THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL DOES ITS HOMEWORK IN GPS TITLE PUSH

GPS rivals on warning with a 54-15 statement against BBC

THE Southport School laid down their GPS Rugby premiership credentials on Saturday but it was their result seven days earlier that could prove to be the real catalyst behind any such success.

TSS were forced to share the title with Nudgee College last year, despite beating their archrivals head-to-head, after suffering a shock home loss to Ipswich in Round 3 of that season.

History almost repeated itself this year when in Round 4 – the weekend before last – they were pushed to the brink by a winless Brisbane Grammar before prevailing 25-20.

They backed up that tough win by tearing apart Brisbane Boys’ College 54-15 in a clinical display on Saturday.

It marked their 10th straight win in a streak that dates back to that Ipswich loss on July 29, 2017. Given that BBC had entered the match undefeated, the outcome has been met with excitement about what lies ahead for TSS, who are first with four rounds remaining.

But their scare against Grammar has been taken as an ongoing reality check by TSS players not wanting to share the silverware again.

“I’d say we are pretty confident after this game but we got a bit of a (wake-up call) against BGS and I think we needed that as a team,” lock Wilson Blyth said after his two-try performance.

“We lost last year to Ipswich about the same round so we were lucky to get the win last weekend and we needed that to keep our heads in check.”

Now only Nudgee – who had a bye on the weekend – join TSS in boasting a perfect record in 2018, setting the stage for a decisive final-round match on September 15.

TSS players admitted the result was better than expected. They face Gregory Terrace at home next weekend.