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.

The Dragons were dealt a bad hand early, winger Puni Aupuni shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Gallopers debutant winger Floyd Aubrey. GPS capitalised 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. The score sat 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 seized the ball before the ruck was formed, pushing forward through three Sunnybank defenders to score. The Gallopers led 10-0 after 23 minutes.

GPS continued to keep the pressure on, retaining possession and making metres inside the Dragons 22. When Gicquel was tackled only metres out, Maile Ngauamo raced to the ruck and drove low through three defenders for a try. Dragons lock Nesetolio Solia was sin binned for another dangerous tackle. Hofmeyr struck the conversion and GPS led 17-0 with 9 minutes remaining in the first half.

The GPS back line swung the ball from side to side. 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 threw one more pass to Matt Gicquel, who scored his easiest try of the season and second of the match. GPS led 22-0 going into half time.

Sunnybank came out in the second half desperate for an answer. They found one in half back Neal McNamara, who fired a pass to fast moving centre Chris Feauai-Sautia bounding through a gap. McNamara backed up the line break and received the ball back, scoring under the posts. Sunnybank trailed 22-7 in the 45th minute, and a Liam McNamara penalty brought it to 22-10 with 29 minutes remaining.

The Dragons efforts came to a halt when hooker Daniel Anae was shown yellow for a no arms tackle on Ratu Vio. GPS winger Mitchell Treleaven seized the advantage: Liam McNamara kicked an ill-advised grubber within his own 22, which found Treleaven with room to work. He dummied McNamara and darted through a hole for a try. GPS led 29-10 with 11 minutes left.

The Gallopers were back moments later with a 5 metre attacking lineout. Captain Michael Richards released the ball quickly to Tuttle, who swung it to Ratu Vio with the try line in sight. Vio rumbled through five Sunnybank defenders to score his second try of the match. James Tuttle made easy work of the conversion, taking GPS to 36-10 with 3 minutes remaining.

Sunnybank claimed their own kick-off in hopes of last ditch points. The ball found its way out to Puni Aupuni on the right wing, and flanker Joseph Faulalo supported all the way to the try line for a try. The match concluded with GPS winning 36-15.

The Gallopers flankers, Ratu Vio and Matt Gicquel, were dominant throughout, both scoring two tries. Jason Hofmeyr made a massive amount of kicking metres. The forward pack again overwhelmed the opposition at scrum time.