Brisbane Boys College claimed a crucial 31-29 victory over Nudgee College last Saturday, in Round 5 of GPS Rugby.
The green machine looked all but out of the game with 30 seconds left in the match, but a try after the fulltime hooter cemented a memorable comeback and victory in front of a stacked home crowd.
In a match with many twists and turns, it looked like Nudgee had stolen the game with a penalty in the final minute, but BBC’s tenacity to recover the ball from the restart gave them one last chance, which coach Shane Drahm was certainly pleased with.
“What we saw today was what we’ve been working on since the pre-season,” Drahm said.
“Putting it all in, to rally as brothers and get the result, the boys did an exceptional job.”
Nudgee came out of the blocks firing, scoring within the opening minute through flyhalf, Augustus Rangihuna.
The left-boot was working, as Rangihuna converted his own try, taking Nudgee to a 7-0 lead.
Brisbane Boys College hit back in the eighth minute through winger Finn Mounsey, who was the beneficiary of a great offload by outside centre, Len Ikitau.
Scrumhalf Tony Raoren was unable to convert, with the home side trailing 7-5 after 10 minutes.
The remainder of the half was a tussle for territory between the sides, as the boot of Rangihuna kept Nudgee on the attack deep in BBC’s half.
The green machine’s defensive line held strong, epitomized when Cullen Ngamanu smashed Nudgee winger Tyrell Douglas-Denduck, sending the crowd nuts.
BBC had their chances in the first half, however they were unable to capitalize on their attacking opportunities.
At half-time, Nudgee led 7-5 in a contest waiting to open up.
Much like the beginning of the match, it didn’t take Nudgee long to get on the board again, as outside centre, Semisi Tupou dodged, ducked and danced his way through the BBC defence.
A great set play off a scrum put the centre through, as he did the rest to score under the posts.
Rangihuna converted, and Nudgee extended their lead to 14-5.
Five minutes later Nudgee were in again, as Rangihuna put fullback Ryan Shepherd through a hole to score.
The conversion was missed as Nudgee were beginning to pull away 19-5.
BBC opened their second half account in the in the 49th minute, when some quick hands and an overlap put Mounsey over for his second try.
Raoren converted comfortably, taking the score to 19-12.
However, the lead was widened again minutes later, as Nudgee hit back with their third try of the half.
Flanker, Ethan Bullemor found a gap in the defence, before showing great pace to step the fullback and score.
Rangihuna made no mistake off the boot, as Nudgee’s lead was back to 14.
The back and forth battle continued, with BBC crossing again, this time through some individual brilliance from outside centre Ikitau.
Raoren slotted the conversion, and the deficit was narrowed to just a converted try, 26-19.
With momentum and the crowd behind them, BBC were on the attack again in the 64th minute, as hooker Rhys van Nek streaked away downfield.
With possession deep in Nudgee territory, the BBC pack edged towards the line, before coming up with the try next to the posts through their replacement forward.
BBC’s scrumhalf Raoren made it 3/4 off the boot, kicking the conversion and tying the game at 26-26 with three minutes on the clock.
Just as it seemed the home side were going to complete the comeback, Nudgee were awarded a penalty 30 metres out.
With just 30 seconds to play, Rangihuna showed nerves of steel to slot the penalty, and Nudgee’s Houdini act to escape with a late win looked to be complete.
Or so they thought, as BBC re-gathered off the restart and attacked deep into Nudgee territory.
BBC’s forwards threw themselves at the line, coming closer and closer to the chalk, before flyhalf Isaac Henry sent a cut out ball wide to his replacement winger, who capped off a memorable comeback with the winning try.
A hero to the home crowd, Drahm said after the game:
“It always going to be a tight game, we know Nudgee is an incredibly hard team to beat, and one you never put many points on.
“We spoke about patience all week, especially in the attacking third, and it paid off in the final five minutes.
“We had our plan, some parts worked and some parts didn’t, but very happy to get the result at the end there.”
The win sees BBC remain in contention for the premiership this year, as all teams have lost at least one game this season.
Nudgee will have win their remaining games if they are to challenge for the title.
Brisbane Boys College 31 (F Mounsey 2, L Ikitau 1, (16) 1, (22) 1, T Raoren 3 conversions) def St Joseph’s Nudgee College 29 (A Rangihuna 1,E Bullemor 1, S Tupou 1, R Shepherd 1, A Rangihuna 3 conversions, 1 penalty)
The Southport School 67 (T Kapea 2, D Burns 2, J Butler 1, J Tonkin 1, F McElroy 1, C Parata 1, N Lolesio 1, K Dovey 1, S Dobb 1, C Parata 5 conversions, R Kapi 1 conversion) def Brisbane Grammar School 7 (F McReight 1, Z Allan 1 conversion)
Ipswich Grammar School 29 (C van Dugteren 2, C Hicks 1, K Petersen-Timu 1, C Whiteside 3 conversions, 1 penalty) def Brisbane State High School 24 ( A Pouhila 2, M Taulagi 1, (17) 1, I Crone 2 conversions)
Toowoomba Grammar School 20 (M Faessler 1, L Sperling 1, K Oates 2 conversions, 2 penalties) def Anglican Church Grammar School 10 (T Stanghorn 1, J Slack 1)
