Round 7 vs UQ Match Report

Round 7 – GPS vs University of Queensland

Allsports Physiotherapy Hospital Challenge Cup

Saturday 22nd May, Ashgrove Sports Ground, Yoku Road, Ashgrove

GPS are well-rested and ready to roll for this blockbuster match up against the fellow undefeated side, the University of Queensland Red Heavies. Hundreds of fans filled Ashgrove Sports Ground to witness the match of the season so far, and to support GPS’s inaugural Ladies Day. The Gallopers donned their superhero kits in recognition of the event.

The feeling around the field was electric in the early stages of the game, as two heavyweights were set to battle it out. This eagerness translated onto the pitch, as both teams coughed up knock-ons in their early possessions, trying to overcome big-game jitters.

In the 10th minute, UQ had a lineout 5 metres out from their try line. They set up a strong rolling maul and drove through a formidable Gallopers pack to score their first try of the game, hooker Josh Nasser claiming the honours. Winger, and the competition’s leading points scorer, Kye Oates, kicked the simple conversion and gave his team an early 7-0 lead.

The Red Heavies were knocking on the door again in the 17th minute, driving closer to the line for another score. However, GPS Captain Michael Richards snuffed those plans, drawing a ruck penalty from UQ whilst being backed upright on his own try line. Fly-half Jason Hofmeyr booted the clearing kick, giving the Gallopers some breathing room after surviving several minutes of UQ pressure.

At around the halfway line, UQ flanker Conor Mitchell earned his third lineout steal in just 21 minutes of play, setting his team up for another attacking phase. The ball found its way down to the 5-metre line for another UQ lineout. Josh Nasser controlled the pill from the back of the rolling maul, and steamed over for his second try, reminiscent of the Red Heavies first score. Kye Oates slotted an impressive conversion near the sideline, and put his side up 14-0 after 25 minutes of action.

The Gallopers were needing a score to swing momentum back in their favour, and a yellow card on UQ lock Pat Morrey just 2 minutes after the try, was just what the doctor ordered. GPS found themselves with their foot on the gas, having the ball on the 5 metre line with a scrum, the most dominant position of their attack.

Half back Josh Vuta came agonisingly close to scoring, receiving the ball from flanker Ratu Vio off the back of the scrum, and dropping the ball just before planting it. Despite this, the Gallopers forward pack were still determined to get their team over, earning another scrum shortly after. As GPS motored their way forward, referee Brett Cronan awarded the penalty try, as the Gallopers dominated several scrums in quick succession. Momentum shifted back to the home side as they chewed into the lead, trailing 14-7 with 5 minutes left in the first half.

Late in the half, UQ snatched their fourth lineout steal, setting up for one final attack before the break. Number eight Lona Halaholo controlled the ball off some broken play and jetted through the middle of the pitch, scoring his sixth try of the season. Kye Oates nailed the simple conversion and took his team to the change rooms up 21-7. GPS were on the defensive most of the half, so they needed to come out swinging in the second to bring themselves back in the game.

The second half didn’t start the way the Gallopers wanted, as Kye Oates dove over for a try in the corner, with just a minute of time elapsed. He converted his own try, and gave the Red Heavies a commanding 28-7 lead with plenty of time remaining.

GPS were not demoralised by the score however, finding themselves in their favourite position, 5 metres out with the scrum feed. The Gallopers peeled away from the scrum and drove forward on the attack. After several pick and drives, Ratu Vio spotted a gap in the defence and jumped over the ruck, flying over the line untouched for a try. Hofmeyr converted the simple kick, and GPS now trailed 28-14 after 56 minutes of play, putting the pressure back on UQ.

Only 3 minutes later, the Gallopers were back on the front foot, earning the attacking lineout in the UQ 22. The GPS backs ran their set play to perfection, as field general Jason Hofmeyr flung the inside ball back to speedster Josh Collins who ran his line with conviction. He stepped the last defender with relative ease and cruised over for the try. Hofmeyr made no mistake with his kick and brought the Gallopers to within one score of the Red Heavies, 28-21, with 20 minutes left to play.

GPS were now riding a wave of momentum heading into the games final quarter behind two fantastic scores, but disaster would befall them. The Gallopers received two yellow cards in the 62nd and the 72nd minute, both being high tackles. With reserve half back Cullin Cooper-Jones and Ratu Vio leaving the field, the Red Heavies were poised for another attacking opportunity.

UQ set up their dangerous rolling maul and pushed through for another try, lock Connor-James Vest coming up with the ball. Oates converted the score, and gave his team a 35-21 buffer with 6 minutes remaining.

GPS, now down a man, had a massive two score obstacle to overcome and not much time to work with. Despite the disadvantage, the Gallopers held the attacking lineout 5 metres from the line. Unfortunately, the throw was deemed not straight, and the set play was derailed before it began.

After the UQ clearing kick, GPS held possession near the half-way line, a quick score now being essential. The Gallopers moved too quickly however, as a rushed cut-out pass was intercepted by Kye Oates, who ran over for his second try of the match. He once again converted his own score and took his tally to 22 points for the game, and brought his team to a 42-21 lead in the 80th minute.

GPS were granted a final chance to lower the deficit, but were unsuccessful. When the final whistle was blown, the score read 42-21, the Red Heavies handing GPS their first loss of the season.

Despite the defeat, the Gallopers threw everything but the kitchen sink at UQ. Fly half Jason Hofmeyr set up ball runners effectively all game, and made massive kicking metres throughout. Ratu Vio and Michael Richards ran hard with each run, and also caused havoc in the UQ ruck, both being rewarded with pilfers. As per usual, the GPS scrum was a dominant force, setting the backs up in favourable attacking positions during the match.

The Gallopers next match is on the road against the Wests Bulldogs at Toowong Memorial Park. Another battle is on the cards as the Bulldogs are just one point behind GPS, sitting third place on the ladder. The men will be vying to bounce back with a win against Wests, so make the short trip to Toowong and show your support as you did on Ladies Day!

Round 5 vs Bond Match Report

by Ben Mitchell

Round 5 – GPS vs Bond University
Allsports Physiotherapy Hospital Challenge Cup
Saturday 8th May, Bond University, Robina

Fans were ready for a mouth-watering game of footy as the undefeated GPS men travelled to the Gold Coast to take on an undefeated Bond side. Both teams have looked dangerous and convincing in their previous wins, so it was anyone’s pick who would come out victorious.

The action commenced quickly with the Bull Sharks fly-half James Ambrosini kicking an early penalty to put his team up 3-0 after 4 minutes of play, putting GPS on the back foot. The Gallopers countered the early attack, as centre Chris Kuridrani came screaming out of the line in defence to smother Bond winger Dion Samuela, tackling him several metres back. Kuridrani pilfered the ball from his own tackle, and Captain Michael Richards slung the ball out from the ruck to the speedster Josh Collins, who glided past three defenders for a terrific opening try in the corner. Fly half Jason Hofmeyr converted a difficult kick near the sideline and sent his team up 3-7 after 8 minutes.

The fast-paced start to this match ceased to end, as not long later, GPS lock Tuaina Tualima scooped up the ball from the ruck and crashed through multiple Bull Shark defenders for a try. This came off the back of excellent build-up play from the Gallopers, with the forwards getting involved in several pick and drives. Hofmeyr, with an easier conversion attempt, was unable to hit the mark, and the score read 3-12 with just 15 minutes gone.

Bond University responded immediately with two sensational tries of their own. Winger Dion Samuela chipped a ball over the top of the GPS defence, bouncing up perfectly for pacey fullback Joey Fittock who strolled in under the posts, scoring his 5th try of the season. Shortly after, the Bull Sharks found themselves again in an attacking position. Samuela delivered an offload to his partnering winger Jordan Kahu, who threw an unbelievable behind the back flick pass to the chest of centre Dan Boardman, falling over the line for a try. With one conversion successful from two attempts, the score was now back in favour of the Bond University men, reading 15-12, 26 minutes in.

The score remained 15-12 at half-time, with no more show-stopping plays coming in the final 14 minutes. GPS inside flanker Ratu Vio was yellow-carded in the 35th minute for a dangerous tackle on Bond halfback Spencer Jeans, leaving the Gallopers with 14 men early in the second half.

Despite the extra man disadvantage for GPS, they began to flex their muscles, as they usually do, in the scrum game. They bulldozed their way through the Bond forward pack in the 46th minute, earning a penalty that gained them a good field position. From here, the Gallopers proceeded to have three consecutive rolling mauls, each one earning a penalty. Referee Brett Cronan had enough by penalty number three, awarding the Gallopers a penalty tries for their consistent and destructive efforts.

Only a few minutes later, GPS were back on the attack. After several phases of trying to break the defence of the Bull Sharks, winger Emori Waqavulagi found a gap that he could sliver through. Once tackled, he dished an offload to outside flanker Matt Gicquel who couldn’t be denied, diving over the line for a try. Hofmeyr had no problem with the conversion, giving his side a strong 15-26 lead over Bond University.

The next 15 minutes of play would showcase the tough, gritty defence that GPS possess. They refused to give up a try, holding the Bull Sharks out on several scoring attempts, all without their inside centre Maaloga Konelio, who was sin-binned for a high tackle. However, after phases and phases of pick and drives, the back of the Gallopers defence eventually broke, as fly-half James Ambrosini spotted numbers out to his left and fired the ball to Captain Dan Boardman, who flew over untouched for his second try. The score read 22-26 with just 11 minutes left, the match coming down to the wire.

No less than a minute after Bond’s try, the Gallopers were off and running. Winger Josh Collins found himself with the ball again in acres of space, a bad combination for the Bull Sharks defence. He darted down the left sideline and delivered a timely pass on his inside to Matt Gicquel, who literally dragged his defender 10 metres to the try line, hanging on for dear life. The team swarmed an exhausted Gicquel, elated with his determination to score such a hard-fought try, and by maybe sealing the road win. Hofmeyr was unable to kick the conversion, but the Gallopers were now up to two scores, 22-31, with 8 minutes remaining.

The rabid GPS defence came back to haunt Bond, forcing them to commit two fatal knock-ons late in the game, setting up scrums for a formidable Gallopers pack. Scrum number two resulted in Bond conceding a penalty right in front of the GPS goal, and Hofmeyr knew exactly what to do with it. He kicked the penalty over and the full-time whistle was blown, the final score reading Bond 22, GPS 34.

Key performers in this matchup would have to be flanker Matt Gicquel, and winger Josh Collins. Gicquel was sensational on the day, scoring two tries and being a presence at scrum time and in the breakdowns, pilfering the ball multiple times from Bond’s ruck. Alongside him, Josh Collins did what he does best, making huge metres with the ball in hand, earning himself a try and a try assist. Special mention must be made for the team defence of GPS, being able to hold Bond to 22 points on their home ground, and defending against long phases.

The Gallopers have now won five games in a row to start the season, and show no signs of slowing down. They have a bye this weekend and have earned a much-needed break before another big showdown on the 22nd of May against first place and a high scoring University of Queensland team. This is a home game for GPS and is shaping up to be the match of the season so far. Come down and support the men as two heavyweights clash to claim the top of the table!

Round 4 vs Sunnybank Match Report

by Ben Mitchell

Round 4 – GPS vs Sunnybank

Saturday, May 1st, Ashgrove Sports Ground, Yoku Road, Ashgrove

GPS made their long-awaited return home after two hard-fought wins on the road. They matched up against a tough opponent in the Sunnybank Dragons, a team looking to extinguish the Gallopers red hot form to start the season.

Before fans had gotten seated and comfortable for the game ahead, GPS were off to the races. Centre Chris Kuridrani dished a timely offload to winger Emori Waqavulagi who blitzed through three Sunnybank tackle attempts and ran the entire length of the field for the first try of the match. The strides he took during his run looked effortless as he breezed his way down the middle of the pitch. Fullback Jason Hofmeyr quickly converted the try, and the Gallopers were up 7-0 after 5 minutes of play.

GPS kept the pressure on after the first score, as a scrambling Dragons defence gave up an offside penalty out in front of the posts. Hofmeyr wasted no time lining up the attempt and kicked it through for 3, giving the Gallopers a 10-0 lead 10 minutes into the match.

Sunnybank took a collective breath after the impressive GPS start, knowing they would need to calm the nerves to get back into the match. They controlled the tempo well for the next 10 minutes of play, forcing the Gallopers to commit two penalties in kicking range for fly-half Hayden Sargeant. He converted both of his kicks, and brought his team back 10-6 after 20 minutes, putting the pressure back on the GPS men.

The GPS scrum came alive after the Sunnybank push back, winning a turnover and a penalty to set up an attacking opportunity. A long cut out pass was delivered from fly-half AJ Alatimu to fast-moving Waqavulagi, who covered about 20 metres until he was tackled down 5 metres out. Gallopers forwards converged on the scene and ran several pick-and-drives to break through the Dragons defence. After several attempts, lock Oliver Bartlett was able to burst through two tacklers and place the ball on the line for a try, giving GPS a 15-6 lead over Sunnybank heading into half time.

The Gallopers came out in the second half with even more intensity than the first, applying heavy pressure to Sunnybank in their 22. Eventually, the Dragons defence caved, as the ball found its way out to Waqavulagi who stepped his way past the defender to walk in untouched for a second try. Hofmeyr made no mistake with the conversion and extended the Gallopers lead out to 22-6.

In the 50th minute, coach Shane Arnold made a complete front row swap to bring in the dangerous trio of Felemi, Mafi, and Burke. Alongside them, the Rebels duo of halfback James Tuttle and Wallabies star Dane Haylett-Petty came out onto the field as the fans cheered on. This is the first action Haylett-Petty has seen for 6 months as he has been resting from several concussion injuries.

With a rejuvenated front row and backline, the Gallopers were looking to deliver some more blows. The forward pack forced Sunnybank to concede two penalties shortly after the substitutions, stamping their authority on the scrum game.

GPS were able to steal the ball from a Sunnybank lineout and get it out quickly. The ball found its way into the hands of the dangerous Chris Kuridrani, who goose-stepped past his defender and delivered a beautiful no-look flick pass to reserve winger Niven Longopoa for an easy try in the corner. Alatimu was unable to convert a difficult kick attempt near the sideline, so the score read 27-6 with 21 minutes left in the game.

After two yellow cards were given out to both sides due to a quick scuffle, the ball found itself with GPS deep in their own territory. Reserve fullback Haylett-Petty received the ball from the ruck and booted a massive kick downfield as Sunnybank had nobody home. The ball rolled for 20 metres before it was fumbled by the Dragons reserve winger Connor Mulhearn straight into the hands of Haylett-Petty. He dished the offload from his knees to Longopoa who raced over the line for his second try of the game and the Gallopers 5th in total. The conversion was missed by Waqavulagi near the sideline and the score was pushed out to a commanding 32-6 lead for GPS.

Sunnybank still had some fight left in them in the dying moments of the match, as they drove a rolling maul through the Gallopers defence with relative ease to score their first try, number eight Jeffrey Faamausili claiming the honours. The score was left unconverted by fly-half Hayden Sargeant, and the lead was shortened to 32-11 in the 78th minute.

The score would remain 32-11 when the final whistle was blown by referee James Palmer as GPS secured their 4th win in a row, taking them to 4-0 on the season and second place on the ladder behind a high scoring University of Queensland team.

As is now the trend for the GPS side, the forward pack displayed their dominance in the scrum again, winning turnovers and penalties on attack and under pressure. Outside centre Chris Kuridrani was unstoppable with the ball in this game, delivering 3 try assists to his wingers and definitely deserving of a try himself. First-grade debutant Emori Waqavulagi was scary quick out on the wing, scoring a sensational first try to kick things off for the Gallopers, and earning a double on the day. A 100m sprint between him and the customary winger Josh Collins would be a sight all fans would love to see.

Last but not least, reserve winger Niven Longopoa found himself in the right place at the right time out there, scoring a double off tremendous individual efforts from Kuridrani and Haylett-Petty.

The GPS men are in for a tough match next week when they head to the Gold Coast to take on the undefeated Bond University men. Bond is coming off a bye, so they’ll be well-rested for this top of the table clash. If you are able to make it down to Bond University, any support would be greatly appreciated by your GPS men as they take on their toughest opponent so far!

Round 3 vs Easts Match Report

by Ben Mitchell

Round 3: GPS vs Easts Saturday, April 24th, Bottomley Park Oval

The GPS men will be eyeing off an impressive 3-0 start as they come to Bottomly Park to match up with a formidable Easts Tigers side. The reigning champions on their home field will prove to be a tough matchup for the Gallopers as the Tigers will be looking to put the winning streak to an end.

GPS looked dangerous in the early stages of this match. The backs were running great routes receiving the ball, making positive metres each time they attacked the Tigers line. Identical to last week, the forwards were having their way at scrum time, forcing Easts to crack under the pressure and concede a penalty right in front of the posts. Jason Hofmeyr took a short glance at the uprights, knowing he could kick it with his eyes closed, and guided it over for the first score of the match. The Gallopers were up 3-0 after 8 minutes of play.

GPS did not take their foot off the gas pedal as they stuck to their game plan and continually drove the ball downfield with seamless set plays and determined runs by the backs. Several linebreaks came from the Gallopers backs as they were vying for the first try of the match. Josh Collins demonstrated tremendous pace on multiple occasions in the first half, as one of his offloads almost sent Teti Tela over for a corner try in the 20th minute. Easts conceded an offside penalty only moments later, and Hofmeyr kicked the simple penalty, the score ticking over to 6-0.

The Tigers bounced back quickly, converting on their first real attacking opportunity in the 23rd minute. A rolling maul from the lineout drove Easts down close to the try line, and after a few pick and drive attempts, number eight Henry Olsen found a crease in the GPS defence and barged his way over for a try. Jack Frampton missed the ensuing conversion, but a warning shot was sent to the Gallopers, as Easts moved the scoreboard 6-5.

From here the score remained 6-5 till halftime. Easts were fortunate to not be down by more as GPS showcased impressive linebreaks and dominant scrums throughout the half. The only detriment to the Gallopers attack being the several handling errors on the end of their runs, letting the Tigers narrowly escape an onslaught of tries.

GPS came out the aggressor to start the second half, as a massive territory gainer from Jason Hofmeyr, and ferocious pick and drives from the Gallopers forward almost set up a 44th minute try for the Blue and Green, but some courageous defence from the Tigers held them up at the line. Easts then won the penalty from scrum time on their own 5-metre line, releasing the pressure of a promising GPS stampede.

Minutes later, Tigers winger Max Baker broke away down the left sideline to put his team within 5 metres of the line. Before GPS could recover, lock Mitchell Schneider snatched the ball from the ruck and used his size to reach over for a try. This play swung the momentum of the game, as Easts took the lead for the first time, 6-12, in the 49th minute.

A whole new front row was inserted into the game for the Gallopers following the Tigers try, looking to revitalise the dominance of the scrum and take back control of the game. This tactic implemented by coach Shane Arnold worked to perfection as GPS forced Easts to concede penalties on the next two scrums occasions, setting them up for a lineout deep in Tiger territory. The rolling maul crashed over the line for GPS, as lock Daniel Byrne came up with the try, regaining the lead for the Gallopers 13-12 with 19 minutes to play.

GPS were not content with their narrow lead and were eager to put more points on the board to seal the win. The scrum again would prove to be the best weapon for the Gallopers as they turned the ball over twice from Easts in back to back minutes, pushing them closer to the line. After a flurry of fast-paced pick and drives from GPS, replacement hooker Matthew Mafi scratched and clawed his way over three Tigers defenders for a try, notching the score to a 20-12 buffer with just 11 minutes remaining.

The Gallopers were looking poised to come away with the victory from here with Easts needing two scores to retake the lead. However, disaster would strike for GPS in the 73rd minute, as Jason Hofmeyr sees yellow for deliberately knocking down a pass on an Easts attacking opportunity. To make matters worse, he was the last defender in play for the Gallopers, meaning if the ball had been left unimpeded it would have been a certain try for Easts winger Mika Tela. For this reason, referee Aaron Pook awarded a penalty try to the Tigers, moving them within one point of GPS, 20-19 and setting up a nail-biting finish.

Despite the extra man disadvantage, and the East supporters firing up to back their side, the Gallopers men dug deep to defend their lead. Once again, the scrum would prove to be the saving grace for GPS as they bullied Easts into conceding another penalty, alleviating some late-game pressure. From here, the Gallopers were able to drive down the field and set up a rolling maul opportunity close to the Easts try line. GPS sent all 14 men out on the field into that maul and bulldozed their way over for another try, as replacement prop Jethro Felemi came up with the ball, claiming honours. The score sealed the win for the Gallopers as they were able to withstand the late fight of the Easts Tigers and come out victorious, 25-19.

In a similar fashion as last week, special mention must go to the entire GPS forward pack for their utter dominance at scrum time, winning six penalties and two turnovers during the course of the match. Alongside them, the centre pairing of Teti Tela and Chris Kuridrani, accompanied by winger Josh Collins, devastated the Tigers defence as they broke the advantage line multiple times, all coming close to scoring tries of their own.

The Gallopers join University of Queensland and Bond University as the only teams to start the season 3-0. They’ll be looking to push their streak to 4 as they return to Ashgrove Sports Ground to take on the Sunnybank Dragons at home. The GPS men will appreciate the support after two hard-fought victories on the road, so come down to Yoku Road and barrack for your Gallopers!

Round 2 vs Norths Match Report

by Ben Mitchell

Round 2: GPS vs Norths Saturday April 17th, Hugh Courtney Oval

A confident GPS side head to Hugh Courtney Oval looking to make it 2 for 2 to start the young season. However, the Norths Eagles will prove to be a tough opponent at home, donning the retro striped 80’s kit in hopes of winning their first match of the season.

GPS found themselves on the attacking lineout after Norths conceded an offside penalty deep in their 22, setting them up for a potential scoring opportunity. The Gallopers drove a rolling maul toward the line, with Freddy Burke falling just short of the line. This didn’t slow the GPS attack down however, as the ball shortly found AJ Alatimu in the middle of the pitch, who launched a missile cut-out pass to left winger Maaloga Konelio, beating the Eagles winger and fullback to score the first try.

Norths showed tremendous resilience after the Gallopers 7th minute try, as the Eagles quickly won the ball back off their kick-off, and strung together several progressive phases. They found themselves in a similar position to GPS, with an attacking five metre lineout. The Eagles rolling maul didn’t quite reach the line, but a powerful pick and drive from Captain Paulo Leleisiuao beat the tackle attempt of Gallopers flanker Matt Gicquel to send him over the line for a try. Once the conversion was slotted by fly half Jacob Prideaux, the score was knotted 7-7, after 14 minutes of action.

From this point until the end of the first half, the GPS forward pack took complete control of the game. They were pushing back the Norths pack constantly, forcing them to concede a number of penalties. The relentlessness of the Gallopers scrum finally reaped it’s reward late in the first half, as Eagles loosehead prop Dane Zander saw yellow from referee Brett Cronan, losing patience for the front rower’s continual angling at the scrum.

Despite the dominance of the GPS scrum and the extra man advantage, the score remained even at the half-time hooter. This was due to both teams being plagued with butterfingers during the first half, as most line-breaks and attacking opportunities went begging with knock-ons.

Both teams approached the second half with the same objective, to gain control in a scrappy game so far. They exchanged blows early in the half, as Eagles fly half Jacob Prideaux sent several deep kicks down the field to gain his team territory, whilst the GPS back line were determined to gain metres on the ground. The early stampede by the Gallopers paid dividends in the 44th minute, as a knock-on by Norths winger Veresa Mataitini gifted Captain Michael Richards with the ball in full stride to the line, cruising over for his second try of the season.

Norths fired back immediately after giving up such an easy try, maintaining the majority of territory and possession up until the 61st minute, where they found themselves 5 metres out with an attacking lineout. After a number of phases from the lineout, reserve Eagles half back Lachlan Howell spotted a gap in the GPS defence at the ruck, diving over for a much needed try. The Gallopers were given another slap on the wrist, as too successive penalties led to reserve Nick Richards receiving a yellow card after the score, giving Norths an extra man advantage and a 14-12 lead.

GPS knew they had to dig deep to escape with a win, and that’s just what they did. Off another authoritative Gallopers scrum, half back Josh Vuta fired a pass to fast moving AJ Alatimu, who steamrolled his opposite number Prideaux and several other Eagles over the line for a try, swinging the lead back to GPS 19-14 with 13 minutes to play.

Norths right winger Shai Wiperi got sent to the sidelines with a yellow card shortly after the Gallopers score, with his no arms tackle on AJ Alatimu. The win seemed within reach now for GPS, as Nick Richards was returning from his stint in the sin bin, stealing the extra man advantage back from Norths.

Gallopers controlled the tempo of the game from here, seeking a line-break but knowing a mistake could cost them greatly. They drew a penalty just outside of the Eagles 22, setting up sharp shooting fullback Jason Hofmeyr with the kick to seal a GPS win. He kicked the ball beautifully off the tee and it sailed over for 3, putting the game on ice. When the final whistle blew the score read GPS 22, defeating a resilient Norths outfit 14.

In a hard fought scrappy win such as this one, special mention must go to the GPS men in the engine room, as the front row of Jethro Felemi, Matt Mafi and Fred Burke, alongside locks Tuaina Tualima and Oliver Bartlett led the Gallopers forward pack to massive scrum wins, especially in the first half. Once the ball found its way out of the scrum and into open space, inside flanker Ratu Vio and outside centre Chris Kuridrani were electric with the pill, bouncing Norths defenders off them and gaining plenty of metres after contact with each touch.

GPS will be eyeing off an impressive 3-0 start next week when they hit the road again to take on the reigning champions Easts Tigers. If you’ve got nothing planned for your Saturday afternoon, make the drive to Coorparoo and urge your Gallopers men to three wins on the trot!