History awaits for TSS on the pitch

ROSS Wallace has urged The Southport School’s brigade of graduating cricketers to “etch their name in history” by securing a third straight GPS first XI premiership.

The 2019 title will go to TSS if they can account for Ipswich Grammar School today. A loss would leave the door open for Nudgee College – the only team to have beaten coach Wallace’s squad – to steal the silverware in next weekend’s final round, when TSS have the bye. An unchanged line-up will head out west in what will be the last competition game for all but Jack Hocart and Jack Sinfield, who are in Year 11 and Year 10 respectively.

“For a lot of them, this could be the last game that they have for the school … the big thing for them is to go out on a positive note and etch their name in history,” Wallace said.

TSS’ six-game winning streak has been underpinned by a variety of contributors.

“The first game we were beaten by a better side on the day against Nudgee. Since that day we have turned it around somewhat,” he said.

“We have beaten a couple of the so-called easier sides but then the last couple of weeks we have come up against two really tough sides in BBC (Brisbane Boys’ College) and Gregory Terrace and we have just lifted our mark, we have just taken the next step.”

Wallace said his side will take an “attack at all costs” approach to their bowling and fielding, with Ipswich opener Danny Young shaping as a key wicket having scored 304 runs at 50.67.

As for how the 11th-year TSS coach feels his players will handle the pressure situation: “I think the biggest thing is just to keep their feet on the ground, keep the concentration levels up and don’t get ahead of themselves.”

TSS will still be premiers if both they and Nudgee lose. The latter play BBC away.