MATCH REPORTS – Round 1
There are no more passionate supporters of Rugby than Schoolboys in Queensland, and when it comes to the 150 plus years of direct competition between some schools in the GPS, it’s unsurprising that the tribal cries of warring schools have again echoed into 2014. With all the storied history and Wallaby Old Boys, there has been an evolution in GPS Rugby in recent times. A step up. School’s now possess scouts and recruitment budgets, and are splashing out big money on Stadiums equipped with ice baths, JumboTrons, and lights for possible night time fixtures.
School’s that were once underdogs now threaten the elite of GPS Rugby. Season 2014 is almost certain to be an unforgettable one, filled with the stars of tomorrow coached by legends today.
Green and Gold Rugby will be taking you along for the ride again for a third straight year, with aims to post each match report on Monday mornings.
Round 1’s fixtures saw the massively hyped BBC First XV head south on the Pacific Motorway to take on a Southport side with a chip on its shoulder the size of the Gold Coast after missing out on their seemingly destined Premiership in 2013 – but, for possibly the first time in their entire playing history, BBC were hot favourites to win. The battle between Australia A coach Mike Wallace for TSS and legendary coach Tom Barker for BBC is covered below by Sam Hauser (Sam Hauser).
Meanwhile, Ipswich Grammar roared down the Centenary Highway to ambush a Churchie side stacked with as much quality as one could expect from one of Australia’s great Rugby nurseries. Churchie’s 11 GPS Representatives (and 3 Queensland League stars) were always going to be a tough side to unseat at home, but the return of legendary State High Coach David Eagle to GPS Rugby, albeit for a different side, may go some way to tip the balance in favour of IGS. Will Rafter (RuggasXV) was there to document each moment of an entertaining fixture.
While those two games were under way, Toowoomba Grammar headed down the range along the Warrego to fight for their reputation against a resurgent State High side undergoing a renaissance back to the days where star studded teams with the likes of Curtis Browning and Chris Sautia hunted down opposition teams and put them to the sword. Under Coach Sione Fukofuka, State High earned 9 Reps into the three GPS teams, while Toowoomba had 6. The victor emerged from the fog of war with only 5 points the difference.
Brisbane Grammar had no highway to cross, but the Story Bridge to climb if they hoped to unseat a powerful GT backline, inspired by an incredible new stadium and thousands-strong Old Boy presence to watch the second biggest rivalry on Terrace’s sporting calendar, at home. Led by Australian Schoolboy open side Connor Moroney and Queensland Flyhalf Alex Horan, a very special player in his own right, GT showed that they once more deserve recognition as a powerhouse in GPS Rugby, 2014. It’s a new era for Gregory Terrace.
Just flick to the right and you’ll find out why.
