NSW GPS: Grammar v. Scots review

Fred Clark September 4, 2012 12

A very windy day down at Weigall greeted a good crowd for the second last game of the season between Sydney Grammar School and The Scots College. Grammar’s old boys were out in force and the Father’s Day Raffle was popular.

Grammar 5 – Scots 114

One wondered what was in store during the Seconds’ match. Grammar looked pretty good – fighting fiercely through a very even contest. Sideline commentary suggested Grammar’s 16As are pretty good this year. The Grammar 10 looked very sharp in the 2nds, passing crisply and taking the ball on the front foot.

The 1sts match rolled on and what was expected transpired. Scots ran in about 20 tries for a 114-5 score line. Scots maintained impressive discipline, with no one succumbing to the temptation to indulge in silly rugby.

Grammar’s pack is in fact quite a handy unit, with a good understanding of tight play. They played with outstanding spirit, given the unevenness of the contest. When Grammar’s pack gained possession of the ball, it was able to string together a few ten-phase sequences that revealed that a rugby XV is built on the platform laid down by the forwards. Nonetheless, the class and size differential is undeniable.

However, in front of us were two teams working hard to present quality schoolboy rugby for an enthusiastic crowd. Grammar’s Weigall Field is, in fact a wonderful place to watch rugby, and the Grammar boys made sure their team knows it is appreciated. The highlight of the match came in the final five minutes when Grammar’s pack gained its due reward with a well-controlled forward surge. Congratulations to Grammar’s prop, Harrison Rosen for his try. Didn’t the Grammar boys roar!

During the 1sts, much of the sideline commentary revolved around text messages from the Newington–Shore match, and some excitement was generated when it was reported that Shore was in front. An oft-repeated sentiment was the need for a promotion-relegation, or two-tier system among Sydney’s rugby high schools.

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About the author: Fred Clark View all posts by Fred Clark

Played some fun schoolboy rugby in Sydney years ago. Picked up a few games in the UK and the USA. Coached high school, university, men's and women's rugby in Boston for seven years.

Discussion »

Cliff

I saw Grammar 1st XV in a trial and although well beaten they looked to be a good team. Reading the posts on this site it looks as if they have a good deal of character and commitment despite being on the receiving end of some lopsided scorelines.
My proposal for 2013 is this. A 6 team GPS 1st XV competiton with Grammar being relegated to the 2nd XV competition. Adopt a home and away format like CAS so there would be 10 competition matches. Grammar 1sts be added to the 2nd XV competition along with TAS 1sts, High 1sts to play in the 3rd XV competition. Both of these competitions be the one round format we are familiar with.
John Deere

Lovely article, though appaling mistake. Harrison Rosen is the Grammar 1st XI’s arrogant goalkeeper. The try-scorer was none other than Anthony Penklis, their No. 1.

What you will have done for Rosen’s Zimbabwean-esque inflated ego is concerning.
Davo

Harrison Rosen plays 1st XI Football. Anthony Penklis is the name you were searching for.
big unit

i think its key to note that the goalkeeper for grammar’s first XI is a massive knobjockey, nothing further your honour
Bubba

Agreed. No Rosen.
Fred Clark

Sorry fellas – and my sincere apologies to Anthony Penklis, the Grammar prop who played his guts out. Congratulations Anthony.

I have consulted the program and discovered there are soccer teams listed in Saturday sports programs. This is where I tripped up – I looked at the player wearing #1 in the 1st XI, not the 1st XV. Soccer teams were never published in a program in my day! Sacre bleu!

Consider this my lesson. Sorry Anthony.
Vboom

16A’s had a fierce match up against Scots.
I believe a 22-10 score to Scots which doesn’t do the game justice considering the penalty count and the pressure placed by the Grammar boys should have had SG well in front.
Scots played an excellent defense game and also played well in the backs which lead to majority of their tries.
- The Big Jimbo
  
  Agreed. Missing a few outside backs to injury, one might wonder how different that game may have been if Grammar were able to get their full finishing efficiency. That is one aspect that has really impressed me through this entire year with this team, their ability to finish the few opportunities they get. Scots’ 15 was really able to dig them out of some serious territorial issues through the game, spreading Grammar’s defence and salvaging them from the coffin corner of Weigall’s pavilion end. Highly entertaining rugby all around.
David

The Grammar 2nds played well. Their opposition was the Scots 5ths.
Baldo

And as a Jo boy I remember being beaten by Grammar two years in a row 78/79 !

How times have changed, my question is, what are Old Grammarians doing about the state of their rugby ? Very very sad.
Pooks

I am sorry, how can you commend a team for letting in 20 tries. I am a SGS old boy and feel the school administrators have alot to answer for. I am sure the 15 boys tried their best, but why does the school continue to recruit scores of pupils only interested in a UAI over 95. The school needs to look at students who give back to the school…
- Fred Clark
  
  @Pooks. Agreed. Could not agree more, in fact. What I think about the state of Grammar and High’s rugby is unprintable in a family magazine. Plus, I don’t think the match report is the right forum for voicing my very strong opinions on the subject. You are the Grammar Old Boy – I would suggest the ball is in your court.