Brisbane Grammar School at Nudgee College
by Nic Darveniza (TheKing)
It took Nudgee 8 phases after turning over their kick off to score their first of many tries on the day, with a 5 metre lineout providing Gavin Luka Nudgee’s first points of Season 2014, executing a clinical rolling maul to power over the line. Rookie flyhalf Liam Mosely was unable to convert his first attempt 15 in from touch. (5-0)
Nudgee’s runners seem to be physically incapable of going down short of the advantage line. The speed of Nudgee’s game and Eli Pilz’s service is keeping BGS pinned on their heels in defence. However, some good work in the breakdown kept BGS in the contest early.
A big hit from Queensland State of Origin (U16s) super sub Agassi Stowers caused a knock on, but the lack of arms int he tackle was penalised. However, an error by young halfback Campbell Halliday in not putting the ball out was amplified by the lack of a structured kick chase. Tyrone Hussey, a Queensland calibre winger raced away from just outside his 22 to Grammar’s, slipping 3 cover tackles in the process before being brought down. Under immense pressure, BGS began to lift their physicality in defence, and the momentum of the game that Nudgee had held so strongly began to slip away. Cracking hits from Captain Dooley and centre Michael Wolstenholme inspired their side. Hands in the ruck 22 out was bad news for BGS as Nudgee were able to kick for the line and re-set their attack. Phase play saw Grammar given a final warning for offside offences, and Nudgee responded by calling for a scrum – a plan B after BGS began competing more effectively at line outs.
Some scrappy execution from the scrum was transformed in to a line bending run on the right wing in classic Nudgee College boarding school Rugby style. It only took one phase for Gavin Luka to crash through the line, busting straight through 2 defenders before running over a third, selflessly offloading over the try-line when a certain double was on offer. As it stands, his Captain Reece Hewat added a try under the posts to his already incredible match wrap sheet. Converted. (12-0)
Nudgee’s next possession of the ball was impeded by another offside BGS player, blindside flanker Harry Egan who was shown yellow for his efforts. BGS were toeing the line in regards to their defensive line speed in an effort to negate the hard running ball carriers of the opposition, but there’s a difference between bending the rules and showing poor discipline. BGS were able to turn over the lineout throw of replacement Hooker Robbie McAfferty from the penalty.
Jack Ireland and Eli Pilz combined well after stealing the BGS lineout, but gave away another penalty in the red zone – poor tackling by the Grammar boys was placing huge pressure on their defence, and the game was slipping further and further out of reach. Nudgee’s poor discipline was the only thing keeping BGS in the game. Gavin Luka was yellow carded for hands in the ruck after a third warning was ignored by the College.
Some nice phase play by the Nudgee forwards in particular off the back of a Hussey run led to Calvin Pritchard scoring a close range try untouched between the goal posts. Liam Moseley flashed some nice skills in getting it to him, but Pritchard’s line back to the posts was perfect for the situation. kick good. (19-0)
With a minute to go in the half flyhalf Liam Moseley received an offload from his halfback and took it to the house, neatly stepping inside the fullback to dot down between the posts before converting. (26-0)
Grammar showed little improvement over the break, with Nudgee’s ball runners still looking unstoppable. Reece Hewat scoring his second from close range just three minutes into the half by running straight through the goalline defence of 3 Grammar players.(33-0)
5 minutes later the princesses had a crack from halfway, with a beautiful attacking structure providing the opportunity for Nudgee’s ruthless outside backs. Calvin Pritchard broke the line, and passed for Rob Lane to capitalise, streaking away for a long try under the posts.(40-0)
A classy set piece move saw Reece Hewat waltz through a gaping hole in the Grammar line halfway out, and it only took one phase through the hands for Gavin Luka to crash down for his second of the day. Grammar weren’t necessarily defending poorly, they were being beaten man-for-man in sheer athleticism and Rugby nous from a crash hot Nudgee side. (47-0)
Another re-start, and another line break for Hewat. That man has played a belter of a game. Off the back of his hard work came a line bending run on the left wing, while an inside ball in centre field saw Blindside Agassi Stowers beat the first line of the defence by running a great line, and the fullback with a neat step off his right. (54-0)
BGS looked their most dangerous yet when flyhalf Tom Sly chipped, chased, regathered, and put in another cross field kick to the wing where towering lock John Cavaye was waiting. Nudgee fullback Lane let the ball bounce, and Cavaye regathered possession inside the 22, even earning a penalty for the shoulder charge tackle of Lane. BGS kicked for the line, but the throw to Cavaye at the front was knocked down. BGS Hooker Jack Childs scooped up the loose pill and strolled over untouched from 5 metres out for the first BGS try of the season. Tom Sly kicked the conversion to take the score to (54-7).
Eli Pilz was the next Nudgee College cab off the rank, sniping from the base of the ruck inside the 22 to score a simple try through the middle of a stretched and straining defensive line. Couldn’t convert. (59-7). A hospital pass from Grammar’s replacement halfback saw Pilz back up his try scoring effort with a cracking big hit on reserve 10 Dallas Jacobs, before pulling out an impressive bosh on Grammar tight head Josh Graham. The next phase saw Reece Hewat throw a monster 15 metre cutout to his out centre Franklin Calugay, who was able to outrace the cover defence of 8. Paddy Dooley to the try line for Nudgee’s 9th try of the match – but the butcher stripes weren’t done yet. Franklin Calugay was the beneficiary of another great pass, this time an offload from Rob Lane. Mercifully, Nudgee ended the match with 10 tries.
The Strength and Conditioning coaches for the Nudgee need to take a bow, for their efforts in pre-season are what blew out the scoreline. Nudgee again looked an individually powerful side again, capable of running with the best of the comp – but when have they ever not?
Nudgee College 69 (Tries: Gavin Luka (2), Reece Hewat (2), Franklin Calugay (2), Agassi Stowers, Rob Lane, Eli Pilz, Liam Moseley, Cons: Liam Moseley (8/10), Pens: Liam Moseley (1/1) defeated
Brisbane Grammar 7 (Tries: Jack Childs, Cons: Tom Sly)
Man of the Match: Reece Hewat – 2 tries, a ton of line breaks, excellent physicality in his running, defending, and breakdown work as well as captaining the side well AS WELL AS A TRY ASSIST! makes Hewat the obvious candidate to my eyes. I spoke with John Eales over the holidays, whose nephew competed directly against Hewat for the starting lock position in the Queensland Schoolboys trials, and he was full of praise for the dynamic Nudgee captain. What an endorsement for any young Rugby player!. Watch out for the Nudgee 8 in Round 3 against Ipswich.
