terrace boys must have thought they were halfway to heaven as they made their way around the field, barely seeing from one end to the other.
“The Terrace boys will remember that game for many years to come,’’ said TGS director of sport Steve Fryer.
For the record, TGS won 22-12 in “testing conditions to say the least’’.
“Both teams pulled our multiple players and it was a pretty good hit out in the tough conditions,’’ Fryer said.
“There were some really good aspects to the game.’’
Terrace director of football Tyron Mandrusiak said it was a “good old school trial’’ and a “great experience for our boys’’ playing in the winter wonderland.
“Generally speaking Ryan (Schultz, coach) will be happy,’’ Mandrusiak said.
Mandrusiak said plenty of players got on the field for Terrace to taste First XV rugby today, but he expected a near full strength side to go around in next weekend’s trial against Brisbane Boys College.
At Nudgee College, TSS finished with a wet sail to pip the home side 24-21.
Playing three, 20 minutes segments, Nudgee had the better of the match for more than half the playing time.
“It was really boggy, a slow track dominated in the forwards. Both teams were really willing,’’ said Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham.
“We were up three tries to one and could not put them away and to TSS’s credit they put three tries on us in the last 10 minutes to win the trial.
“But we were happy. Most pleasing was both teams got through more or less injury free.’’
At Brisbane Boys College, the home side was shaken early when a rejuvenated Churchie scored first and kicked a goal to lead.
From that point forward the BBC side most probably had the better of the running over the course of the game.
What BBC did particularly well was finish the game smartly once they hit the front.
There were clever kicks to the corner, BBC did not take risks and they pinned Churchie down.
But Churchie had plenty to work with as well in a very good contest.
Indeed you could see in dry conditions some of the Churchie talent can come to the surface, and the side should be enthused about their next trial against Terrace.
August 1 trials
TSS v Churchie
BBC v Terrace
Nudgee v BSHS
IGS v BGS
Bye: TGS
Originally published as The GPS First XV rugby 2020 season hit by fog and rain in trials
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