Sport

The Blue and Grey headed up the range to unusually not-so-chilly weather for our GPS round four competition against Toowoomba Grammar School. Both rugby and basketball first teams faced tough competition against the blue and yellow and came away with hard-fought wins. We are facing another tough competition round against BBC this weekend at home and urge the boys to stay and support each other on the court and field.

After another exciting GPS round four last weekend, we invite everyone to view the weekend’s results summary via myChurchie – GPS Sports and Activities.

Trent Goodrick
Head of Cocurricular

Basketball

Round four saw the Churchie Basketball programme matched against our rivals from up the range, Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS). Over the past few years, the Toowoomba programme has gone from strength to strength, and they have provided many competitive battles across the year levels, particularly in the current Year 10 age group and in First V matches.

The preparation for many teams was about hitting the halfway mark of the season playing in line with the Churchie Blueprint style of play that all our coaches are inducted into and committed to improving our boys within. The 112 wins and 18 losses we have through four GPS rounds only occur through our coaches’ combination of implementing our style of play, having boys adhere to the players standards and expectations in place in the programme, and expecting full attention and effort from the boys. Our coaches have put in a huge effort across the preseason and current season, and I thank them for doing and continuing to do this.

With all that in mind, and some very well-run photo days behind us, our next challenge is to get our mixture of training commitment, positive next-play attitude and results at an optimum level.

This week we have the programme taking on Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC). This proud school has always been a traditional powerhouse of the GPS, however, our recent success will see BBC out to balance the ledger after we only had 1 loss in 34 games against them in 2023. It is important that we play with the integrity of a Churchie boy and basketballer, and not get caught up in anything other than the next play to strive for similar success. Whether it is parents, boys, coaches or family in the crowd, let’s remind each other that we cheer hard for our team, congratulate the other team and their successes, and use our energy to be better in our pursuit of the record 37 premierships that are still on offer from our 40 GPS teams. This is very achievable and will come from being at training and being positive and forward-thinking.

Good luck to all teams this weekend, and thank you in advance to all the volunteers and those who attend to support not only the First V but teams around their own game to help each team across the line.

First V report

The game of the season to date took place last Saturday up the range in TGS’s Glen McCracken Court. The First V had not beaten TGS in a First V fixture since 2021, and it was time for redemption. Despite some niggling injuries and one of the key members of the team, Andrew Watene, being away representing Queensland at the National School Sport Australia Championships, the boys all returned to the court together as the week progressed prepared for this contest. From the first lay-up of the warm-up, it was obvious what this stood for in each squad’s mind.

The first quarter saw Churchie start with some amazing accuracy from close range and beyond the three-point line. The 27 – 22 scoreline was reflective of some great plays and some defensive corrections which coaches Drew Summerfield, 2012 Old Boy Harry Nicholson and 2017 Old Boy Ben Hastings let the boys know about. Ten points from Captain Oskar Olechnowicz early, and a well-rounded attack with six players making the scoresheet, countered the deep shooting prowess and size of the TGS attack.

The second quarter was just as fierce in pace and intensity. Six crucial points from Connor Davidson, to go with five from Jake Miles-Wrency and two massive threes from Year 10 and National Indigenous Camp Invitee Noah Kirk saw Churchie go into the locker room at half-time with a strong, but far from safe, 55 – 48 advantage. The third quarter would take some serious courage and fortitude as Toowoomba had left bitter memories of a comeback and win in the Sir John Pidgeon Sports Complex in 2023 in the boys’ minds. Agent OO, the Captain, would stamp his authority by adjusting his way of attack and not settling for some strong contact from TGS putting him off from his goal. Another 10-point quarter combined with some unstoppable inside finishes from the competition’s most dominant big man, Kurt Siwek, and two huge three-pointers offset plays from Nash Harding saw the onslaught of shot-making from TGS minimised. The score was 77 – 71 going into the fourth quarter; it was now time to right the wrongs of 2022 and 2023 in one quarter of boys doing their job and thinking of the blue and grey and not themselves.

Of all the scenarios, most would not have predicted what was to follow, although I know the boys would have from all the battles on the training floor. The starting point guard Noah Kirk decided he would let the whole of the GPS know who everyone would have to go through at the point guard position. The 11 points in the final quarter by Noah was just part of the story. His composure, leadership and passion lifted every boy, be they on the court or the bench. His assists to Kurt Siwek, who was simply not going to be denied with his eight critical fourth-quarter points and timely rebounds, as well as his overall floor game was one of the best clutch performances witnessed in a First V uniform.

The entire team from the top to the bottom of the bench had each other’s back, and the final score of 104–97 was a great sign coming into this epic BBC battle ahead.

As is the case for the aforementioned 37 Churchie GPS Basketball teams, the First V are in the premiership battle of their lives against BBC at 12:15 pm this coming Saturday in the Sir John Pidgeon Sports Complex at Churchie. This is without a doubt the match-up that has been circled for a year by the team since Churchie got the better of what is essentially the same two teams from the 2023 GPS season and the CBSQ State Championships. BBC have bolstered their team considerably, and the bronze medal we won against them in 2023 in the state championships is a distant memory, but the amazing crowd we could have this weekend is not. It would be greatly appreciated by the staff and the team around any game and Vikings club commitments you have, that our Churchie boys in their uniform are there to support the First V. The marching band, some half-time competition and lucky door apparel prizes and vouchers are just a small reason to come. The gameplay, skill, athleticism and the chance to say you were there for this epic battle will be the greatest part. This level of basketball is something all players should see in person and look to build towards. Each boy will provide a small part of what I hope could be the biggest crowd for many seasons in what is the first true top-of-the-table game at this point of the season since 2020. The First V have every chance to play their way and get one step closer to that premiership that has eluded the programme since the back-to-back premierships of 2019 and 2020.

Good luck to everyone this coming weekend, and let’s go Churchie.

Aaron Harding
Director of Basketball

Chess

Round 4 of the 2024 GPS Chess season saw 53 young men travel up the range to Toowoomba Grammar School on a sunny Friday afternoon. We won 12 teams and drew one, with only six players losing their games across the programme. Special congratulations to players in our Premier, Open A, C, D, E and J teams, who all won their games.

This week marks our inaugural Prep week, where students in Years 5 and 6 who have not yet had the chance to represent the School in GPS Chess will be able to do so. We host Brisbane Boys College on Friday, and our Second Chance tournament will run for senior students missing out on selection. This will help inform our team choices for next week’s tricky round against BSHS—best of luck to all boys involved.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to another successful week of chess when we meet Brisbane Boys’ College at home.

Max Condon
Director of Chess

Rugby

Last weekend, Churchie played Toowoomba Grammar School in round four of the GPS competition. In what is normally a tough physical round of rugby, both schools toiled hard throughout the day, but it was Churchie who finished the day on top.

Overall, there were 25 games played between the two schools with Churchie recording 15 victories and one draw. The junior age groups put on some fantastic rugby throughout the day with the U11, U12, U14 and U15 age groups winning almost all their games. The mighty First XV and Second XV also continue to impress with both sides registering another strong victory and playing some attractive rugby.

First XV report

Churchie travelled to Toowoomba on Saturday where they came away victorious 33–22 in a fantastic game of rugby. It was TGS who opened the scoring through some strong forwards’ play; a well-worked pick-and-drive secured them an early seven points. It wasn’t long before the Churchie back line clicked into action, led by Fletcher Austin.

Churchie’s ability to keep the ball alive and offload set them apart on the day. Some well-worked offloads by the forwards opened things up for Fletcher Austin, whose ball distribution found Treyvon Pritchard who assisted Oliver Chancellor in opening the score for the away side, bringing things level 7 – 7. TGS made the most of back-to-back penalties to score another well-worked pick-and-go try taking it to 12 – 7.

Churchie soon began to assert their dominance on the game, a well-timed pass by Fletcher Austin found Harry Solofa who broke through the TGS defence and offloaded to Max Blanch who ran it in from 30 out making it 14 – 12. Some well-worked set-piece play saw Churchie score again going into halftime 19 – 12 up.

The second half started how the first half ended, with Churchie dominating possession and field play. Two back-to-back scores that were finished off by Treyvon Pritchard helped seal the victory for Churchie rounding out the score 33 – 22. These scores were even more impressive as they came from well inside our own 22 with Will Bloxham assisting in both. TGS had a late surge in the final few minutes where they clawed back some points.

We host BBC at home this Saturday.

Team Photos: Saturday 10 August at approximately one hour before your kick-off near the cricket nets, more details this week. Those teams playing away will have their photos taken in round nine.

End of Season Presentation: Saturday 7 September in Morris Hall, more details to follow.

Andrew Moloney
Director of Rugby

Sporting achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have been successful in the following sporting pursuits.

Basketball

Noah Kirk, a member of the First V, was selected for the National Indigenous Basketball Camp. This is a prestigious selection, and his time in Canberra for this will no doubt enhance his already amazing on-and-off-court performance.

Andrew Watene recently represented Queensland in the National School Sport Games. He was selected in the All-Australian Team which included the 10 best players at the tournament.

Trent Goodrick
Head of Cocurricular