By HARRY CLARKE | Images: JAMES AUCLAIR
YOU’D sooner go to watch an O’Callaghan Cup than you would a Bledisloe, such was the spectacle and quality of football on display as Toowoomba Grammar School yesterday hosted its arch rival of more than 90 years, Downlands College, for the 2023 instalment of one of Australian schoolboy rugby’s biggest annual matches.
The star power boasted by both schools’ First XV teams this year was on full display for the several thousand students, staff, parents, old boys and friends enjoying the game in stunning Toowoomba sun but icy afternoon gusts.
The wind played a huge factor as both teams seemed to reach a sixth gear when the frosty westerly wind blasts were behind them.
With four wins from five matches in Queensland’s elite GPS competition, Grammar were favourites heading into the match and had a converted try on the scoreboard within five minutes of kickoff from a forward pack surge in the corner.
Right winger Clancy McCosker shot through off a slick Harry Newnham pass for a runaway try soon after.
When Grammar’s hulking inside centre, Queensland schoolboys rep Chase Oates, kicked to a 14-0 lead, some among the vast Downlands crowd were fearing a potential TGS walkover.
But that’s when Oates’s opposite number, Heath Lindenmayer, bolted from out wide and shrugged off four defenders on his way to scoring a terrific individual try under the posts at the other end, demonstrating to his team mates that Grammar’s defence was penetrable.
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Grammar fullback Richard Dean made his presence known at the 25-minute mark when Oates sent him into space 70 metres out from the try line.
Dean ran like the headwinds that faced him to score the first of what would be two long range tries from the fullback.
The halftime score was 26-12 to TGS, and any doubt that Downlands could come back from the 14-point deficit were put to bed quickly after the break when hooker Clancy Adams charged over following a ruthless, eight-phase pick-and-drive assault from the visitors.
It was the start of a thrilling Downlands resurgence lead by a forward pack that Grammar’s defensive line struggled to keep at bay.
A standout performance from halfback Tom McDonald included a try clever try from the base of the ruck, but Grammar’s pace, size and skill out wide ensured the hosts always stayed in front.
With 10 minutes left on the clock Downlands had come within a converted try of victory as the scoreboard displayed 38-33.
They had field position, ball possession, a packed hill of blue and red cheering them on and the will do win, but despite throwing the kitchen sink at Grammar’s rallying defence the visitors couldn’t cross the line before the buzzer.
A swarm of blue blazers rushed the field as TGS claimed its fourth consecutive O’Callaghan Cup from the Toowoomba schools’ closest crosstown clash in years, keeping them top contenders for this year’s GPS rugby premiership.
“It feels awesome. Downlands gave us a lot more than we expected. Credit to our boys for hanging on at the end there,” Grammar captain George Griffiths (pictured below) told the Caller.
“We’d like to say a big thank you to all the old boys, all the parents and all our friends for coming out and supporting us. It was a great day, a very close game and a great result for us.
“We were barely hanging on so it was definitely good to come away with a nice win.
“Richard Dean had a cracker, splitting their defensive line and running through holes.
“My man of the match today would be Richard Dean and for the other team Jake Stevens, their number 7. He had an awesome game, awesome carries, he put me on my back right at the start. He’s such a physical player and it was very well played from him.
“We’ve got (The Southport School) next week. We’re looking to stick it to them and try come away with another win.”
Grammar coach Scott Gale added: “I want to give raps to our Number 7, Joe Gray, he did a lot of stuff that maybe the crowd doesn’t see, often with his head deep in the rucks. I reckon he would have topped our work rate.”
“I’m very proud of all of our boys,” he said.
The O’Callaghan Cup was introduced as the trophy for the Grammar-Downlands fixture in 1950 and was donated by the five Downlands brothers Jim, John, Frank, Michael and Bryan O’Callaghan.
It’s been played each year since other than 1942-43 during World War II. The tight rivalry was yesterday brought one match closer with Grammar having now claimed 34 victories to Downlands’ 37.
Michael’s son Patrick O’Callaghan travelled from Western Australia to present the cup this year.
Best and Fairest awards went to fullback Richard Dean and flanker Jake Stephens from Grammar and Downlands respectively.
Downlands College principal Stephen Koch said: “I think we can all agree it was an exceptional game of rugby. I’m incredibly proud of the Downlands boys. Aside from being great rugby players, each and every one of them are great young men and leaders.
“Going forward, they have set a standard for years to come and I appreciate everything they’ve done. And all the best to Grammar for the remainder of their season in the GPS competition,” he said.
Downlands captain, Number 8 Mack Koch said: “It was a tough fought game, we didn’t stop right until the end and I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” he said.
“We have a really good team, we’ve been playing hard footy this year. This was our second loss of the season and we take it on the chin. It’s not the be all and end all.
“It’s footy, it could have gone a different way. It was a great experience and a great environment to be in. It was an awesome crowd for both teams.”
Next weekend Grammar will host The Southport School and Downlands will head to Brisbane Sate High School.
SLIDESHOW GALLERY: 2023 O’Callaghan Cup | IMAGES: James Auclair
