IGS 26 d. BGS 22
Queensland’s two oldest schools first clashed in 1870, and their 2013 match-up at Brisbane’s home field of Northgate would have to have been one of the closest ever in their illustrious competitive history.
With the wind at their backs, Ipswich stormed to an 18-0 lead at half time that seemed insurmountable, but strong play from Brisbane saw the game on a knife edge for the remaining period.
A turnover in final play, inside their own 22 saw the country underdogs escape west with their first win of the season.
From opening kick-off Brisbane were placed under immense pressure as halfback Angus Yule cleared the ball with a soaring box-kick from the 25 metre line that was instantly taken by the wind, and sent into touch on the full.
With great attacking field position the desperate Ipswich side tore into the defensive line, and there was a sense of excited anticipation in the air that this game could turn out to be very entertaining after all.
The first 20 minutes of the match were largely even, as each side scoped out the other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Brisbane’s forwards maintained a dominance of sorts over Ipswich’s at the breakdown and in rolling mauls, while Ipswich’s dangerous backs made hay with the little possession they had.
The return of Brisbane’s big hitting, hard running inside centre Lakehm Aiono after 4 weeks of absence impacted on the 10/12 defensive channel as the unfamiliar combination struggled to cope with the midfield threats posed by Ipswich Grammar.
Ipswich’s burly flyhalf Carlin Anderson made 6 linebreaks during the game, whilst setting up a try and 4 more linebreaks for his outside backs in a masterful performance of running rugby.
This success running the ball only created more breaks, as the powerful kicking abilities of Anderson and fullback James Todd were set aside in favour of testing the home defence out wide.
Ipswich inside centre AJ Raeli found space early, nearly putting supporting winger Tarlin Fynn away for a try, but the offload was knocked in to touch by the defence inside Brisbane’s 22.
The ensuing possession saw right wing Billy Jackwitz scored untouched in the corner for the first points of the match.
Desperate defence from Brisbane was a recurring theme throughout the match, and only one linebreak was converted directly in to a try for the away team.
10 minutes and 2 penalty goals later Anderson (again) crashed through the tackle of a Brisbane player 40 metres out, drew the fullback and passed to supporting center Ethan Page to take the lead to 18-0.
The physicality of Anderson running in combination with the potency of Ipswich’s wide attack kept Brisbane’s backline stretched to the limit for the entire match as the coast to coast raids threatened to shatter BGS’s fragile defensive structure.
The second half began with a frenetic opening as BGS’s 7. Trey Kemp plucked the kick-off out of the hands of halfback Harry Parcell before finding himself on the attacking 5 metre line.
A series of pick and drives heaped the pressure upon Ipswich before Kemp went through, earning a just reward for his previous hard work.
Ipswich hit back instantly as Anderson again ran straight through the Brisbane line, passing to Tarlin Fynn who was stopped before the line.
The next phase saw Anderson attack the blind side, putting Ethan Page in for his second try of the day in the 38th minute to increase the lead to 23-5.
The following kick-off saw Brisbane’s outside center Lachi Lanskey intercept a pass from James Todd intended for Page to score under the posts, bringing the margin to 23-10.
The momentum shift was palpable in the Brisbane side, as their body language lifted and the revelation that they hadn’t lost yet sunk in.
With the wind behind them worth at least 15 points, Brisbane did have a chance to come back if they played smarter, more efficient Rugby.
Brisbane’s defence tightened up, and an excellent kick from Brisbane 10. Fergus Halliday off the back of a Trey Kemp linebreak saw an overthrown IGS lineout throw picked off by Kemp at the back.
Forward rumbling resulted in another unconverted try as IGS’s defence was worn down to the benefit of tighthead prop Stuart McReight.
Ipswich managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty goal in the 52nd minute.
The next 20 minutes saw the two hungry teams throw everything they had at each other, as powerful defence from both sides saw numerous turnovers and point scoring opportunities wasted.
Brisbane Grammar converted their possession in the red zone into points in the 58th minute with another pick and drive try, this time to loose forward Paddy Dooley. Winger Zach Laud converted his first kick of the match to cut Ipswich’s lead to 4.
Two phases after the kick-off saw tearaway centre Lachi Lanskey burst through the Ipswich line to carve out a 50 metre run in to the Ipswich red zone. A pick and drive was turned over, and Carlin Anderson cleared the ball to the 22 under huge pressure. Brisbane mauled the ball up to the 15, before a sweeping backs move led to a grubber kick by fullback Tom Sly, intended for star winger Matt Marsden, but was desperately cleaned up by opposite 15. James Todd. Marsden brought down Todd inside his own goalline, prompting a 5 metre scrum awarded to BGS.
The scrum was reset numerous times as McReight and Ipswich loosehead Josvyn Sokimi battled for supremacy in the high pressure situation with the outcome hanging in the balance. When the Brisbane ball finally made it past the scrum it was Matt Marsden who nearly danced his way through the tackles to win the game for Brisbane, only to be held up over the line. A knock on from the resulting scrum by Brisbane’s replacement halfback saw what surely must have been Brisbane’s last opportunity gone begging in the 68th minute.
Off the turnover, Anderson again went racing off, adding another linebreak to his name before giving away a penalty to Brisbane after a mix up between Anderson and his supporting player. Brisbane kicked for the line, but could not capture their own throw, turning the ball over to Ipswich. IGS put the game to an end, narrowly escaping with a hard-fought upset over their Brisbane adversaries in a rollercoaster of a match.
In 143 years you’d be hard pressed to find a closer game than that.
IGS 26 (Tries: Ethan Page 2, Billy Jackwitz, Conversions: James Todd 2, Penalties: James Todd 3)
BGS 22 (Tries: Trey Kemp, Lachi Lanskey, Stuart McReight, Paddy Dooley, Conversions: Laud 1)
