NSW AAGPS 2023

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hard to disagree with that team. Close games make it hard.

Agree Dillon deserves a mention and I'd personally add Scots 8 into the special mention category. Score would have been higher without his cover defence and took what seemed like at least half of the hit ups.

 

[Joker]

'Joker's Location, Location, Location Venue Review'
In no particular order.

Newington
Johnson Oval
“The Brickpit”

Plus +

1. Wonderful elevated sight lines from two sides of the ground with old buildings adding to the “charm”. Great atmosphere
2. The Tongan hospitality with the pork rolls to die for. After match function is always a good feed too. Very welcoming.
3. Location to public transport makes for an easy arrival and departure for those who want to leave the car at home. Train/Bus access.

Minus -
1. The flight path and the plane noise. Sometimes they are so low you can read the inflight menu’s. They can distract.
2. Car parking if almost nonexistent with local kids in the past known for pinching car badges and hub cups. Park at your own peril
3. The oval being known for being rock hard at times as it drains well, hence “The Brickpit”.

 

[Joker]

St Ignatius College
Number 1
“The Swamp/Black lagoon”

Plus +

1. Plenty of parking for everyone (unless you are INP who they won’t let in.) 4WD is a must if the day is wet. Beware council rangers.
2. Entertainment a plenty with the View lads being the wildest and looniest supporters in the AAGPS. Always something happening with them.
3. Lovely ambience with the natural bush setting and plenty of elevation for all to see. Eastern sideline open to spectators.

Minus -

1. Seating. NONE. The main grandstand is left to the lunatics and the old wooden one the visitor’s students. Old boy groups swamp ends.
2. If it is wet during the week….the nickname makes sense. This is why View are the best mud runners in the AAGPS.
3. Security. As View is an incredibly expansive school you can walk in from many points. hard to lock down, hence 2018 was a nightmare.

 

[Joker]

The Kings School
White Oval
“Bottom Paddock”

Plus +

1. Parking. If you get there early in the Land Rover you can snag a spot at the southern end with a great view. Excellent for picnics.
2. Playing surface. One of the best. Older heads will recall the mud pit it once was. Was elevated and now is a much-improved pasture.
3. Canteen. Extensive with plenty of lovely Kings nanny’s serving. Hot chips! BBQ though can run out early so get in quick.

Minus -

1. Seating. While many do enjoy a seat on the grass, when it is wet it is very comfortable. Limited seats reserved for the boys as well.
2. Atmosphere. Being such an expansive paddock, the sound gets lost so hence it loses something.
3. Spectators a long way away from the action. Note the photo above. If you sat on the hill on the halfway line you are almost 40m away.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'll take it. Was expecting worse.

Plans for the development are in the works thankfully. Fencing as well. To keep INP out.

 

[Joker]

The Scots College
Main Oval
“Death Star”

Plus +

1. Blackwatch Café. One of the best coffees in the GPS. Excellent food selection and open after full time. BBQ burgers are very good.
2. Atmosphere. With the ground surrounded by buildings finished (and unfinished) the sound echoes nicely. One of the best.
3. Seating for visitors. Not all schools line their western touchline with stands. Scots use some of the abundant scaffolding for this.

Minus -

1. The Death Star has very poor drainage and so many times the College has promised to fix it. Money spent on Castles instead.
2. Bagpipes. The sounds of cats being strangled to the tune of “You’re the Voice” just makes your skin crawl. Silence the pipes.
3. Parking. If you don’t the know the neighborhood you won’t know where to park. Streets fill up quickly. Council rangers lurking everywhere.

 

[Joker]

Shore School
Northbridge A
“Stirling Bridge”

Plus +

1. Parking. Yes this is big selling point. Late in the day they open the back fields up. So much appreciated. Makes for a stress free day.
2. Canteen. Staffed by the lovely mums they serve a wide variety of food. Pies were on the menu and now sadly gone. Excellent steak sandwiches.
3. Grandstand. Looks 2/3 finished but it does have a fantatsic view plus projects the sound of the 2nd wildest supporters in the AAGPS.

Minus-

1. Wind. Being so open to the elements the late south-western breeze gets up it does come into play. Goal kicking very hard.
2. No elevation. Only a fraction of this cricket ground is elevated so 75% of supporters are at ground level and a long way away for the action.
3. Cricket pitch. While not as hard as Newington, the cricket pitch does get muddy then dries rock hard. Dangerous in the past.

 

[Joker]

St Joseph’s College
Park No. 1
“Heaven’s playground”

Plus +

1. The Rowers BBQ. The most generous in the AAGPS. Feeling hungry? Get “The Rower” which is huge. Plenty of other options as well.
2. Playing surface. Rated by former Wallaby’s Coach Robbie Deans, “The best in Australia” Santa Ana grass makes the difference.
3. Jack’s Bar. Open at the end of the 1st XV game. Only licensed bar on school grounds in the GPS. Catholics are so damn civilized.

Minus -

1. Riverview games. On those Saturdays the attendance swells to 10000+ with many being pre-loaded old boys. Becomes a battle ground.
2. Change rooms. Weak showers, smaller than most and access for the visitors to the field is through the Joeys boys. Intimidating.
3. Bench tapers. Spectators who come in on the Friday afternoon and claim bench space with blankets taped down. First in best dressed I say.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Shore School
Northbridge A
“Stirling Bridge”

View attachment 16117

Plus +

1. Parking. Yes this is big selling point. Late in the day they open the back fields up. So much appreciated. Makes for a stress free day.
2. Canteen. Staffed by the lovely mums they serve a wide variety of food. Pies were on the menu and now sadly gone. Excellent steak sandwiches.
3. Grandstand. Looks 2/3 finished but it does have a fantatsic view plus projects the sound of the 2nd wildest supporters in the AAGPS.

Minus-

1. Wind. Being so open to the elements the late south-western breeze gets up it does come into play. Goal kicking very hard.
2. No elevation. Only a fraction of this cricket ground is elevated so 75% of supporters are at ground level and a long way away for the action.
3. Cricket pitch. While not as hard as Newington, the cricket pitch does get muddy then dries rock hard. Dangerous in the past.

minus 4. the useless positioning of the scoreboard for anyone who is not seated in stand.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

St Joseph’s College
Park No. 1
“Heaven’s playground”

View attachment 16118

Plus +

1. The Rowers BBQ. The most generous in the AAGPS. Feeling hungry? Get “The Rower” which is huge. Plenty of other options as well.
2. Playing surface. Rated by former Wallaby’s Coach Robbie Deans, “The best in Australia” Santa Ana grass makes the difference.
3. Jack’s Bar. Open at the end of the 1st XV game. Only licensed bar on school grounds in the GPS. Catholics are so damn civilized.

Minus -

1. Riverview games. On those Saturdays the attendance swells to 10000+ with many being pre-loaded old boys. Becomes a battle ground.
2. Change rooms. Weak showers, smaller than most and access for the visitors to the field is through the Joeys boys. Intimidating.
3. Bench tapers. Spectators who come in on the Friday afternoon and claim bench space with blankets taped down. First in best dressed I say.

bench tapers should be banned!

 

[aagpsrugbyfan]

The Scots College
Main Oval
“Death Star”

View attachment 16116

Plus +

1. Blackwatch Café. One of the best coffees in the GPS. Excellent food selection and open after full time. BBQ burgers are very good.
2. Atmosphere. With the ground surrounded by buildings finished (and unfinished) the sound echoes nicely. One of the best.
3. Seating for visitors. Not all schools line their western touchline with stands. Scots use some of the abundant scaffolding for this.

Minus -

1. The Death Star has very poor drainage and so many times the College has promised to fix it. Money spent on Castles instead.
2. Bagpipes. The sounds of cats being strangled to the tune of “You’re the Voice” just makes your skin crawl. Silence the pipes.
3. Parking. If you don’t the know the neighborhood you won’t know where to park. Streets fill up quickly. Council rangers lurking everywhere.

Best oval in the GPS in my opinion! The atmosphere is second to none. That Blackwatch Café is mint.

 

[Footybeers2]

GPS round 2 Recap
Those young little rascals at the Saint Joesephs college really let the horse get up the dress with the second draw in a row.
Kings expected to flog them young newington gents.
Absaloutely shocking from those young scots lad from the east. Fittler didn't live up to the hype I believe. Riverview played excellent.

Chow

 

[_offsideobserver_]

Morning all, for the people wondering, every week I will be attempting to posting the "Team of the Week" each Monday at 9am.
Congratulations to all the boys who made the round 2 team.

View attachment 16111


The flyhalf and fullback where the hardest positions to pick this week.
Special mention goes out towards the Riverview 10 Joe Dillion. The team and I argued about who was the best 10 this round and after a long debate, we chose B. Fakafanua.


The Import.

Hugo Orpin for 9, excellent kicking game and did not miss a conversion, Tom Klem for 15 over Patrick Broe?? Understood this was a interesting round but some of these are not correct

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

GPS round 2 Recap
Those young little rascals at the Saint Joesephs college really let the horse get up the dress with the second draw in a row.
Kings expected to flog them young newington gents.
Absaloutely shocking from those young scots lad from the east. Fittler didn't live up to the hype I believe. Riverview played excellent.

Chow

The more I read the worse it gets.

 

[The Grail]

St Joseph’s College
Park No. 1
“The Gulag's main oval”

A couple of quick points you missed Jokering, (possibly from pink/blue eye virus?). I would add that the Gulag's (aka Joeys) main oval has the visitors looking directly into the winter sun, with no shade from buildings to give the retinas some needed respite, if not standing at an end.

Parking can be an issue here around the Gulag's facilities.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Best oval in the GPS in my opinion! The atmosphere is second to none. That Blackwatch Café is mint.

definitely number 1 for the worst playing surface.

 

[Joker]

minus 4. the useless positioning of the scoreboard for anyone who is not seated in stand.

Agree. But not being able to see it makes you watch closely for the score. No clock on it.

 

[Joker]

I would add that the Gulag's (aka Joeys) main oval has the visitors looking directly into the winter sun, with no shade from buildings to give the retinas some needed respite, if not standing at an end.

Never been to Kings or Shore? Both give the eyeballs a real strain on a sunny clear day.
You may not also be aware that visiting parents are welcome to sit in the north and southern end of the grandstand....if you get in quick!
Parking? Yes it can be very hard. Many park near the HHH and walk up. Then walk back for dinner and drinks.

 

[Joker]

Gulag's (aka Joeys)

Yes I have heard that before along with North Korea, The secret kingdom and many that cannot be mentioned here

 

[Rudderless]

Hugo Orpin for 9, excellent kicking game and did not miss a conversion, Tom Klem for 15 over Patrick Broe?? Understood this was a interesting round but some of these are not correct

15 spots each week. Not easy.
Move on.