Churchie’s new draw places it in box seat

THE party should have already started for Anglican Church Grammar School after a revised First XV draw set it on a path of least resistance to a GPS Rugby season decider.

Churchie was scheduled to take on defending champion The Southport School and runner-up Brisbane Boys’ College in a season-defining fortnight in Rounds 2 and 3.

A delayed start due to COVID-19 has wiped those matches from the schedule and replaced them with trial matches against those same schools.

Churchie’s advantage is doubled because it has scored an opportunity to test itself against the competition’s best without the consequences of falling short.

It is a golden springboard from which to tackle reigning wooden-spooner Brisbane Grammar School in its new opening game.

Coach Dale Roberson said although his players would have preferred a full season, the revised draw had been advantageous.

“Obviously it’s probably a bit of a bonus not having to play them but the good thing is we get to play them in the trials,” the former Australian Rugby Sevens assistant coach said.

“To miss out on playing them is advantageous to us but for the sake of playing a full season you’d rather face them.

“You want to play the best teams to get an understanding of where you sit, and to play them in trials is a good gauge for where we sit and our prep for the season.”

The Southport School will be frustrated at the lost opportunity to take down rival Nudgee College because it might prove the only squad capable of doing so.

TSS must topple Brisbane Boys’ College in Round 6 then cheer that school on to defeat Nudgee two weeks later if it hopes to retain its solo premiership.