16-year old Newington winger Tolu Koula starred for GPS in a scrappy 26-7 win over CAS on a wet night at Knox on Tuesday. 

Koula set the crowd alight every time he touched the ball, scoring once and setting up a second try to help seal victory for GPS over CAS for the first time since 2016. 

With rain falling, GPS dominated territory and possession early and claimed a 14-0 lead following tries to flanker Henry O’Kane and hooker Hamish Moore. 

CAS worked their way into the match and hit back five minutes from half time through a well worked driving maul and reduced the deficit to just seven points at the break. 

With the match in the balance and attacking opportunities few and far between, Koula began to dominate and showed lightning speed to create space out wide. 

The winger beat three CAS defenders, then offloaded to halfback Lachlan Albert who backed up nicely on the inside and scored to give GPS a 21-7 lead. 

CAS had a number of chances deep inside GPS territory in the second half but struggled at lineout time and continually turned over possession at crucial moments. 

On the contrary, GPS made the most of their opportunities and after kicking the ball downfield and causing a turnover, the visiting association spread the ball to Koula who scored a brilliant individual try to seal the result and cap a standout performance. 

Earlier in the evening, GPS II held on for a tight 19-14 victory over CAS II in the better of the two matches. 

GPS dominated territory and possession in a rain effected first half but struggled to find a way through some tough CAS defence.

After attacking inside the CAS red zone for what seemed like an eternity, flyhalf Tevita Vei threw an inside ball to flanker Cassius Clinton who scored under the posts to give GPS a 7-0 lead at the break. 

As the rain cleared, both sides chanced their arm in the second half. 

On the back of a brilliant run by scrum half Kye Willoughby, CAS soon found space and wingers Lucas Vass and Peter North combined to get their side on the board. 

North showed tremendous speed again minutes later to split the GPS kick chase and run 50 metres untouched to score a fantastic counter attack try under the posts. 

CAS looked in control but soon found themselves defending deep in their own half following a break from GPS fullback Kaeo Weekes. 

GPS flyhalf Tevita Vei barged over from close range to level the scores, then kicked deep into the CAS half again to put the home association under pressure. 

CAS were unable to win an attacking line out on their own five metre line, allowing GPS to control possession and eventually score out wide and take a 19-14 lead. 

CAS had several opportunities to equalise late in the match, but couldn’t find a way to score in the closing stages. 

Both squads will be reselected following the final day of NSW Schools trials on Friday.