agreed - you can’t relegate the self proclaimed “Barraclough Covid champions 2021”
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- Thread starter Pfitzy
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agreed - you can’t relegate the self proclaimed “Barraclough Covid champions 2021”
The Wombat
Herbert Moran (7)
Way too many byes this season
Waverley already forfeited 2 Barbour Cup games because they can't travel west of Hunters Hill
Does anyone have any inside word whether Waverley will be playing the 2nd half of the season?
They ran on with 11 players last game against Blue Mountains and after 10 minutes their 12th player came and they played the game with 12. Does not seem sustainable.
Doritos Day
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Good call. You can't have an odd number of teams and wet weather rounds (with long weekends obviously unavoidable). Depending on your POV it either needlessly extends the season or robs the opportunity to play more games.
TheBigArvo
Sydney Middleton (9)
Yet with the exception of the Hunters Hill game they haven’t lost any game by more than 20. Pretty good effort if there playing with 12 most weeks. Fingers crossed that they hang in there.
Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
Would love to magically have 8 clubs per division but that might not even happen next year for some
Denistone_Dennis
Chris McKivat (8)
Div 2 Round 9 Preview
Hawkesbury Valley vs Briars - Both teams riding the high of wins in the previous round. Valley appear to finally be getting some personnel back and will be looking to take a few more scalps before the season is out, maybe a late run at 4th place! Briars turned it around big time against Newport last round, but still finding it really hard to score points. Valley by 8.
Epping vs Hills - No idea on this one, both teams were real ordinary last round, but both still in the running for finals. I'll go for the draw, but hope one of these teams (hopefully the boys on back to Epping day!) can put it together.
UNSW vs Lindfield - This'll be close most of the way through, but expect the class and consistency of Lindfield to pull away in the last 20 mins. If anyone can pull off the upset though, its UNSW. Lindfield by 7.
Hawkesbury Valley vs Briars - Both teams riding the high of wins in the previous round. Valley appear to finally be getting some personnel back and will be looking to take a few more scalps before the season is out, maybe a late run at 4th place! Briars turned it around big time against Newport last round, but still finding it really hard to score points. Valley by 8.
Epping vs Hills - No idea on this one, both teams were real ordinary last round, but both still in the running for finals. I'll go for the draw, but hope one of these teams (hopefully the boys on back to Epping day!) can put it together.
UNSW vs Lindfield - This'll be close most of the way through, but expect the class and consistency of Lindfield to pull away in the last 20 mins. If anyone can pull off the upset though, its UNSW. Lindfield by 7.
Div 3 Round 9 Preview
Old Ignatians v Knox - Iggies got up in this fixture in round 1 but both clubs seasons have gone in opposite directions since then. Knox have recruited well over the course of the season and should have the measure of Iggies in this one despite being away from home. Knox by 14. Bonus tip: I think iggies take 2nds in a one point affair.
Manly Savers v Sydney Harbour - Harbour by a lot… This one could get messy unfortunately.
Sydney Harlequins v Beecroft - Beecroft have only gotten better throughout the season so no reason why Beecroft shouldn’t have a comfortable win here in the top grade. Big clashes in 2nds and colts which should be a cracker to watch.
Old Ignatians v Knox - Iggies got up in this fixture in round 1 but both clubs seasons have gone in opposite directions since then. Knox have recruited well over the course of the season and should have the measure of Iggies in this one despite being away from home. Knox by 14. Bonus tip: I think iggies take 2nds in a one point affair.
Manly Savers v Sydney Harbour - Harbour by a lot… This one could get messy unfortunately.
Sydney Harlequins v Beecroft - Beecroft have only gotten better throughout the season so no reason why Beecroft shouldn’t have a comfortable win here in the top grade. Big clashes in 2nds and colts which should be a cracker to watch.
Eastcoast
Larry Dwyer (12)
Div 1 Round 8 Preview
This week could be anything - especially after last rounds 4 upsets. All really good games I feel. Get down to Boronia if possible.
Forest - Petersham. Going to go with a slight upset I feel. Forest at home, I think the home crowd will get around them and put Petersham off their game. Both sides have performed well recently. This will be a good game. Forest by 3
HH - Mosman. Was a great game last time out at Rawson. I expect the same again tomorrow. A chance to go either 1st or drop out of the 4 is a big difference with this result. Ill back the boys to win. HH by 7
Blueys - St Pats. 1 v 9. Looks easy on paper but this will be a grind I feel for a long period. Blueys to pull away late. Mountains by 10
Waverley - Colleagues. Not too far to travel for Colleagues, so can see them being very strong. Hope that Waverley pitch is watered before the game otherwise there could be a few of those superficial wounds that weep for days for all. Never pleasant playing on that deck and waking up the next morning with your cuts sticking to the bed sheets. Hopefully there is a nice crowd day. Colleagues by 6
This week could be anything - especially after last rounds 4 upsets. All really good games I feel. Get down to Boronia if possible.
Forest - Petersham. Going to go with a slight upset I feel. Forest at home, I think the home crowd will get around them and put Petersham off their game. Both sides have performed well recently. This will be a good game. Forest by 3
HH - Mosman. Was a great game last time out at Rawson. I expect the same again tomorrow. A chance to go either 1st or drop out of the 4 is a big difference with this result. Ill back the boys to win. HH by 7
Blueys - St Pats. 1 v 9. Looks easy on paper but this will be a grind I feel for a long period. Blueys to pull away late. Mountains by 10
Waverley - Colleagues. Not too far to travel for Colleagues, so can see them being very strong. Hope that Waverley pitch is watered before the game otherwise there could be a few of those superficial wounds that weep for days for all. Never pleasant playing on that deck and waking up the next morning with your cuts sticking to the bed sheets. Hopefully there is a nice crowd day. Colleagues by 6
Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
Div 4 Round 8
Saints v Rockdale - tbh Saints have a good team but they've just been coming up against better teams early in the season. Rockdale should still have enough if they can travel well.
Merrylands v Redfield - change of opposition style for Merrylands, who will look to dominate physically, but ROBR won't go away. Wolves at home.
Renegades v Mac Uni - beacons have been forced to forfeit Second Grade which hopefully makes us a bit stronger. Organisation the key.
Wakehurst v Irish - men in green to travel well, tho they might lose 2s.
Raptors v Chatswood - this will be interesting as the Staggies have had to forfeit 2s (snow trips?) and will therefore be a bit stronger in 1s. Back to Raptors day to bring some numbers.
Saints v Rockdale - tbh Saints have a good team but they've just been coming up against better teams early in the season. Rockdale should still have enough if they can travel well.
Merrylands v Redfield - change of opposition style for Merrylands, who will look to dominate physically, but ROBR won't go away. Wolves at home.
Renegades v Mac Uni - beacons have been forced to forfeit Second Grade which hopefully makes us a bit stronger. Organisation the key.
Wakehurst v Irish - men in green to travel well, tho they might lose 2s.
Raptors v Chatswood - this will be interesting as the Staggies have had to forfeit 2s (snow trips?) and will therefore be a bit stronger in 1s. Back to Raptors day to bring some numbers.
sterlingmortlocksgloves
Allen Oxlade (6)
Was out at UNSW today and saw the Old Soldiers walk away with a clean sweep. Sources confirming that the overaged undergrads gave it there all in 1st Grade but couldn’t get the choccies. The source also confirmed that their kicker didn’t compensate.
thetraitor
Chris McKivat (8)
4 from 4 for Mr Eastcoast. But I suspect he may be an imposter or had his account hacked, because it's unlike him to say anything positive about Forest!
But more seriously, how close is Div 1 this year. Any team can beat any other on a good day, with the exception of St Pat's. But even then, top of the table Blue Mountains only *just* beat them!
HogansHeros
Syd Malcolm (24)
You got 2 fairly predictable wins here but you got unlucky with an upset from the quinns at home over beecroft, thatll be a bit of a shake up.
Eastcoast
Larry Dwyer (12)
No animosity from me towards any team. I think Forest have done well this year to bounce back from a disappointing year last year.
I am really enjoying this competition. As you said close across the board from 1st to 9th. Really could have anyone winning it this year.
A couple of shocks in the other divisions though;
- Beecroft losing their first of the season
- Lindfield being ungracious winners. Hope they keep this energy next year when they come back to the top grade.
Denistone_Dennis
Chris McKivat (8)
If this was shocking to you, you havent been watching closely enough....
21mm
Frank Nicholson (4)
Interesting take, what did they do?
The Ghost of Raelene
Andrew Slack (58)
More like what didn't they by the sounds of it.
Heavyd
Nev Cottrell (35)
Lindfield are having a great year, have players to burn, are well organised and are playing solid 2nd DIV rugby. That said, the standard in DIV 2 has fallen away dramatically this year from other clubs with Newport and HV playing rosters light years from last season. In my view we have never seen as bigger gap between Div 1 and 2 as we have this year.
Cauliflower Brain
Frank Row (1)
Apart from being super touchy when they were behind and then some average banter after the late comeback, the main thing was they just didn't have anyone hang around for speeches. It's not that far of a drive back up the M2 and with the amount of supporters and players they had hanging around at the ground it's pretty poor form not to turn up for the boatrace. Which is by far the most important competition of the day.