Joeys fought back from 14-5 down to beat Riverview, while Newington and Shore moved up the first XV ladder after wins over Kings and Scots respectively. 

Joeys are now a win clear of the rest of the competition after the first round, but there is still plenty of rugby to be played in one of the most tightly contested GPS competitions in recent memory. 

Joeys 19-14 Riverview

Joeys scored off a clever five-metre tap trick play in a come-from-behind 19-14 victory over Riverview to secure top spot on the GPS ladder at the end of the first round. 

With a big crowd on hand at Hunters Hill, Riverview started the better of the two sides and opened the scoring in just the fourth minute when centres Angus McGrath and Tom Hartman combined to score off a kick near Joeys’ line. 

McGrath came within millimetres of scoring again in the 12th minute but spilled the ball in the process and Joeys quickly moved play down the other end of the field. 

Joeys opened their account with a long range try, started with some brilliant footwork by centre Ethan Tombs. 

On counter attack, Tombs beat his defender and stormed into the Riverview backfield. 

Joeys’ backs and forwards then combined nicely to swing the ball from one sideline to the other and eventually scored through Matt Gough. 

Riverview dominated the territory battle in the first half but couldn’t find a way through Joeys’ defence. 

The visitors eventually scored an opportunistic try on the stoke of halftime when Tom Hartmann chased down a clearance kick that was allowed to bounce and raced away to give his side a 14-5 lead at the break. 

Joeys went deep into their playbook for a response early in the second half. 

After being awarded a penalty five metres from Riverview’s line, scrumhalf Darcy Brown screamed at his forward pack to spread to the right. 

He them dummied to a decoy runner and passed to sweeping centre Matt Gough who caught the short side defenders by surprise and muscled his way over to score. 

Trailing 14-12, Joeys flyhalf Jonte Fowler kicked his side out of trouble repeatedly in the second half. 

With 15 minutes remaining, Riverview were penalised for a maul misdemeanour allowing Joeys to move play deep inside Riverview’s red zone. 

Riverview’s defence held strong for a number of phases but eventually big No.8 Justice Taumoepeau barged his way over to give the home side a 19-14 lead. 

Riverview had numerous attacking opportunities in the final minutes and dominated at scrum time. 

But Fowler controlled the match well in the closing stages and kept the ball out of his own half, allowing Joeys to hold on for a five point win.

St Joseph’s College 19 (Tries: M Gough 2, J Taumoepeau Conversions: M Palmisani 2) defeated Saint Ignatius’ College 14 (Tries: T Hartman 2, Conversions: J Newton 2).

Newington 34-31 Kings

19 points from Newington winger Callum Grantham and a Jonah Lomu like performance from Heamasi Makasini helped their side secure second spot on the GPS ladder following a 34-31 victory over Kings at North Parramatta. 

Kings opened the scoring through flyhalf Louis Fenwicke who chased down a bouncing ball in Newington’s backfield. 

Newington responded immediately though when Makasini ran over several Kings’ defenders to score just minutes later. 

The visitors added a penalty goal and a second try soon after, with Grantham bagging his first try of the afternoon after a clever grubber from Toby Rodwell.

Before Makasini ran straight through the Kings backline and offloaded to Tallis McEwan near the line to give his side a 20-7 lead. 

Louis Fenwicke stepped his way to the try line late in the first half to reduce the deficit to eight points at half time. 

But Makasini returned for more carnage soon after the break. After charging over more Kings’ defenders, he recycled possession and prop Hayden Lavercombe scored down the short side soon after. 

Trailing 27-12, Kings hit back with a try from close range to flanker Luke Toia and attacked deep in Newington territory again minutes later. 

But Kings spilled the ball and Newington raced away to score through Gratham and claim a 34-19 lead. 

Newington then gifted Kings a try in similar fashion in the 60th minute but tightened up their defence for most of the final 10 minutes. 

Kings were awarded a penalty try in the 70th minute, but Newington pilfered the ball from the restart to seal a 34-31 win. 

Newington College 34 (Tries: Grantham 2, Makasini, McEwen, Shek. Conversions:  Grantham 3. Penalties: Gratham) defeated The King’s School 31 (Tries: Fenwicke 2, Toia, Kable tries. Penalty try. Conversions: Risati 2).

Shore 22-17 Scots

After losing three matches by five points or less in the opening month of the season, Shore held on for an important 22-17 victory over Scots at home to get their GPS campaign back on track. 

Shore opened the scoring through flanker Marshall Le Maitre who charged on to a pass from the top of a lineout to score the opening try. 

Hooker James Warner then burrowed his way over from close range to give the home side a 12-0 lead after 15 minutes. 

Scots hit back late in the first half when returning No.10 Onitoni Large stepped his defender and kick-passed to Will Johnson to score and reduce the deficit to seven points at the break. 

Both sides then attacked from their lineout early in the second half. 

Shore struck first with a conventional maul try, but Scots hit straight back when lock Charlie Ulcoq peeled off the back of a maul and scored soon after. 

No.8 Heinz Lemoto then made a strong run from deep in Scots’ territory and passed to winger Jay McKenzie who showed good speed and footwork to score a long range Scots try and level the scores. 

With 15 minutes remaining, Shore then attacked Scots line but couldn’t find a way through the visiting forward pack’s defence. 

The home side eventually spread the ball wide and fullback Jai Callaghan used great footwork to beat his defender and set up a try for Hugh Breakwell and give Shore a 22-17 lead. 

Scots attacked twice inside Shore’s quarter in the final 10 minutes but weren’t able to find a response in the closing stages. 

Shore 22 (Tries: J Warner 2, M Le Maitre, H Breakwell. Conv: H Conick 1) defeated The Scots College 17 (Tries: C Ulcoq, J McKenzie, W Johnson. Conv: W Johnson 1).