CAS Rugby 2014

[William88]

Is anyone going to the CAS vs GPS games this afternoon? Would enjoy reading a match review.

 

[jbarnes43]

KNOX vs WAVERLEY

First of all great game!
It was an absolute thriller down at what the waverlians call Death Valley.
Waverley got up 12-10 against a strong and well structured Knox outfit.
Both Knox's tries were scored by their skilful centres, however unfortunately the kicker didn't have his kicking boots on that day. Waverleys tries were both scored by forwards. Waverleys kicker kicked 1/2 which in the end proved the deciding factor in the game as Knox's kicker kicked 0/3.
One notable point that disappointed me was that a noticeable amount of the Knox players did not attend the post-game function. I thought this was quite disrespectful to Waverley.

 

[sidelineview]

the keen teacher/coach would be burning a lot of midnight oil.
You are right sidelineview - they do.

and they do a bloody good job too .....

So what's the answer to the riddle?
There's a helluva lot of middle ground between a school hiring a professional coach and using a schoolteacher/coach who is coaching as his 'second job', even if he is being assisted by casual specialists coaches.

Does the school then arrange for the schoolteacher/coach to have some time off during the week to devote to his coaching duties?
How much time? one half of a day? one full day?
it sounds good in theory.

 

[The Oracle]

Is anyone going to the CAS vs GPS games this afternoon? Would enjoy reading a match review.

Sorry for being brief but as they say just the facts.... 2nds GPS lapped them . 60 something to 13 maybe? Couldn't make honourable mention of any CAS player sorry. They tied hard but were out of their depth. Surprisingly , a little closer in the 1sts 39-25 I think didn't have my glasses so couldn't read the scoreboard sorry. The CAS boys tried hard and applied pressure at times but could not sustain it for long periods. They scored three tries 1st by the winger who toed through a dropped ball by the GPS in their own 22 . The second by the in centre was a long range runaway from a quick turnover , as the Gps boys left a gaping hole right next to the breakdown . Although the other centre Watson , probably CAS best ,appeared to trip the chaser , who was rapidly closing ,the ref was right there and deemed it all fair. The last on the hooter from a kick across field was a bit of a lottery and also had a suggestion of doubt - possible knock on by Price the winger but again not obvious and he had a solid game and deserved some credit . The GPS boys played like they had been introduced to each other before kick off , and as I later found out nearly true, as they had only one session together prior. All in all not as bad as I thought it might have been . Maybe I am being a negative but I got the feeling that if the GPS team had more cohesion the score would have been similar to the 2nds. Tom Wright 14 for GPS was excellent scoring two tries and his long range one in the first half will leave CAS fullback Renton with nightmares!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Scores from today:
GPS 2 65 CAS 2 17 (2013 GPS II 31 CAS II 0) [2012 GPS II 36 CAS II 25]
GPS 1 36 CAS 1 25 (2013 GPS I 29 CAS I 14) [2012 GPS I 35 CAS I 12]

 

[SonnyDillWilliams]

thought the CAS v GPS Ones was a very high quality game

and CAS looked like they had a chance of a rare win

in CAS both centres played great ... particularly the long range try by number 12 ... so I didn't realise that Connor Watson had such a pacey inside wing man

for my money Widders-Lee is a freak ... and was the best of the 2 hookers .. despite Newington hooker doing no wrong

GPS front row however was very dominant (at scrum time)... and GPS's loosies .. Crichton (at 8) and the riverview 7 (Menzies) and red head scots 6 (Girdler) all played great, and had the upper hand

Edelstein showed his usual electric brillance and bagged a good try, and defends above his weight division

the Joeys winger wright proved the difference with his 2 excellent tries

actually I don't think there was a bad player out there

Renton played well at fullback and Summerhayes despite being in second row got through a good work rate ... as did the riverview 2nd rower

The View 13 (Hutchinson) probably got monstered a bit, but still played well

in term of the SDW points
CAS
3 points ... Widders - Lee [unlucky not to score], and freakish skills
2 points ...the knox centre pairing [Watson & ?]
1 point ... the number 7 with his socks down ... great work rate?

GPS
3 points ... the 2 newington props ... big and bigger [and still good work rate] ... they will eat well tonight
2 points ... strang (9) ... he is playing awesome, with great pass & turn of speed
1 point ... Tom Wright (joeys winger)

would have given 3 points to Crichton, but I stripped them, as I have noticed he has developed a slightly nasty habit of leading with his elbow ... so he played great, but stripped on a technicality

don't know how Hendrie (from Scots) played, but I'd bring him into the backs ... Freeman (View 15) I know has lot of experience, but he had a bit of a quiet game ... might argue the case to move Porter (scots) to fullback, and push Freeman to 2nds

either way very impressive teams .... no wonder junior rugby has been sucked dry of talent

 

[Kevin Gill]

Zach Edelstein had another fantastic field day for the CAS v GPS fixture today. His try at the start of the game was brilliantly executed. James Widders-Leece also had a blinder. Every time he got the ball, he gave the GPS defensive line a good solid battering. A player who hasn't been mentioned however is Roy Harrison who played 9 for the CAS. He was called up to the CAS 1st's after saturday when Steve Kirkby was ruled out with a shoulder injury. He played out of his skin and really proved himself today. I would say he had a much more dominant pass than the GPS 9 and was also better in defence.

 

[Lemons 2.0]

Completely Agree with SDW post about the game.

Knox paring in the centres for CAS seemed to be right on top of the GPS paring of England 12 and Hutchinson 13.

Going to very interesting to see how they go curagal this Friday. Form continues from Widders-Leece, Williams and Watson and a couple of the Cranbrook fellas, you never know.

 

[smokinjoe]

How dominant was the CAS line out!
At one point it seemed that GPS wouldn't kick for touch after losing a couple in a row on their own throw

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Why are the game at curagal instead of HQ?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Why are the game at curagal instead of HQ?

Presume you mean the Under 16 games @Inside Shoulder.

The Opens games have been at Curagul for a while, with the 16's at HQ on the weekend.

I can only assume that they have the Friday Games at Curagul to keep the kids at School focused on their studies (last day of term - of course they will be focused on their studies) and not lurking around the oval to watch the footy.

The 16's tourney occurs over a weekend so there is no distraction to students if it is held on Knox No 1. Perhaps there is some construction works or ground maintenance planned for the holidays.

 

[Ncfooty]

Anyone have any predictions for CAS boys to achieve NSW honours ?


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[Brainstrust]

Anyone have any predictions for CAS boys to achieve NSW honours ?


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Only seen the 1 game by CAS which was the GPS fixture. On that game alone, my view is these boys will feature. I know there will b others but the #2, #7 both #12 and #13 were all standouts in the game for CAS. Hard to say on the other CAS fwds, because the GPS fwds appeared stronger as individuals, but CAS often achieved better outcomes at the ruck. Tough call. There are some strong fwds running around in the ISA group as well with James Lough, Johnie Walker et al. Either way NSW should be putting 2 very strong sides out there. The standard on Tuesday was very high IMHO, especially given the short preparation both sides had, especially GPS.

 

[Onside]

Some action from CAS v GPS at Scots College on Tuesday.

 

[Braveheart81]

Very tetchy there Brian. How Knox chooses to spend their considerable money is their business, but please don't for a minute think that other schools will 'eventually do the same'.
Philosophically other schools (and the parents associated with those schools) see sport for what it is. A great past time, something to be nurtured and to be worked into the fabric of the school. But schools also exist for other reasons; to build a sense of obligation and service to others amongst the students and the teachers.
If you think forking out great wads of cash to try to purchase success (if you classify getting beaten by the team coming second last a success) then fair enough and more power to you. But every game you don't win against schools that persist with amateur teacher/coaches will surely raise that doubt in your minds as to whether money can buy loyalty or whether service to others is reward enough.
Give me a Waverley who wins occasionally with enthusiasm and loyalty to a school over one that wins because it thinks pouring financial and human resources equates to success. I thought Saturday's result was a great rugby outcome and a nice little life lesson for the boys. I am sure that the Knox boys gave their all but I wonder if they will ever think why they didn't win given the amount of resources they've been given ?

So should we ban professional coaches at schools but bring in a rule where every school gets at least one former Wallaby to teach maths?

I don't think Waverley beating Knox proves anything except the existence of tall poppy syndrome amongst some posters.

Of course having a professional coach doesn't guarantee victory against a team without a professional coach.

 

[sidelineview]

So should we ban professional coaches at schools but bring in a rule where every school gets at least one former Wallaby to teach maths?

I don't think Waverley beating Knox proves anything except the existence of tall poppy syndrome amongst some posters.

Of course having a professional coach doesn't guarantee victory against a team without a professional coach.

The situation with the different sporting/rugby programmes amongst CAS schools is what it is (to state the obvious). I've found the discussion interesting.

I disagree that Waverley beating Knox didn't prove anything. It at least proved what you asserted, and that is, that there are no guarantees regardless. The fact that there is such a disparity between the rugby programmes of the two schools and between the expectation/predictions for the season accentuates your statement. It wasn't such a big deal when Cranbrook beat Knox because everyone expected that game to go either way.

It not only proved something, it meant something. I'm sure it meant a lot to Waverley and to any other schools who have not embraced 'professionalism' or have only adopted it to a limited degree. There's no tall poppy syndrome attached to this.

What I would like to know is, out of curiosity, how many of the Knox players are on sporting scholarships, and how many rugby players are on scholarships in any of the other CAS schools.

And when did 'professionalism' first start to appear in CAS schools? Does anyone know the history?

 

[BRUMBIEJACK]

So should we ban professional coaches at schools but bring in a rule where every school gets at least one former Wallaby to teach maths?

I don't think Waverley beating Knox proves anything except the existence of tall poppy syndrome amongst some posters.

Of course having a professional coach doesn't guarantee victory against a team without a professional coach.

If you can find six ex-Wallabies who are qualified maths teachers then go for it….

 

[BRUMBIEJACK]

So should we ban professional coaches at schools but bring in a rule where every school gets at least one former Wallaby to teach maths?

I don't think Waverley beating Knox proves anything except the existence of tall poppy syndrome amongst some posters.

Of course having a professional coach doesn't guarantee victory against a team without a professional coach.

As I said in a previous post, I think the win was a good exemplar for the CAS as a whole. It showed that professionalising sports programs doesn't necessarily guarantee success, which hopefully might (but is probably unlikely to) cause some parents to ask why they're forking out buckets of money to pay for professional coaches that can't beat teams coached by teachers.

This is hardly tall poppy syndrome - it's simply an argument against the professionalisation of high school sports in the CAS because it's not a level financial playing field. Professionalising sports programs is obviously more open to some schools than others, and while it may make those schools feel good it does nothing for the viability of the CAS as a whole.

By the way, claiming that Knox is a tall poppy is also a bit of a misnomer; given they're currently 4-2 it's not exactly a stellar year so far. Particularly given the resources expended - not sure that the shareholders at Wahroonga would be that happy with the half yearly profit report.

 

[BRUMBIEJACK]

If you can find six ex-Wallabies who are qualified maths teachers then go for it….

So should we ban professional coaches at schools but bring in a rule where every school gets at least one former Wallaby to teach maths?

I don't think Waverley beating Knox proves anything except the existence of tall poppy syndrome amongst some posters.

Of course having a professional coach doesn't guarantee victory against a team without a professional coach.

…and if you're happy for the ex-Wallaby maths teacher to coach the school's 15As then also be my guest.

 

[Quick Hands]

Even ex-Wallabies have to get a real job when their career is over.

There'd be a lot of teachers around who would have had more success at coaching than Mr Williams.