On The Loop matter - I was told that the game was going to be on there a month ago. It was only a few hundred metres away but apologies for the confusion I caused.
@Lee
Grant/@Hugh Jarse: Gentlemen do you think it would be a good idea to take some of the content of this thread (or copy the same) and create a thread titled "2015 U/20 National Championship".
Hugh is a gentleman, agreed, but no - it would be one of those situations where one wouldn't know which thread to use.
In all fairness I would state that most of the top players for City were not participating. I saw Fainga’a and Orr carrying the water with several others who I couldn’t see, and this was later confirmed by a very proud City grand-parent.
I saw @Lee Grant out there so I dare say a match report will be on its way shortly.
For the city lads I would have to dip my hat to the #7 (Dunbar I believe) who worked hard all game. I particularly liked his huge hit off the ruck mid-way through the first-half; a real bone rattler. The Fijian winger also played well with what ball he got and showed a good clean pair of heels down the sideline when he did. It was just a pity that the City lads couldn’t finish off some these opportunities. Too much dropped ball!
Yesterday I wrote a belated blog on the game here:
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nsw-country-20s-impress-trial/
It is mostly from the Country viewpoint because the Gen Blue Colts have got of bit of ink lately.
It would have been earlier but I had to watch the 6N games to put together a blog involving three writers and edit their stuff plus do a piece on the three games.
The Country boys gave the city slickers (including some country ringers) a scare in the first half but why is explained in the blog (which confirms your comments)
Rapp didn't have to look at Fainga'a or Orr because they are nailed-down certainties for the cut and ditto for McCalman, who had a run in the second half, and Hanigan, both whom played for the Gen Blue senior team in Campbelltown on Friday night.
Handling was a big problem for the Gen Blue Colts in the first half and the boys had no excuse because they had enough training runs.
Often it was because they didn't play with enough depth to run onto the ball and that meant the ball was at the receiver's shoulder instead of in front of them; other times the passers were trying too hard and dishing out a step too late, which had the same effect; other times it was a slippery ball and sometimes the effect of youngsters not being able to pass as well one way as the other.
Whatever, the Country boys who came together as a group for the first time on Friday night and had their first training run on Saturday were better at it in the first half.
They won't be much better off before their Adelaide meet because they'll get together in Sydney on a Friday (without any further training together before then), have a training session in the morning and play in Adelaide on the Saturday - but they are country lads and as their their coach told me: they don't complain, they just get on with it.
I'd warrant the Queensland country lads will be in a similar position; but country people always do the best they can with what they've got.
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