For the BBC fans
BBC’s coach of ‘54 watches historic premiership push after victory over Nudgee College.
BRISBANE Boy’s College’s premiership winning coach from 66 years ago watched College’s First XV storm to within one match of a maiden outright premiership against Nudgee College.
Cormac Pearson, Andrew Dawson, Quest Newspapers
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September 12, 2020 5:52pm
Graham Thompson with the BBC team.
Graham Thompson with the BBC team.
BRISBANE Boy’s College’s premiership winning coach from 66 years ago watched College’s First XV storm to within one match of a maiden outright premiership against Nudgee College.
BBC cannot lose the title after beating St Joseph’s Nudgee College 33-22, but need to win their last match against BSHS to ensure they claim the premiership outright.
Graham Thompson was mentor of the 1954 outfit which claimed a joint GPS First XV title.
This afternoon Thompson, immaculate in a dark suit, posed for photos with BBC captain Mason Gordon whose kicking prowess was on show from the first minute until the last.
Graham Thompson, the 1954 coach, with captain Mason Gordon.
Graham Thompson, the 1954 coach, with captain Mason Gordon.
Then, ushered into the winning team photo, Thompson addressed the team and such was the First XV’s respect for his utterings, you could have heard a pin drop while celebrations rained down around them from supporters.
“I am so pleased this team has broken the drought,’’ Thompson said.
“Sixty-six years ago was the last time, and I thought their performance today was the far superior to what my team was.’’
BBC centre Jack Howarth reacts against TSS during their GPS Rugby clash. Photograph: Jason O'Brien
BBC centre Jack Howarth reacts against TSS during their GPS Rugby clash. Photograph: Jason O'Brien
BBC could do it all this season.
The 2020 team had pace, a wide passing game, attacking maul and aggression at the breakdown and also a No.10 in Sunshine Coast border Mason Gordon who could kick the leather off the ball if needed.
And the side needed all of that today to defeat a gallant Nudgee College.
“We spoke a lot about that during the week, that it is going to be a game won all around the park.
“We have the strike out wide, we have the maul, so really we just left it to the decision makers, particularly Mason who played a beautiful game.’’
Graham Thompson with the BBC team.
Graham Thompson with the BBC team.
Draham had played in some big games in his career, but even he got caught up in the emotion, the unbridled scenes of joy, which were unfurled when the referee blew his full-time whistle.
With COVID-19 restricting spectators at the ground to parents, officials and the like, crowds watched from outside in Miskin St where a BBC old boy army chanted and screamed.
Then high up on the cliff, BBC war cries would carry across the playing field as the BBC school students hit top note.
It was indeed a win for the ages.
But Draham said there was one more win needed next week against BBC.
“I am not going to put the hoodoo on it.
“We have set it up now to win the premiership next week.
“We will let them (the players) enjoy this, we can’t lose the premiership now, but hopefully next week we finish it off.’’
THE MATCH
The desperation of Nudgee College was evident early when winger Robert Mapa amazingly tackled BBC winger Jarrod Homan into touch centimetres before the tryline.
From there Nudgee used the wind behind their back and dominated the first half-hour of the match.
Benn Dalle-Court was fantastic with the ball and with his boot before a decoy to Lastus Auakai found winger Sione Fapuosi on the inside.
Fapuosi drew in the defence before a brilliant right-hand offload to Mapa who scored in the corner.
It wasn’t long until Nudgee hit back this time through some heads up play from scrum half Oscar Varricchio who took a quick tap on halfway.
He offloaded to Dalle-Cout who beat several players to score a magnificent try.
It would take something major from BBC to shift the momentum and it came through some fantastic break down work, forcing a penalty.
BBC had minutes to score before the half and Nudgee weren’t giving in, but not many can hold out Jack Howarth.
The competitions most dangerous ball runner streamed over to score with just five points the difference going into halftime 12-7.
The second half was a completely different game.
BBC were unstoppable.
Three tries in nine minutes to Howarth, Homan and hooker Uhila Senituli came as the BBC forwards dominated the backline.
Gordon was nothing short of spectacular during the contest, making crucial tackles, deadly with the ball and controlled field position with his kicking game.
Despite losing Fapuosi to a serious leg injury, Nudgee picked up the pieces and started to fight against the wind.
They piled the pressure on the BBC line and went over from close range through …. With 15 minutes left.
But arguably the best BBC side in the school’s history weren’t letting up.
The side kept the pressure on and scored through prop Harvey Guest with 10 minutes left.
BBC’s first outright premiership was at the tip of their fingers.
Nudgee substitute Hubert Elu had a blistering run and got them in the position to go over again through outside centre Robert Toia.
But it wasn’t to be.
SCORE
BBC 33 (J Howarth 2, J Homan, U Senituli, H Guest conversions H Mclaughlin-Phillips 4/5) Nudgee 22 (R Mapa, B Dalle Cort, O Davey-Phillips, R Toia, conversions B Dalle Cort 1/4)