Sydney Subbies 2025

[Footyhead67]

I see no game between Waverley and Hunters Hill in colts tomorrow. I assume it’s a Waverley forfeit just based on the ladder.

Quite surprised… knowing Waverley has the quality in grade.

 

[Pfitzy]

My impression over the last few years is Waverley treats Colts like a burden

 

[Fletch]

I want to flag something with the conversation around 'one bye a month like Ireland' and still the issues with forfeits. As an example from what I know about Munster J1 which is similar to Subbies, the clubs don't necessarily play their teams all on the same day. A club's J2 ie 2nd Grade team might play Friday night then the J1 on Sunday. The J2 will not play as often and the club will also play cup fixtures. Guys keep turning up when the season looks over because there is generally a balance of cups across divisions beginning and ending throughout the year keeping them interested. My Irish sponsor who played a decent level in Ireland thinks clubs that have decent lights should play a floodlight comp for instance playing clubs outside our division more locally in one grade. Cup rounds might suit the numbers in school holiday weekends/ even mid-week? if clubs dont have numbers they go harder at the next cup rounds.

 

[Pfitzy]

Some good insight Fletch.

We're operating in a model that welds a club together for the most part (women's excepted for now) and expects that cohesion to be a cornerstone of what "club" means.

Contrast this to other sports who tend to participate more at team level (league, soccer, Aussie rules).

Our model is slightly easier for management - operating on a skeleton crew of volunteers, mostly - means having everyone in one place is far easier. The distributed model requires a bit more volunteer support and usually finance. Organising venues would be a little more tricky as well.

Others have posted here a combined 3-grade model for the lower divisions where everyone from single to three grade clubs are part of the same comp, having realised they will never have the capacity to grow to first/second division level

 

[Pfitzy]

Nothing like a full game of first grade at tight head prop against a bloke half your age to make you feel alive

 

[footy_footy]

Some interesting results around the grounds. Newport pick up a much needed win over Lindfield, who continue to struggle. Drummoyne slip to the bottom of the club championship after a tough day at Mosman. Waverley, Colleagues and Blue Mountains locked up in a fierce battle for the top 4 - will be some great viewing in coming weeks. The Hunters Hill juggernaut continues to roll on!

Still a long way to go but the battle between Lindfield, Newport and Drummoyne to avoid the CC spoon will also be interesting viewing,

A few clubs bounced back after a tough week with St Pat's having a good day v Forest and Petersham returning to form at Irish. UNSW did well at Rothwell Park to take a handy lead at the top of the Cowboy Cup.

Hills the team to beat in Div 3 with impressive grade depth and probably the club most likely and capable of returning to Div 2, particularly if they can sort a colts team. Do Hills Juniors still exist and is there any connection between the two.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Are clubs expecting business as normal this week? We’ve seen a swathe of unavailability last week from clubs with School holidays, snow trips and the lions.
I’d assume this week there would be a lot of people traveling to Melbourne for the 2nd test so some clubs may still feel the drain on player numbers.

 

[Pfitzy]

Do Hills Juniors still exist and is there any connection between the two.

Last I heard, Hills Juniors were running 2-3 teams. Not sure which age groups - might be available in Rugby Xplorer?

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

If results go as per the current standings it will be hard to see Drummoyne making up the difference that the 1s win for Newport has opened up. Newports colts should carry them to safety along with results in 3s for Lindfield.

It will be interesting to see if Drummoyne and Lindfield turn there attention to 2s for the last few rounds in an attempt to qualify for Finals. Assuming this weeks Double Points rounds go as predicted the bottom 3 will be out of contention in 1s.

Hills winning the Div 3 club championship is a bit ridiculous when they aren’t fielding all grades. Should they be penalised for no Colts like you would if you forfeited? The fact they’ve been so dominant and are regularly running 3 grades suggest they should of been in Div 2 this year to strengthen that comp.

 

[Here To Do]

UNSW did well at Rothwell Park to take a handy lead at the top of the Cowboy Cup.

Tough day to swallow after the good few weeks we've had and the stumbles UNSW have encountered after their dominant start.

Our 4th Grade "Bin Chickens" were very much in the fight but were at risk of coming away with 0 points until a late try on the bell to claim the LBP. Disappointing to go 0-3 against them this season but may have a 4th crack at them in Aug/Sep.

3rd Grade was a good win for us - for a team that weren't even also-rans over the past few years, they're absolutely on a tear.

Colts went as expected in terms of outcome but another strong effort by a team that were getting outclassed previously. Not much left for us to play for in terms of Robertson Cup but the effort and skill is developing. A lot of players that will transition into senior grades over the next few seasons.

2nd Grade was a tough pill to swallow. Not only were we in front at various points, we led by a fair way. The wheels fell off and our win streak ended not with a bang but with a whimper. We're still in Finals as things stand but are now firmly sandwiched between clubs that can accrue points.

1st Grade... I'm surprised I haven't been waking up in a cold sweat shivering and screaming. I really don't like criticising or debating referee decisions - I've had a number of them come up to me to chat and I completely understand it's a thankless and very difficult job and I try to keep that in mind during my calls.

That said, I don't see how we end up with a red card for two blokes having a scuffle and a bump without any obvious strikes or even handbags. I will never know what the referee and AR saw given that, from my vantage point, there was nothing resembling a strike - they may very well have seen something on the blind-side of the camera, but considering the prior game ended with a player apiece getting YELLOW for shadow boxing each other, I do not see how he could have seen red.

We went from being completely in control of that game to a heavy defeat in 15 minutes. A bit like our GF loss last year, I almost had premonitions and could see the exact result playing out from that point on.

From the ecstasy of a senior sweep away to claiming only 1 win in front of a packed crowd. Ouch.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

From the ecstasy of a senior sweep away to claiming only 1 win in front of a packed crowd. Ouch.

Whilst no match up is ever easy. Briars are in a good position having played the two top sides in Division 2. The remainder of the year should be a good one for Briars

 

[CasOb]

My impression over the last few years is Waverley treats Colts like a burden

My view is Waverley face an impossible and burdensome job with nearby Shute Shield clubs putting out 3-4 colts teams and thus starving local Subbies clubs of any possible recruits. (Exception is Colleagues & UNSW Colts)
Could this be a deliberate policy of Sydney Rugby Union?
Or maybe just plain greed to lock up future SS candidates from Colts?
Lower Colts players are unlikely to progress to higher grade Shute Shield teams.

Michael Iacono
St Pats Rugby

 

[Here To Do]

Whilst no match up is ever easy. Briars are in a good position having played the two top sides in Division 2. The remainder of the year should be a good one for Briars

For sure - wasn't expecting a slaughter by us, there's a reason they're in prime position to push for a D1 promo - it's just tough to have both top grades within a few minutes of big scalps.

 

[Pfitzy]

My view is Waverley face an impossible and burdensome job with nearby Shute Shield clubs putting out 3-4 colts teams and thus starving local Subbies clubs of any possible recruits. (Exception is Colleagues & UNSW Colts)
Could this be a deliberate policy of Sydney Rugby Union?
Or maybe just plain greed to lock up future SS candidates from Colts?
Lower Colts players are unlikely to progress to higher grade Shute Shield teams.

Michael Iacono
St Pats Rugby

It is a difficult location to recruit, but Waverley are not short of resources or visibility to recruit.

They won the Barbour Cup in 2022. So it is not impossible.

As for the SRU plan - I don't think they give us as much thought as they do other SRU clubs when it comes to warehousing Colts,

 

[footy_footy]

Big game in the Joy Johnson Cup this weekend - Hornsby v Norths. Both teams undefeated with perfect 4-try bonus points.

Hornsby points difference 519 lead Norths with 472. Every other team has a negative differential…

I don’t say this to be critical but it’s pretty obvious these two teams are well beyond the Subbies JJC level. Perhaps a bit disheartening for the other teams if there aren’t great prospects of reaching the grand final?

Should be a great a Waitara though. I’m tipping Norths to hand Hornsby their first loss - 36-30.

 

[footy_footy]

My view is Waverley face an impossible and burdensome job with nearby Shute Shield clubs putting out 3-4 colts teams and thus starving local Subbies clubs of any possible recruits. (Exception is Colleagues & UNSW Colts)
Could this be a deliberate policy of Sydney Rugby Union?
Or maybe just plain greed to lock up future SS candidates from Colts?
Lower Colts players are unlikely to progress to higher grade Shute Shield teams.

Michael Iacono
St Pats Rugby

Waverley won’t be getting any sympathy from me.
Great location, well resourced, a number of very strong rugby schools nearby including Waverley. The fact Colleagues regularly run 2 Subbies colts teams suggests there is in fact enough players in the Eastern Suburbs, if you want them.

 

[Pfitzy]

I don’t say this to be critical but it’s pretty obvious these two teams are well beyond the Subbies JJC level. Perhaps a bit disheartening for the other teams if there aren’t great prospects of reaching the grand final?

I think everyone knew the deal going in, the and many clubs are aware that Hornsby are several seasons ahead in terms of experience.

Speaking to Hunters Hill earlier in the year, they hadn't won a game at that point and were just loving the game and having fun.

Norths, tho.... Why aren't they in the edit: SRU women's Div 2 comp?

 

[ThatsCatty]

I think everyone knew the deal going in, the and many clubs are aware that Hornsby are several seasons ahead in terms of experience.

Speaking to Hunters Hill earlier in the year, they hadn't won a game at that point and were just loving the game and having fun.

Norths, tho.... Why aren't they in the edit: SRU women's Div 2 comp?

I believe they didn't want to field a 15's team.

They have a strong 7's background.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

That said, I don't see how we end up with a red card for two blokes having a scuffle and a bump without any obvious strikes or even handbags. I will never know what the referee and AR saw given that, from my vantage point, there was nothing resembling a strike - they may very well have seen something on the blind-side of the camera, but considering the prior game ended with a player apiece getting YELLOW for shadow boxing each other, I do not see how he could have seen red.

24:40 into the second half for those playing at home, just checked it out, that's one of the all time flops from the UNSW player lol

 

[footy_footy]

Bit late to it but realised it is a full double points round in Div 1 this weekend. Mosman & Hunters Hill is shaping up as a beauty at the top of the table.

Newport losing their home game and getting double points at Lapstone hurts. Hard to see the Breakers returning home with anything but a Colts win.

An away day at Colleagues is never easy and Lindfield certainly up against it. A blue rinse likely for the Old Soldiers! Hard to see Drummoyne faring much better v Waverley but the Dirtyreds have home ground advantage and likely to take the points in Colts.