BillyBlack
Allen Oxlade (6)
St Pius 1st XV have the bye this week, but several players from the 1sts will be having a run in the Pius 2nd XV against Blue Mountains Grammar 1st XV at Oxford falls on Saturday.
ISA Rugby 2013
- Thread starter Tom Ando
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ISA FAN
Frank Row (1)
Agree - perhaps lucky Greg's came in. Could Chev and Greg's merge to add extra games across grades. Not sure how many each are fielding but combined could possibly match bigger ISa schools. maybe they play against each other early and grade accordingly??
Hell West & Crooked
Alex Ross (28)
Its makeshift at the end of the day... I think the reality is that the High Schools would struggle to compete regularly against Private Schools due to Teachers Federation and other complications regarding Extra-Curricular activities - and in Sydney, with all the moves towards Co-ed Enrolments, there simply may not be enough strong Rugby Schools to support a strong '4th' competition alongside CAS,CHS & GPS... Yes it is fortunate to have St. Gregs in there - but even with them, its still a 3-fixture week.
I beiefly thought the answer may be in the Sports High Schools - but it has been demonstarted to me that this would never work.
St Gregs have come in from the cold, TAS seems to have potential - but don't seem to get many games in a regular competition (is that correct?) are there any other schools in Sydney or Newcastle that are capable of fronting teams in Rugby, Football, Cricket, Athletics - and others, who are simply not getting a run in any solid competitions?
ISA FAN
Frank Row (1)
when you say 3 week does that mean though they are making up a number Greg's aren't really competitive. I see some wins from 1st XV but do they compete?
Hell West & Crooked
Alex Ross (28)
Not at all, from the fixture list kindly provided above, it looks to be 3 Fixtures per week, and 1 team has a bye - this week I believe that is St Pius...
I should add that this has long been a criticism of the CAS - from within and without & although there is NO deadwood in that competition, many believe that 6 schools is at least 2 schools too few...
ISA FAN
Frank Row (1)
apologies - I thought you were saying there are only four viable schools that are good enough.
Hell West & Crooked
Alex Ross (28)
I think all the schools in ISA Division 1 are strong enough - if Gregs eventually gets it Union programme to replace the mungoes - or at least outnumber it, then i think they will also become formidable - it might take another half-dozen years...
Out of respect to St Andrews Old Boys i will refrain from comment - but I note they are now in division 2. A few of the Division 2 schools might come good - but I don't know enough about their make-up to comment - they appear to be largely co-ed schools though.
I simply think you need 8 schools and 4 fixtures per week, in order to get momentum... then a 2-round competition may also become aquite interesting proposition - and not so monotonous.... In CAS, you can play a team in round 1 at the beginning of the month - and play them again in round 2, by the end of that same month!
Hell West & Crooked, Not sure what you have against a 3 fixture competition in ISA Div I.
CAS has 6 schools in it, and has had 6 schools for quite some time. That is a 3 fixture a week competition.
AAGPS this year in 1st XV, 2nd XV and U16 have 6 schools in it, NEW, VIEW, KINGS, SCOTS, SHORE, JOEYS. This is a 3 fixture per week competition.
CAS has 6 schools in it, and has had 6 schools for quite some time. That is a 3 fixture a week competition.
AAGPS this year in 1st XV, 2nd XV and U16 have 6 schools in it, NEW, VIEW, KINGS, SCOTS, SHORE, JOEYS. This is a 3 fixture per week competition.
Is there a bye in ISA div 3 as well?
Anyone know how Div 3 works? I thought it was Oxley 1st XV, BMGS 1st XV, and OakHill 3rd XV, Pats 3rd XV, Aug 3rd XV in a regular competition, as opposed to some sort of ad-hoc series of matches.
Starting Lineup
Stan Wickham (3)
Can someone tell me where to look up the season's draw for Isa 1sts. I have tried a few sites but can find it ? Cheers.
Rugby Tragic
Chris McKivat (8)
This week's tips:
Oakhill V St Greg's
If Oakhill defend the same way as they did last week, i can't see teams putting big scores on them. It looks like they will build the year around their defence and take opportunities from it. St Greg's had 67 points put on them by Joey's 1st's, so there defence will need to muscle up to ensure a tight contest. I'm expecting a tight first half with the game to open up in the second half
Oakhill by 12
Kinross V Auggies
Kinross are a very strong side at home and if not taken seriously will surprise Auggies, however Auggies are a class outfit. I see it again tight at first with both packs getting very physical. But if Auggies get clean quick front foot ball they will win comfortably.
Auggies by 18
Stannies V Pats
Pats, threw alot at Oakhill in attack last week, if they can hang onto the ball and finish they should see points that were denied last week. However, not too many teams go over the mountain and come home with the win. I hope someone can post a report on this one , as i think it will be a cracker.
Stannies by 3 in a tight one.
Oakhill V St Greg's
If Oakhill defend the same way as they did last week, i can't see teams putting big scores on them. It looks like they will build the year around their defence and take opportunities from it. St Greg's had 67 points put on them by Joey's 1st's, so there defence will need to muscle up to ensure a tight contest. I'm expecting a tight first half with the game to open up in the second half
Oakhill by 12
Kinross V Auggies
Kinross are a very strong side at home and if not taken seriously will surprise Auggies, however Auggies are a class outfit. I see it again tight at first with both packs getting very physical. But if Auggies get clean quick front foot ball they will win comfortably.
Auggies by 18
Stannies V Pats
Pats, threw alot at Oakhill in attack last week, if they can hang onto the ball and finish they should see points that were denied last week. However, not too many teams go over the mountain and come home with the win. I hope someone can post a report on this one , as i think it will be a cracker.
Stannies by 3 in a tight one.
sootyanddave
Allen Oxlade (6)
I think oakhill to just win in an arm wrestle. I think Oakhill are not as strong as usual,and Gregs are improving each year.A win to Gregs would not surprise.
Kinross to win in an upset.A well coached solid unit, will beat a softer than usual Augustines. Reputations don't win games, but performances do.There are a too many big guns not performing in the Augustines team this year. Some egos need a reality check.
Pats will beat Stannies, playing it in Bathurst will keep it close.
Kinross to win in an upset.A well coached solid unit, will beat a softer than usual Augustines. Reputations don't win games, but performances do.There are a too many big guns not performing in the Augustines team this year. Some egos need a reality check.
Pats will beat Stannies, playing it in Bathurst will keep it close.
Starting Lineup
Stan Wickham (3)
Anyone ?????? Lol.
Rugby Tragic
Chris McKivat (8)
SL,
I think you will need to go to each schools website and check there weekly newsletter, Stannies, Oakhill and Augies have a full rugby schedule posted.
Cheers
I think you will need to go to each schools website and check there weekly newsletter, Stannies, Oakhill and Augies have a full rugby schedule posted.
Cheers
ISA FAN
Frank Row (1)
SGC also has it on their website - I just found it
Hell West & Crooked
Alex Ross (28)
I am not sure I have something 'against' it - I simply believe that a 3-fixture competition is less than ideal - and is certainly too few for a 2-round competition. I also believe that a bye in a schools competition is undesirable - especially one in which you might only play 6 official competition games in any case.
In terms of the CAS Competition, I think it is fair to say that many within the CAS - Not All, but Many - believe the competition is at least 2 schools short of an ideal size - this is a discussion / argument which goes back decades - (and has been adequately thrashed about on another thread)... what the CAS does have in its favour, is that it has 6 schools which are of around equal size / equal strength - in many sports, not just Rugby / comparible facilities/wealth, and similar policies regarding Sports Participation...
As to the AAGPS Competition, if you were to ask NEW, VIEW, KINGS, SCOTS, SHORE & JOEYS do they prefer the old days when Sydney High and Grammar - if not world beaters, at least put competitive teams up across all grades - I think you would be met with a resounding Yes! In the future, this may yet once more be the case - and I believe that it is an 8-team competition in other grades, and other sports?
We often engage in a dichotomous discussion here; On the one hand, School Rugby is there so the kids can learn to play sport and have fun - it is there to teach them about Teamwork, Winning with Class, and Losing with Dignity, it teaches them to look for reserves within themselves they may overlook in daily life, and how to strive for success as a part of something bigger than themselves, it can teach a child also, that people respond differently when placed in positions of pressure and stress, and quiet people sometimes come out of their shell on a rugby pitch - gregarious people sometimes wilt in the spotlight - Rugby, like Cricket is a Laboratory for Life. In this criteria, a 2-Fixture, 3-Fixture, or any other arrangement will provide a child with the simple enjoyment of Rugby.
On the other hand, we also talk about how we might produce players that stand-up and represent us when the All-Blacks or The B&I Lions come to town... how do we find players that can cope at an elite level?... When a kid is 15, 16 or 17 years of age, it is too soon to tell too much about him - even whether he will bother playing the game after he leaves school. But what does happen at this at this age, is the core-skills are developed, and basic physiology takes shape - a kid who goes to a school where he plays 3 or so sports per year, will likely turn out different than if he goes to one where the playground is bitumen, and he spends that time sitting on his arse on a computer game. It is at this level where I am suggesting that the situation - at least in Sydney, is less than ideal.
I am not suggesting that a 3-round fixture is unsupportable - simply that it is less than ideal - particularly in ISA where the relative strengths of the Division 1 Schools are somewhat more disparate than they are in either CAS or GPS... It is another reason why I am such an advocate of the Waratah Shield as a vehicle for widespread participation by all the individual competitions.
The other somewhat distracting aspect of the discussion is that I deplore the idea that the environment may come to resemble the college system in the US, with all the poor sportsmanship, narcissism, and win-at-all-costs attitude that seems to go with it. I recently read a forum here where the Headmaster of Gregory Terrace spoke out against an 'arms race' of Rugby Teams in Brisbane, and I applaud his position. I think the traditions which are inherent in GPS & CAS sport - of uncompromising competition, combined with a level of 'sportsmanship' and ethics' is worth preserving in our kids.
I don't believe the individual associations shoud be required to change, or even feel the need to change. However, I do believe the perception I have of ISA, as at least 'intending' to foster competitive sport across a broader range of member schools, is one to be supported and encouraged.
The simple fact is that when you list the criteria of Playing numbers, Facilities and Teacher/Parent participation in coaching, referreeing (umpiring) and Logisitics, I think the 'well' in Sydney has pretty much run low...
and yes, I do think that 6 teams is too few.
Perhaps we need a government that will put this Super-fast train in place at last - and when the ACT is only a One Hour trip from Parrmatta, the options for participation change considerably, once more.
p.s... there are what - 9 schools in the Brisbane GPS? - I think it would be a reasonable bet that the strongest schools in this competition would account for any school team in Sydney... alas - this is never tested in our current environment.
sootyanddave
Allen Oxlade (6)
Look in the kid's diary.It will have each game the School is playing each week
RugbyTears
Chris McKivat (8)
Hugh, the three 3rd Division schools (Oxley Grammar, BMGS & Scots Bathurst are in a "comp" together with the 3rd XVs from Oakhill, St Pats, Stannies & Auggies. I am not 100% sure but I think Pius 2nd XV plays in this "comp" as well.
Is there a bye, you asked. For the 3rd XVs from the Div 1 schools, there is no bye. As a matter of fact they have an extra round. And the Div 3 schools also get to play someone every round.
Is this a regular "comp"? I am not sure if this a 3rd XV comp or a Div 3 comp. But they play 35 min halves (ie 1st XV rule) but they also have unlimited interchange (3rd XV rule in ISA). I don't think the boys care -- they just want to play competitive matches as often as possible.
Elsewhere I have mentioned 'mix & match' fixtures like basketball across the 3 ISA divisions, and I think this year's 3rd XV experiment might be the start of where things will head. In a de facto way, it is already happening. I had a look at the Oakhill fixtures this week, and they have teams playing 8 diffrent schools including St Gregs & Oxley Grammar.
I hate "byes" as much as you do -- it is one sure way to turn a little kid & his/her parents off coming back next season in any sport .
angrydog
Jimmy Flynn (14)
Not sure if this is well known but more kids are actually playing union at Gregs then league. The difference is only small but it is there. I have been told this by a reliable source who also tells me that league is in a little trouble, not due to Gregs itself, but due to certain oppostition teams being so aggressive in their 'importing' of players many teams in the MCS league just arent willing to compete at 1st grade level. St Gregs is an exception and competes very well but the side affect is they are losing willing opponents. Let this be a warning on the dangers of scholarships etc.
Secondly, I know it has been raised before and I am one person who likes the idea, but if the ISA wants to muscle up it's comp I would love to see ACT teams like Eddies, Marist and maybe Grammar enter. Each school is very competitive in Cricket, soccer, athletics etc etc and their place in the ISA would as I mentioned before really add some muscle to the comp. I know it would be a logistical nightmare and probably not happen anytime soon but dreams are free. Really though, is there much difference between a road trip to Canberra than out to Orange?
Secondly, I know it has been raised before and I am one person who likes the idea, but if the ISA wants to muscle up it's comp I would love to see ACT teams like Eddies, Marist and maybe Grammar enter. Each school is very competitive in Cricket, soccer, athletics etc etc and their place in the ISA would as I mentioned before really add some muscle to the comp. I know it would be a logistical nightmare and probably not happen anytime soon but dreams are free. Really though, is there much difference between a road trip to Canberra than out to Orange?
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