By TOM PRIMMER

At long last the race to the 2020 Hospital Cup title kicked off over the weekend with four high quality games to start the season.

GPS, Easts and defending premiers the University of Queensland all cemented their status as premiership contenders with strong wins, while a youthful Souths side caused a boil over with a surprise victory over last year’s minor premiers Brothers.

Let’s take a look around the grounds.

GPS 59 v WESTS 45

There were points-a-plenty on offer at Yoku Road on Saturday as a new-look Jeeps backline kicked into gear in front of their home crowd to claim a 59-45 win over Wests.

Led by Souths recruit Teti Tela and fullback Jono Kent, the Gallopers laid on nine tries in a comprehensive display, with another ex-Magpie Abele Atunaisa crossing for a hat-trick in his first outing in the green and blue.

The hosts led by 29 points with 15 minutes to play, before a late comeback brought the Bulldogs within 14-points of Jeeps.

Despite the loss, Wests will take plenty of positives away from the loss, including a two-try outing for backrower Jeremiah Skelton and the continuing emergence of young fullback Cooper Whiteside.

Hydration proved no problem for Jeeps throughout the afternoon, with the side employing former Queensland Reds captain and 29-Test Wallaby Samu Kerevi as water boy in front of a strong crowd in Ashgrove.

GPS will host Souths in Round 2, while the Bulldogs will run on in front of their home fans in 2020 when they face Easts.

EASTS 51 v SUNNYBANK 24

Easts flexed their premiership muscles in Round 1 of Queensland Premier Rugby with a convincing 35-point win over Sunnybank.

The Tigers headed to the sheds at half-time leading by one-point in a tightly contested affair, before the side ran riot in the second-half, recording 29 unanswered points to take the Bunter Bowl back to Tigerland.

Aidan Toua starred in his first game back in Easts colours, scoring a stunning runway try to begin the second-half, while the likes of Ben Mowen, Michael Gunn and Fred Fewtrell proved exactly why the Tigers pack is arguably the competition’s strongest in 2020.

Skipper Tom Lucas and Hayden Sargeant anchored the Sunnybank attack, both crossing for five-pointers in the first-half, with impressive outside back Liam McNamara making a successful return from injury and playing a hand in a number of his side’s tries.

With an imposing forward pack and plenty of spark in the backline, Easts shape as one of the Hospital Cup’s heavyweight sides this season, and they showed just why on Saturday.

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 39 v NORTHS 20

The University of Queensland began their premiership defence with a convincing 39-20 win over Norths at Hugh Courtney Oval over the weekend.

The Heavies raced out of the blocks to lead 24-5 by the 30-minute mark, before a more evenly balanced second stanza saw the Eagles score three tries in front of their home crowd.

After impressing in last year’s Queensland Premier Rugby Sevens competition, young winger Lachlan Sperling scored two tries in his debut in the top grade, with fellow Sevens product Connor Clancy also crossing the stripe.

After two seasons playing in America for New Orleans, scrumhalf Scott Gale slotted seamlessly back into the Students’ line-up, directing the side around the park and scoring a try himself in the 19-point win.

The young Eagles side sorely missed the experience of Nick Chapman but will be pleased with their second-half performance against a strong UQ outfit.

Uni will enjoy a bye in Round 2, with Norths travelling to Crosby Park to take on their North-side rivals, Brothers.

SOUTHS 30 BROTHERS 14

In the upset of the round, a youthful Souths side stunned last year’s minor premiers Brothers with a 30-14 victory at Chipsy Wood Oval.

The Brethren opened the scoring in just the third minute courtesy of Liam Richman, before the Magpies rallied to take a 14-7 lead into half-time.

The visitors would only score one try in the second 40, as Souths tallied a further 16-points to claim their first win of the season.

A number of the Magpies’ youth brigade stood up in the surprise win, with the likes of Theo Fourie, Henry Smith and Vilami Lea proving why head coach Todd Dammers has so much faith in his young squad.

After the incredible highs of last year, the loss is not how the Brethren envisaged their start to the season, and will need their experienced men in Rohan Saifoloi, Brad Kapa and Tom Moloney at their best in the coming rounds to ensure their time at the top continues.

They’ll hosts Norths on Saturday, while Souths will face another daunting task when they come up against heavyweights GPS at Yoku Road.