Easts finish all over GPS
Easts scored their seventh win in a row with a comprehensive 48-3 victory over GPS in their round 14 Premier Rugby clash at Bottomley Park.
The result could prove costly for GPS in the run home to the finals.
Easts led 10-3 at the break in what was a keenly contested first half with a converted try to centre Toby White, scored on the stroke of half time, the only thing separating the two sides.
It was a different story in the second half as the Tigers stepped it up a gear to completely dominate their opponents, scoring 38 unanswered points.
GPS coach Matt Pini said Easts dominated every facet of the game.
“Their defence is second to none, they attack the ball at the breakdown and their execution was fantastic,” said Pini.
“They are the best team we’ve played against this year.”
Man of the match, Toby White, said the team made a concerted effort to keep their foot on the throat of the Gallopers, even with the win assured.
“We talked about keeping the pressure on right until full time and kept pushing each other the entire second half.”
White, who scored a try double, and fly-half Andrew Krelle starred for Easts.
However, it was a great team effort built on the back of some outstanding defence, according to Tigers coach Pat Richards.
“Our defence was outstanding again and we were able to build off the back of it,” said Richards.
“We made a point of coming out after half-time and getting on top of them and to see them do just that was fantastic.
“The way we played in the second half, it was the best I’ve seen the team play all year.”
Easts will look to make it eight wins in a row when they play top four rivals Souths next week, while GPS have a bye.
Easts 48 (T White 2, J Charalambous, T Hawthorne, D Skelton, A Walker tries, A Krelle 6 cons 2 pens) bt GPS 3 (D Slade pen)
Match report by Tim Braban
