Round 13 vs Sunnybank Match Report

by Ben Mitchell

Round 13 – GPS vs Sunnybank
Allsports Physiotherapy Hospital Challenge Cup
Sunday 4th July, TFH Biggs Field, Sunnybank

GPS suit up to play in the season’s first Sunday fixtures, on the road against the Sunnybank Dragons. The Gallopers came out victorious over the Dragons in their round 4 clash, winning 34-11 back at Yoku Road. Sunnybank will be looking to put together a solid performance against GPS, being beaten by Bond convincingly, 46-7 in round 12.

The Dragons were dealt a bad hand early in the match, winger Puni Aupuni was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Gallopers debutant winger Floyd Aubrey. GPS capitalised on this opportunity immediately. Flanker Matt Gicquel received the ball at the lineout and dished it quickly to Ratu Vio, who peeled off the maul and ran through two defenders for a try. Jason Hofmeyr hooked the first conversion off of the left upright, leaving the score at 5-0 with 15 minutes gone.

GPS were back on the attack only minutes later with a 5 metre lineout in the opposite corner. Lock Daniel Byrne skied high to snatch the lineout ball, exchanging it to Ratu Vio who bulldozed his way through several Dragon defenders. When his progression was halted, Matt Gicquel was able to seize the ball before the ruck was formed, pushing forward through three Sunnybank defenders to score a try. Hofmeyr was unable to acquire the target on the conversion, giving the Gallopers a 10-0 lead after 23 minutes.

GPS continued to keep the pressure on Sunnybank, retaining possession and making metres inside the Dragons 22. When Gicquel was tackled only metres out from the line, Maile Ngauamo raced to the ruck to be the next man to have a crack. He drove low and fought through three Sunnybank defenders to earn himself a try. To add salt to the wound, Dragons lock Nesetolio Solia was sin binned for another dangerous tackle, giving the Gallopers the extra man advantage for the second time. Hofmeyr struck the conversion with acute focus, and it sailed through the uprights, taking GPS’s lead to 17-0 with 9 minutes remaining in the first half.

Sunnybank looked primed to answer the Gallopers with a try in the 36th minute, but the GPS forwards held strong at scrum time and won a penalty only 5 metres out from their line. This allowed the Gallopers to gain some breathing room, and to set up their next attacking possession.

The GPS back line swung the ball from side to side in hopes to find a gap in the Sunnybank defence. After trying to penetrate near the left corner, half back James Tuttle quickly recycled the ball out to Jason Hofmeyr, who whipped a cut-out pass to full back Patrick Nicholson in acres of space. Nicholson made the right option in throwing one more pass to Matt Gicquel, who scored his easiest try of the season, and second of the match. Hofmeyr missed a difficult conversion near the sideline, giving GPS a 22-0 lead going into half time.

Sunnybank came out in the second half desperate for an answer to the dominant display GPS put together in the first half. They quickly found one in half back Neal McNamara, who fired a pass to fast moving centre Chris Feauai-Sautia bounding through a gap in the middle of the Gallopers defence. McNamara backed up the line break and received the ball from Feauai-Sautia, sending him under the posts for the Dragons first try. Fly half Liam McNamara converted the simple kick, bringing Sunnybank to 22-7 down in the 45th minute.

The Dragons were granted another scoring opportunity quickly after the try by winning a scrum penalty 30 metres out. Liam McNamara struck the ball beautifully off the tee, and inched Sunnybank closer as the score read 22-10 with 29 minutes remaining.

GPS now needed to dig deep against a rejuvenated Sunnybank side, who had shifted the game from a blow-out to a potential comeback. However, the Dragons efforts came to a screeching halt when hooker Daniel Anae was shown yellow for a no arms tackle on Ratu Vio, shifting the momentum completely back to the Gallopers.

GPS Winger Mitchell Treleaven wasted no time in seizing the extra man advantage. Liam McNamara kicked an ill-advised grubber within his own 22, which found its way into the hands of Treleaven with room to work with. Treleaven had space in front of him, and a favourable two on one matchup with centre Chris Kuridrani to his right. Treleaven however needed no support, as he dummied McNamara and darted through a hole for a try. Hofmeyr nailed the conversion, sending GPS back to a 29-10 lead with 11 minutes left.

The Gallopers were back moments later with a 5 metre attacking lineout, set up with another display of dominant scrummaging by the forward pack. Captain Michael Richards released the ball quickly to Tuttle, who swung the ball to Ratu Vio with the try line in sight. Vio literally rumbled through 5 Sunnybank defenders to score his second try of the match, with assistance from the forwards to push him over. New kicker James Tuttle made easy work of the conversion, taking GPS out to a considerable 36-10 lead with 3 minutes remaining.

With no hope of overcoming this deficit, Sunnybank valiantly claimed their own kick-off in hopes of scoring some last ditch points. The ball hastily found its way out to Puni Aupuni on the right wing with gas to burn. Flanker Joseph Faulalo supported Aupuni all the way to the try line, where he received a well-timed offload and dove over for a try. Liam McNamara was unable to convert the kick, concluding the match with GPS winning 36-15 over the Dragons.

The Gallopers flankers, Ratu Vio and Matt Gicquel were dominant throughout, both scoring two tries and playing instrumental roles in the running game. Jason Hofmeyr made a massive amount of kicking metres, which set up GPS with favourable attacking positions for their set plays. Once again, the Gallopers forward pack did what they do best, overwhelm the opposing team at scrum time, drawing several penalties.

GPS return home to Yoku Road next week to battle it out against Bond University, who sit 3rd on the table and have looked dangerous throughout the season. If you can, come down to Ashgrove Sports Ground and back your Gallopers men as they look to push their impressive win streak out to 7!