The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals
14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.
14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.
8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals
14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.
The pitch at Camperdown is always terrible. It takes one game on a rainy Saturday and it's done for the season. You'd think after this many years council would have found a way to improve drainage but doesn't seem to be a priority.Completely agree - Alot of players are good for the first half of the season but dont commit until its finals time again. Alot of sports in the same situation trying to get people to commit full time is almost impossible.
Players then will come back for finals time. Subbies have alot of big decisions coming over the off season. Hopefully we can keep the top grades at a good level.
Speaking of a good level - that Petersham pitch on Saturday was terrible. Groundsman is going to have some issues rolling that for Cricket season.
There's some talk about Div 1 being a 9 team comp next year - 16 games, every team gets 2 byes so no need for the guaranteed byes. Same length season. I don't think subbies have any real appetite to send Drummoyne down. They had a tough season but at least they kept rolling out 5 teams every week and weren't being beaten by 100. Same for Petersham. I think there are a lot of conversations to be had before the final makeup for div 1 is resolved next year.8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals
14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.
I was out there on Saturday, HH look to be in pretty good form, maybe the best form of the comp right now. Thought the game turned in that period in the second half with HH up 20-10 and Petersham on their line for 5 minutes. Eventually got held up over the line, knocked on soon after the dropout and next minute HH are scoring up the other hand. 20-17 becomes 25-10. Games can turn on small things.All good from our end. Petersham are strong and have good players across the park but we were still down 5 of our normal starters in 1's and were up by 22 before taking the foot off the gas late
Looking forward to a final series without any drama similar to what seems to have happened in the lower divisions.
There's some talk about Div 1 being a 9 team comp next year - 16 games, every team gets 2 byes so no need for the guaranteed byes. Same length season. I don't think subbies have any real appetite to send Drummoyne down. They had a tough season but at least they kept rolling out 5 teams every week and weren't being beaten by 100. Same for Petersham. I think there are a lot of conversations to be had before the final makeup for div 1 is resolved next year.
Who knows with Knobs. They forfeited every game except Colts for the last 4 or 5 rounds. Gonna take some major rebuilding work.and Knobs down to Div4 to start their rebuild?
They were down to 1s, 2s and colts from pretty early in the season. They had 2 guys red carded at the end of 1s for abusing the ref in the game against Petersham (which they lost at the death) and that was it for the season. Guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back for them, don't know much more than that.I guess my first question with Knox: *why* are they forfeiting?
Is it simply that they've run out of guys able to play at First Grade level due to injury or absence? Saw a lot of clubs lose players in July/August to Euro holidays.
If you can't get your First Grade on the field, the cascading effect on every grade can be dangerous. So 28-nil might be preferable to more injuries and long-term departures from the club.
Personally speaking, I wasn't thrilled to be playing a lot of First Grade this year given my age and fitness. I can't imagine what it is like against some of those First Div teams.
They were down to 1s, 2s and colts from pretty early in the season. They had 2 guys red carded at the end of 1s for abusing the ref in the game against Petersham (which they lost at the death) and that was it for the season. Guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back for them, don't know much more than that.
Round | Location | Players | Opponent | Notes |
R1 | Home | 65 | Pats | |
R2 | Away | 58 | HH | |
R3 | Home | 62 | Forest | |
Wet Weather 21st May | ||||
R4 | Away | 47 | Blue Mtns | Forfeit 4s |
R5 | Home | 63 | Mosman | |
Long Weekend | ||||
R6 | Away | 50 | Pats | |
R7 | Home | 47 | HH | Forfeit 4s |
R8 washout | Away | Postponed - see below | ||
Competition Bye Round 09 Jul | ||||
R9 | Away | 29 | Colleagues | Forfeit 3s & 4s Game moved to Woollahra 3 |
R10 | Away | 27 | Drummoyne | Forfeit 3s and 4s |
R11 | Home | 54 | Shammies | Forfeit 4s Knox 3s won 61-zip! |
R8 Wet Weather | Away | Forfeit all to Waverley This was the game from 02 Jul | ||
R12 | Away | 0 | Forfeit all to Forest | |
R13 | Home | 0 | Forfeit all to Blue Mountains | |
R14 | Away | 0 | Forfeit all to Mosman |
That Shammies game was Old Boys Day out at Knox and that 3rd grade team was not their 3rd grade team....Having a look at team sheets for the season (excluding Colts).
They forfeited 4th Grade twice in the first half of the year.
The game being washed out on 2nd July, followed with the Bye on 9th July, looks like it hurt their Third Grade with 2 forfeits there immediately after.
That's a 4-week period with no Third Grade, before they returned in R11 to smack Shammies 61-0 in 3s.
People going overseas for some sun?
Horrid sport cricket. What were the grounds like at the other games this week in the Div 2/3/4 FinalsCricket pitches everywhere are fucked, not just Camperdown....
With another El Nina wet weather shit-fight forecast this spring, I doubt any cricket will be played anyway...
Colleagues got onto Pfitzys favourite surface
Div 2 Semi Finals Preview
1st grade
UNSW vs Hawkesbury V: Only clash this year resulted in a 45-21 victory to HV. Can see a similar result coming Saturday with a strong HV result, as along with Newport these two teams are a class above in Barraclough
Newport vs Lindfield: Lindfield will be praying for rain all week to try and nullify Newports sparkling backline. Sefton was a bog last week and is not at semi final standard. Newport victories 41-10 and 29-17, the last game being 3 weeks ago when Lindfield scored two late tries in last 5 mins. But having watched Gordon beat Norths yesterday anything is possible in finals footy. Newport should win and win well with a Breakers victory by 15+ (unless it pisses down and it will be closer).
2nd grade
UNSW vs Newport: UNSW edged out a tight victory in the teams only clash but Newport were down signifcant cattle with a covid outbreak impacting players across the grades. UNSW late season form has been strong and they will go in justifed favourities but think if Newport are at full strength they can overcome this challenge. My blue eye says Breakers but I will go with UNSW in a very tight affair.
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier were deserved Minor premiers and go in heavy favourites. My only concern is game fitness as they havent played for 3 weeks but they should have enough talent to see of a gallant Hills outfit.
Colts
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier edged out a 8-5 victory mid season and Hills will like their chances of an upset. Question marks remain over Lindfields backline defence but I think a forward game beckons with Lindfield heading to the big dance.
Newport vs Easts: Easts inflicted one of only two losses for the Breakers and are a real chance of getting the biscuits here. This game will come down to a touch of class from someone to secure a victory. Head says Easts but heart says Breakers...just by 1
3rd grade
Newport vs UNSW: Minor premiers should have too much firepower for UNSW and should grind out a solid victory even though their only season loss was to the students. Saturday will have a very different Newport side to that mid season loss.
Hills vs Lindfield: Hills will be way too tough for old soldier and a 10+ victory awaits for Hills.
My bad. Lindfield by 20+Believe Lindfield are playing Beecroft in the colts not Hills.
Where is Sydney Harbour from?