QLD GPS Rugby 2013

[idaknow]

Jordan Drew (Toowoomba Grammar 2012 centre), is making his debut for the Brisbane Broncos VS St George at the moment.

 

[Dark Shark]

Fantastic stuff and Wow!!! again. Coming up to the half way round in the comp and this season just keeps delivering.

It is great having a season that continues to be wide open. Last year threw some upsets and towards the second last round there were three or four teams that had a mathematical chance of winning. Looks like this year may throw the same thing our way. Most teams are still "live". Those that believe, can.

My favourites for the title, TSS, getting smoked on their own turf by Nudgee is a stunning result. I thought having the week off for the bye and not playing against Downlands was the best thing, but possibly it caused a loss of momentum. Other teams will now be gunning for them, there may also be the seeds of some self doubt.

My hat off to Nudgee. There are not many bigger asks then to come back from a belting on your home turf and knock over the favourites on their own ground. Friends at the game said the boys, particularly the forwards just aimed up and the pick and drives just gave them the momentum and front foot ball they required. Mafi also stood up and some say it was one of the best games they have seen from him.

BBC coming back and winning on the bell takes a lot of self belief and confidence. They have now got through probably two of their three hardest games and are top of the table. Everything to gain and nothing to lose from here in.

I thought Churchie were on their way last week. How quickly and on such tiny margins can a season turn. Still have the opportunity as long as they knock over TSS this week, but their inconsistency across the park has cost them this week and against BSHS. When they are hot they are hot and when they are not they sound as though they are missing those middle gears to grind it out.

GT winning against TGS in emphatic style for the first time in GPS Rugby on their home turf since Term 2 in 2010 on Saturday. Have surprised many already and sound like a team without "stars" just playing for each other. Still some tough assignments coming up with BBC and then Nudgee over the next fortnight.

TGS sounded as they were ambushed in the same way they caught BGS unawares from the whistle last week and would be disappointed with their effort. Probably as inconsistent as Churchie. They may still get over a team when they are playing at home. Some value from the season can still be gained with a win against the Old Enemy, Downlands, on Grammar day this Saturday.

The quiet achievers, BSHS must be taking great delight knocking over some of the "big guns". Will probably get harder now as they will not be taken lightly. From an earlier trial game I saw, I thought their loose forwards gave them a bit of an x factor. Great to hear and think they are a chance in very game they play this season.

IGS are the biggest disappointments of the season so far. While getting belted by TSS, they lost to GT with ill discipline and have now let another team knock them over by less than a converted try. Maybe the focus by some on the rep rugby has left the team a bit short of a run together. Whatever it is, a team with so much promise should not be without a win coming up to the season's half way mark.

BGS enjoyed the bye on the weekend, but like TSS decided not to play Downlands. With an injury to a key player and captain, Morrey, and those coming back from last year not seeming to be firing on all cyclinders, it looks as though they will struggle at times. Ambushed on the Downs the weekend before, they need to keep IGS winless this weekend to restore some life in their campaign.

In a pre season review while my favourites were TSS, I did say that I thought that every team could win on the day. So far that is proving to be correct. It makes for exciting rugby and great entertainment.

I now think that NC have the earier run home for their remaining four games. TSS have to stay positive, but BBC could be the spoiler. It could be a shared premiership. But just which team and even how many teams will probably remain a mystery until the last round.

 

[WebbEllis]

I now think that NC have the earier run home for their remaining four games. TSS have to stay positive, but BBC could be the spoiler. It could be a shared premiership. But just which team and even how many teams will probably remain a mystery until the last round.

Absolutely correct. Especially in this years GPS, like many others, beating the top team won't get you a premiership. Just as BGS lost to Ipswich last year, and how Nudgee came back in 2011, every game should be treated as a grand final. I'm sure a lot of people are hoping for Nudgee to lose another, just because of sheer dislike of the school. Will be really interesting to see how the upcoming rounds play out for Churchie, BSHS, NC and TSS. Unexpect the expected.

 

[Dark Shark]

Only a few rounds in and the number of undefeated teams has diminished rapidly. Here they are after three rounds:-

Opens - TSS
16A's - TSS, TGS
15A's - BBC
14A's - GT, NC
13A's - GT, NC

Good to see not one school dominating every age group but looks like some skews at the bottom and top end of the age groups. Although TSS and GT teams have enjoyed the benefit of the bye so it only reflects two games to date and not three that all the others have played.

Saying that, the TSS Open and 16's team are looking red hot and the GT 14's have form being unbeaten in the previous year.

How much changes in one round? Three of the previous eight undefeated teams endured the bitter taste of defeat on Saturday. The only undefeated teams at the Firsts / "A's" level are as follows:-

Opens - nil
16A's - nil (current interim results for TSS v NC game incorrect - NC won)
15A's - BBC
14A's - GT, NC
13A's - GT, NC

If the 14 and 13 GT teams can get past the BBC teams and NC past BSHS this Saturday it will be a cracking day at Nudgee College when they go head to head the week after.

The 14's GT team tasted defeat for the first and only time since they commenced playing GPS rugby last year in a trial against NC at the beginning of this term. NC put on about 6 tries against the red and black who seemed to have no answer. GT will be looking forward to the chance of putting a well drilled NC team back in its place.

The 13's NC have been undefeated in all games this year. They also knocked over the GT team in the pre season trial for its only defeat to date. The NC team's GPS results show them putting away teams by bigger margins than any other team in its age group. It will be an interesting start for an age group rivalry that will be fierce over the next five years.

There does not seem to be a challenger in sight now for the BBC 15's team. They just have to remain focused and they should get the bikkies at the end of the season

While on BBC, the 14's team have been getting great wraps by some on here, I see they were convincingly beaten by ACGS on Saturday and will be up against a hot GT team this weekend, which may make it 3 losses out of the last 4 games for them.

Finally, the 16's has also been blown wide apart from an unexpected defeat by NC over TSS. The results in this age group are all over the place. While TSS are still my favourites, I think that up to another three or four teams may be in the running.

 

[Red Black]

H
The 14's GT team tasted defeat for the first and only time since they commenced playing GPS rugby last year in a trial against NC at the beginning of this term. NC put on about 6 tries against the red and black who seemed to have no answer. GT will be looking forward to the chance of putting a well drilled NC team back in its place.

On this note, the GT 14 As had just come back from a week long tournament where they played 6 or 7 games in a short period before they placed NC in the trial (They also won the tournament undefeated). As a result about 5 of their key players were rested so I think the trial is a bit misleading.
Should however be a great game with Nudgee having picked up a few bigger boys in the off season.

Also you've got to be wondering whether anyone in Toowong is thinking of the first premiership since 1954 or the first outright premiership ever....

 

[HJ Nelson]

Photos from TSS v Nudgee First XV game

More photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/sets/72157636789092186/

 

[GSP]

BBC Potential Premiers?? Really
State High 15A team came within 5 points of Beating and they have never imported. State Highs 15A back line was disjointed as well with players out of position due to injurys. They also destroyed BBC in the trial Game when they had only one player out .
If BBC have to Buy there Premierships i dont think that is in the spirit of GPS Rugby

 

[light]

Also you've got to be wondering whether anyone in Toowong is thinking of the first premiership since 1954 or the first outright premiership ever..

Wow, I never realised it had been that long. BGS managed to overcome their demons last year but to have BBC repeat the medicine this year would really be a shock to the competition. They are without doubt in the running and a real contender but we probably won't know how good they really are until Rd 9. They may have won the premiership by then, or be in a position to win it, but how they react to that situation against a team like TSS will be a real indication of the side they are.

I have a feeling there are a few more twists and turns to come in following weeks. Will be very surprised if the title isn't shared this year, the comp is just so tight.

 

[Eric Grothe Sr]

Wow, I never realised it had been that long.

Wasn't 1954 the boater wearers only ever premiership, and shared with about five other teams? It could happen again! Or, with Tom Barker having success wherever he goes...perhaps an outright.

It is great to see the competition so even.

It reminds me of 'old days'.

Speaking of a close season, Tom Barker's 1990 outright premiership team at Nudgee, won even though:
1) Lost to Churchie
2) Beat BSHS even though High scored three tries to one
3) Beat BGS in final moments when Grammar kicker fell over in the mud!
4) Can't remember the Downlands result but there were always tough
5) Won Metway Cup (mid-week football emphasis)

Everybody squeezed in a lot in one term those days and IGS was the team to beat.

Being able to turn up on game day knowing that 103 zip scores is good for the soul.

 

[light]

Can't say I personally witnessed that BBC team of '54 but yes, they certainly had a very high workload including mid week games. Everything Barker touches turns to gold, he has had success at numerous different schools and must be one of the most successful GPS coaches. Would be interesting to get his perspective on the best XV players of the last 20 years.

 

[GSP]

SHTID . Luke Carswell is a star of the BBC 15A team and switched from BSHS as a full fee paying student. my cousin asked him why and he said:education:school pride and passion.Mate BSHS have a lot more to worry about than what other schools do. I have real concerns about this once great sporting school. I have watched my 2 cousins and my neighbour play for BBC against BSHS in 3 different sports this year.:
1) in rugby BShS could only field 13 teams and BBC had to play 8 matches against GT. BSHS lost all but one match.I know NC ,ACGS and GT have this issue most weeks but 13 is pretty poor:
2) in cricket could again only field 14 teams and lost every match. Some A teams of BSHS did not get 50 runs;
3) tennis was a disaster. Again only 15,teams again 15,losses. In the 14A&15A games I saw the BSHS boys all had different outfits on and were a rabble. They won a total of 8 games ( not rubbers or matches) the game score was 96 to 8. Each match consisting of 8 sets lasted 75 mins.
I do not say this to be critical but out of concern. If the drums start beating again the late great Porky Morgan is not here to save them this time.

 

[GSP]

This was the team for the Terrace game.

Maybe out injured.

Wow- was there ever a better GPS team .Certainly their winning margins were the highest ever

 

[GSP]

I think you may find the BBC 15A's success has more to do with coach Greg Towers than the list of names on the team sheet.

Correct and Phil White. Again philpotts puts his 2 best coaches in charge of his most talented age group. How many other teams have 2 level 3 ARU coaches in charge ??

 

[Digby]

Sorry, but I have to disagree Will Reason - there are plenty of examples of where talent, or tenacity , has developed later than others - even at the wallabies ( eg Phil Kearns ). BBC's victorious team yesterday played a young fellow at fullback, at the school since Grade 8 but not picked in the original training squad at the start of the year, but he kept at it, kept training , and got his deserved rewards.
Don't be blighted by the current " arms war " nonsense and scholarships outbreak. Rugby is far from a game for the " favoured ones " as you say. The real joy of rugby is within the reach of everyone who laces up a boot - pushing yourself as an individual to contribute to the success of the team and your mates - this is what is sustainable far beyond the game or the season - hopefully the boys running around yesterday will appreciate that.

Well said !

 

[Digby]

Thoughts on the ACGS v BBC game.

Both teams were pretty evenly match with a see-saw'ing affair in the first half. It was nearly a repeat of last weekend at Ross Oval with Churchie conceding an early try only to bounce back with two of their own. Both teams relied heavily on the 10-12-13 combination, in particular Churchie with Mason and Tanuvasa playing key individual roles in their first three tries. BBC inside centre Russell was awesome, dominant in both defence and with the ball, he was assisted ably by his 13 who didn't really come to life until the second half. I thought Fox was very prominent in the first half making a few big runs including offloads but it was clear he would tire and lose impact at some point. At half time I thought it could have gone either way, most facets of play were pretty even and the ref was having a good game.

Second half was very tight early and the forward battle started becoming very important. BBC #8 really stood up and started influencing the game with big runs and important calls. BBC #1 was also very good and as soon as the substitution of ACGS #3 was made the game changed significantly. I thought ACGS #18 was very good around the park but come scrum time he just got dominated. Mason became very quiet except for his huge clearance kicks and ACGS seemed to rely heavily on #13 Perese, who scored a great try. Rarely did either side throw the ball past OC, the wings only really got involved on kick returns and in broken play but had very little influence. Towards the end BBC just wanted the win more and ACGS were playing really defensive rugby, the kick at goal was arguably the wrong decision but it nearly paid off a few minutes later when Tanuvasa picked up a spilt ball and had a clear sight of the line - someone had knocked it on back up the field and so it was another scrum. Had that been a try all would have been over, but it wasn't to be. BBC kept possession and played territory racking up phase after phase until there was room in the backs. Very disciplined display from both teams in the second half but both would consider the first a very scrappy affair. ACGS lost the forward battle in latter stages of the second half and that was the only difference between the teams.

Better team won on the day. Not sure who I would be handing out man of the match honours to as there were stand-outs all over the park, BBC #12 and BBC #8 were outstanding, #9 and #10 also played very well. Special mention to ACGS #10 and #12, they were a class above the rest of their teammates.

That BBC team was good, I'll be curious to see how they go against GT next weekend. As for ACGS, there goes any premiership aspirations, can't help but feel that MacMillan would have been an important player for them yesterday when they really started losing the battle of the breakdown. Regardless that was a great game and best of luck to both teams for the rest of the season.

Best summary I have read all year. Keep them coming.

 

[Digby]

Thoughts on the ACGS v BBC game.

Both teams were pretty evenly match with a see-saw'ing affair in the first half. It was nearly a repeat of last weekend at Ross Oval with Churchie conceding an early try only to bounce back with two of their own. Both teams relied heavily on the 10-12-13 combination, in particular Churchie with Mason and Tanuvasa playing key individual roles in their first three tries. BBC inside centre Russell was awesome, dominant in both defence and with the ball, he was assisted ably by his 13 who didn't really come to life until the second half. I thought Fox was very prominent in the first half making a few big runs including offloads but it was clear he would tire and lose impact at some point. At half time I thought it could have gone either way, most facets of play were pretty even and the ref was having a good game.

Second half was very tight early and the forward battle started becoming very important. BBC #8 really stood up and started influencing the game with big runs and important calls. BBC #1 was also very good and as soon as the substitution of ACGS #3 was made the game changed significantly. I thought ACGS #18 was very good around the park but come scrum time he just got dominated. Mason became very quiet except for his huge clearance kicks and ACGS seemed to rely heavily on #13 Perese, who scored a great try. Rarely did either side throw the ball past OC, the wings only really got involved on kick returns and in broken play but had very little influence. Towards the end BBC just wanted the win more and ACGS were playing really defensive rugby, the kick at goal was arguably the wrong decision but it nearly paid off a few minutes later when Tanuvasa picked up a spilt ball and had a clear sight of the line - someone had knocked it on back up the field and so it was another scrum. Had that been a try all would have been over, but it wasn't to be. BBC kept possession and played territory racking up phase after phase until there was room in the backs. Very disciplined display from both teams in the second half but both would consider the first a very scrappy affair. ACGS lost the forward battle in latter stages of the second half and that was the only difference between the teams.

Better team won on the day. Not sure who I would be handing out man of the match honours to as there were stand-outs all over the park, BBC #12 and BBC #8 were outstanding, #9 and #10 also played very well. Special mention to ACGS #10 and #12, they were a class above the rest of their teammates.

That BBC team was good, I'll be curious to see how they go against GT next weekend. As for ACGS, there goes any premiership aspirations, can't help but feel that MacMillan would have been an important player for them yesterday when they really started losing the battle of the breakdown. Regardless that was a great game and best of luck to both teams for the rest of the season.

Don't forget the x factor man Wilkins will be back for BBC next week - but appears number 5 palmer is out.

 

[Digby]

There is no doubt BBC's work at the breakdown and general forwards play won them the game. Their loose forwards were faster and better in support in broken play, ACGS's loose forwards were typically too slow to contest and support the ball carrier in break-outs, or were far less effective in doing so. ACGS needed to dent BBC's impressive forwards' momentum through turnovers and they regularly had difficulty doing this.

It's no excuse, but ACGS badly miss the injured Macmillan at 7 and Scott-Young in the pack, the latter being an exceptional ball carrier in tight and very capable in the scrum. From father to son.

The other measure of this is ACGS's exposure to pick and drive-based attack moves against them in their red zone. Essentially, they lost to BSHS and BBC in almost exactly the same way, last minute forwards-driven tries under or near their posts that they couldn't avert through either forcing a turnover, knock on or opposition penalty close in. The inconsistency in this aspect of their play is bitter-sweet as they defended exceptionally well in 2H v NC when NC was camped on their line for long periods, and somehow ACGS routinely forced them into knock-ons and other handling errors.

Another ACGS decision unremarked upon here was their captain's decision v BBC to have Nucifora (9) take a penalty kick for points in 2H when the game was not yet quite in the balance and when ACGS had regularly scored 7 points when they got into BBC's quarter. The kick got them the 3 points IIRC to put them 5 ahead of BCC whereas a try then would have put them 7 or 9 ahead. They ended up losing by 2 as BBC scored a converted try at the death. The ancient dilemma for rugby captains: take a near-certain 3 points, or fight for 7. This time ACGS's conservative choice may have cost them the match.

Congratulations BBC on a fine win. And BTW, although I am a Churchie parent, I stood in admiration for the exceptional rugby played by BBC's 15A team. Wonderful to see such an obviously well-coached team play with such complete skill and tactical composure leading to, cough, total domination of our 15As.

Admire rugby excellence when and how found, and the game will always uplift and enrich.

Fine , fair summary sir and if number 15 in ACGS 15a team does not get rep honours next year I will be shocked. Shit he can step and kick and move.

 

[RedsHappy]

Fine , fair summary sir and if number 15 in ACGS 15a team does not get rep honours next year I will be shocked. Shit he can step and kick and move.

Digby, that's Kalyn Ponga. I posted about this exceptional young player before the last 15As match.

I believe he's already been selected for U16 repn assessment even though he can and does play U15. As you may know, U16 repn trials for non GPS schools have been going on at ACGS for the last few Sundays, with GPS U16 players already identified as repn candidates. See:

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/9980/Default.aspx

You can see why he's a super star at Touch, league, the lot.

Incredible potential.

 

[rugbywatch]

Who remembers BSHS 2009 First XV undefeated Premiers

WHERE ARE THEY NOW
1.Paul Emile -Melbourne Rebels
2.Joe O'Regan- Last seen playing colts for Norths in 2011
3.Dom Rekei- lower grades at Easts
4.Curtis Browning- reds
5.Liam Eagle- ?
6.Jayden Scheck- Souths Premier Grade
7.Jordan Tuapou (capt)- Sunnybank Premier Grade/Australia 7s
8.Matt Ika- ?
9.Sam Caslick- ?
10.Rohan Saifoloi- Southern Districts Premier Grade
11.Chrsis F'Sautia- Reds
12.Akeem Faavala-?
13.Matt Garland- Was Playing Titans u/20s and GPS premier Grade
14.Walter Petaia- Gold Coast Breakers?
15.Joe Lalagavesi- Was Playing GPS premier grade and Australia 7s 2011

Coaches:
Mr. G.Noon
Mr. D.Eagle

 

[light]

That's a suprisingly low amount to have made higher rep honours post school. That team was exceptional, I thought Petaia, Saifoloi, Garland, Taupou and Ika would have played Super Rugby at some point. Never quite know with injuries however CFS, Browning and PAE were definitely standouts.

It would be interesting to see which qld schoolboy 1st XV side from the last 10 years has had the most Super Rugby representatives. Off the top of my head the TSS side from '07 would be up there with Mark Swanepoel, James Slipper, Ben Tapuai, Luke Morahan and Jono Lance. Also had Rob Simmons the previous year. Jeez.