After getting belted by Southport in the opening round, Gregory Terrace found some form and won back to back matches ahead of a bye last weekend to sit mid table after the opening month of the GPS first XV season. 

Terrace produced their best performance of the season in a 27-19 victory over Churchie in round two and will look to replicate that effort when they host competition leaders Nudgee this weekend. 

“We were disappointing in our first match and were probably a little underdone for that,” Gregory Terrace first XV coach Adrian Thompson told Rugby News. 

“We were really good against Churchie at home, then hung on to beat Grammar with a few players missing before the bye. 

“To be two from three at this stage, it’s really pleasing.”

Coming off a bye last weekend, Terrace should have close to their full contingent on deck for Saturday’s season defining clash and Thompson said his players knew what they needed to do to spring an upset.

“Against Churchie we controlled territory really well and had a good kick chase, then we were really strong defensively. 

“Against Grammar, we did that for half a game but it’s a tricky place to play when the wind is up and fortunately we came away with the win. 

“We’ve obviously got to get a lot of things right to compete with some of the bigger schools but we’re certainly capable and we get a chance to prove that this week.”

Nudgee are undefeated and lead the competition after the opening month but haven’t had things all their own way in a number of games so far this year. 

“We played Nudgee in a trial a few weeks before the start of the season and went down by a couple tries, so we’re aware how quickly they can score points if you allow them to control the game,” Thompson said. 

“The trick is to stay with them for as long as you can and try to turn it into a real contest. 

“Teams have stuck with Nudgee well into the second half this year but fallen away towards the end. We want to maintain scoreboard pressure and stay in touch, then if we’re in it, hopefully we can make the most of the opportunities we get towards the end of the game.”

But that could be easier said than done against a Nudgee side who are averaging close to 40 points a game in attack and who have blown sides away in the final 20 minutes of three of their four matches so far this year. 

“Their ball carry is the best in the comp. They are a very physical side and like to get over the advantage line to get quick ball at the breakdown so we need to get off the line with intent and slow them down through good contact.

“They also like to dominate with their line speed in defence so we need to be wary of that and try to build phases, then put pressure on them with a strong kick chase as well.”

In the round’s other matches, Brisbane State High will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they head south to face TSS. 

Churchie host BBC in another bumper round five clash, while Brisbane Grammar and Toowoomba will both be desperate to claim their first wins of the season when they meet in Brisbane. 

Thompson said he’s been impressed with the tightness of this year’s competition and admitted anything could happen in the final six rounds. 

“I’ve only really focussed on the teams we’ve played but if you look at Ippy (Ipswich), they’ve lost a number of tight games and could be at the other end of the ladder if they closed out those games. 

“In all honesty, I think State High and Nudgee are certainly the benchmark but that’s not to say they can’t be beaten. 

“BBC isn’t far behind them, then the rest of the competition all seem to be strong enough to win any game on their day. 

“It’s an even comp and hopefully we can make it even tighter with a win this weekend.”