BRUMBIEJACK
Larry Dwyer (12)
Disinformation. They were trying to confuse you or your source Oldest trick in the book. He ran on in 15.
Sydney Subbies 2022
- Thread starter Pfitzy
- Start date
Watched the Beecroft v Harlequins game today and it turned out to be a great encounter. Harlequins had a significant size advantage over the younger Beecroft pack but were undone by costly errors in attack. Beecroft created some great long range tries orchestrated by their number 23 (played colts and first grade today) who looked dominant with ball in hand during the first half. There were some huge hits throughout the game with the Harlequins 15 getting smashed into next week off a kick return, hope he’s all good. 2nd grade game was abandoned due to a serious injury to an eastern suburbs colt towards the end of the colts fixture, wish him a speedy recovery.
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
Agreed. Another serious injury
besides the rain, COVID, and overseas holidays, it isn't a great base for recruitment and retention when you see those sorts of things.Harlequins 2nd Grade now have ?3? fixtures to make up? Iggies, Barker (well...), and now Beecroft. Sheesh.
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WoodyWoodsman
Herbert Moran (7)
My spies at Marsfield yesterday say a good day of rugby for the Rams lower graders. Hawkesbury Valley fulfilling their commitment and playing away from the rest of their club...... And they do this because they are good blokes. Word is the halfback has let himself go a little bit, but a fantastic game of rugby, played in (mostly) the right spirit. Rams 4s played a Halligans against Mosman again, when Newport couldn't make the journey..... but played a Halligans at home.
Renegades vs Mac Uni in a catch up game at Mac Uni yesterday. Big win for Renegades 2s as they continue their march towards the finals. First grade was a seesawing affair and as much as the Renegades would like to blame the referee for their late game failure, it was probably more down to some poor decision making in the dying moments of the game. The 15 has a super boot. I hope he can stick around because he is a big asset to that team.
Two spectators of interest at Mac Uni yesterday were two of the Rams' coaches. Seen standing with the Renegades, offering advice to the coaches and support staff. Seems strange given the matchup next round. Maybe they were scouting, maybe there was more to it.
Renegades vs Mac Uni in a catch up game at Mac Uni yesterday. Big win for Renegades 2s as they continue their march towards the finals. First grade was a seesawing affair and as much as the Renegades would like to blame the referee for their late game failure, it was probably more down to some poor decision making in the dying moments of the game. The 15 has a super boot. I hope he can stick around because he is a big asset to that team.
Two spectators of interest at Mac Uni yesterday were two of the Rams' coaches. Seen standing with the Renegades, offering advice to the coaches and support staff. Seems strange given the matchup next round. Maybe they were scouting, maybe there was more to it.
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Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
Not so sure about that, looking ahead at the last two rounds.
Chatswood had a good win over Saints to keep them ahead of us after their win at the Field Of Dreams last week.
They're in outright 6th right now on 25 with 4 wins.
The Staggies have R13 v Harbour at Beauchamp which would be a tough ask, and R14 @ Mac Uni - I'd back them to take the second one with BP.
That puts them on at least 30.
Meanwhile, we're on 23 points with 3 wins - effectively 7th with no Canterbury there.
Yesterday, Mac Uni started with 12 and we were 12 points up by the time they got to 14. Later in the game they had a red card and we put another 12 points on. So part of that win was numbers.
R13 is at Sommerville where Epping are planning a big day. That means plenty of reserves to test us and see if they can better their 52-5 result from R2. They won't want to slip up because they can take the minor premiership with a win over Merrylands the week after. Expecting a torrid time.
R14 we're at home to Savers, and we're planning a big day for that so hopefully the numbers are good and we can jag a win. Need to get to at least 31 to get ahead of Chatswood IMHO, and that means 2 wins at least, or a very good draw and Chatswood losing... hmmmm...
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Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
More to me actually. I'm just the Club Secretary who had come off after a shit game letting in 2 tries and throwing 50% crooked lineouts - what do I know?
You're right about the decision making - could have tied that game up or even taken the lead late, but we scrummed (dominantly) where we should have gone to the line and tapped when we should have scrummed in the last few minutes.
Northmead_Ned
Allen Oxlade (6)
Disaster at Harlequins with our 2s game abandoned.
Our 1s were disappointing. All in all, the year from hell has caught up from us. The amount of wet weather weeks, half our club in Europe, and we just are not what we could be. Who would have thought this year would be worse than the last two?
Our 1s were disappointing. All in all, the year from hell has caught up from us. The amount of wet weather weeks, half our club in Europe, and we just are not what we could be. Who would have thought this year would be worse than the last two?
Northmead_Ned
Allen Oxlade (6)
He is a really good player. He could play first grade at all Division 2 clubs (With the exception of Hills who are stacked in the centres) and a few Division 1 clubs. I coached him for a few years and he has a really good habit of in and away and just burns players with speed.
Subbiesgoat
Frank Row (1)
St Pats keep winning fans in Division 1.
They’ll take more away from yesterday than Colleagues.
They’ll take more away from yesterday than Colleagues.
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
McLean Cup two weeks to go - my prediction from July 8 is looking good in terms of teams, but not in terms of order. Revised Top 6:
1 Harbour
2 Savers
3 Epping
4 Merrylands
5 Redfield
6 Mac Uni
After that a buffer down to Renegades and Chatswood.
The only real question is Redfield - what happens v Saints? Will they play? Will someone forfeit? Might not matter either way with the Top 6 pretty set
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
Grose Cup review versus prediction of July 11. I reckon with the loss at Manly, Merrylands 2s have opened the door for Epping to finish top:
1 Epping
2 Sydney Harbour
3 Merrylands
4 Redfield Old Boys
5 Manly Savers
6 Chatswood
Renegades, HAC and Mac Uni a few points beyond that.
WoodyWoodsman
Herbert Moran (7)
Do we know how the finals will run yet?
If they give 1/2 the first week off, that Merrylands v Redfield game will be a barnburner.
If they go with 1v6, 2v5, 3v4, Merrylands and Epping facing off two weeks in a row.
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
On Division 6 - they're going for a split format this year where teams finishing 1-4 will play for Jeffrey Cup and then teams 5-8 play for Meldrum Cup.
1 Menai
2 Irish
3 Sea Lice
4 Burraneer
With Burra thrashing Brothers 91-7 (Curtis Scott 4 tries, fullback with 3) you'd give them a reasonable chance of pushing through from 4. Momentum and all that. Menai didn't play after Dukes forfeited so they'll have had a week off. Wakehurst lost to Irish to miss top 4 by a point - they had one extra win over Burra but the Hammerheads had 12 BPs for the year!
5 Wakehurst
6 Brothers
7 Kings OBs
8 Oatley
Hmmmm. Wakehurst look favourites here to me. Their losses are Irish 14-22 (H), Menai 12-73 (H), Sea Lice 14-43 (A), Irish 7-38 (A). So they're undefeated against everyone else, with a narrow 19-12 win over Brothers being the closest they came to losing.
1 Menai
2 Irish
3 Sea Lice
4 Burraneer
With Burra thrashing Brothers 91-7 (Curtis Scott 4 tries, fullback with 3) you'd give them a reasonable chance of pushing through from 4. Momentum and all that. Menai didn't play after Dukes forfeited so they'll have had a week off. Wakehurst lost to Irish to miss top 4 by a point - they had one extra win over Burra but the Hammerheads had 12 BPs for the year!
5 Wakehurst
6 Brothers
7 Kings OBs
8 Oatley
Hmmmm. Wakehurst look favourites here to me. Their losses are Irish 14-22 (H), Menai 12-73 (H), Sea Lice 14-43 (A), Irish 7-38 (A). So they're undefeated against everyone else, with a narrow 19-12 win over Brothers being the closest they came to losing.
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
Not 100%. With a 3-week finals series you would think that 1 & 2 get a week off and then sudden death for the others.
For Epping it means they're likely to lose Open Selection in the first week if they finish Grose Minor Premiers and third in McLean.
The Rams will be hoping Savers First Grade slip up against Redfield in R13 at Keirle or Renegades at the Field of Dreams in R14.
Even if Savers miss getting BPs that could let Epping into 2nd spot.
Would Epping *want* the week off? That's the question. I think they've probably got the depth to skip Open Selection and push through.
Eyes and Ears
Dick Tooth (41)
Shute Shield Top 6 over 3 weeks had 1v6, 2v5 etc and a lucky loser for the highest placed loser.
WoodyWoodsman
Herbert Moran (7)
Looking at the Division 2 draws, that first week of the Division 4 finals would mean that Epping are playing top two grades wherever the Division 4 finals are, 3rd grade at Ryde Oval against Old Iggies and fourth grade at Yattenden Park against Hills.
I think that depth will be tested.
just out of interest, how do the other Division 4 clubs feel about Epping? I’ve heard there was a bit of animosity at the beginning of the season but haven’t heard any other rumblings, but noticed that they were challenged about having a fourth grade when asking for a Halligans next week online?
WoodyWoodsman
Herbert Moran (7)
wow! That’s big news. Looking forward to the matchups. Here’s my predictions.
Meldrum Cup Week 1:
Menai vs Sydney Irish: Menai’s power game will be too much for the Irish as they march towards the GF. With the CKains (Rangi & Gillies) orchestrating the play, the powerful forward pack and Liam Bell finishing, I think they’ll have enough to go over here. I think the lack of game time in the last month will hurt them at the back end of the match but they’ll be right.
Sea Lice vs Burra: The Sea Lice have been the quiet achievers of the Meldrum this year going about their business notching up some tidy wins. They are about to meet the big movers of the Meldrum in Burraneer though. The inclusion of Curtis Scott has been huge and I hear it was an acrobatic finish down the left flank last week that should be discussed more. As stated here, Scott playing at the back and Matthias Wann at 13 will be the difference.
Menai through to the GF, Irish to face off against the irresistible force, Burraneer in Week 2.
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
I don't think anyone would hold it against them if they pulled Fourth Grade to help push numbers up. I suppose it is something that needs discussing in terms of Open Selection as it is not a Normal Year.
Based on the fact I refereed Lindfield v Hills and not Old Iggies v Lindfield on the weekend, you might find that Epping Third Grade is at a loose end anyway...
DaSchmooze
Jimmy Flynn (14)
Why's that SG?
Pfitzy
Jason Little (69)
Some would say they were hard done by and Subbies need to be drawn and quartered
But do these people represent "other Division 4 clubs"? Or any club at all? Hmmmm....
As a Div 4 club, we knew it would be a tough year. Sydney Harbour are always good. Redfield are always good. Savers are always good. Merrylands were largely unknown but their 2021 was a solid outing so had potential.
With one eye on the Div 2 results from recent years, we knew Epping might not have set the world on fire, but the quality of the Division is higher than Div 4, even if the First Grade teams might occasionally look comparable between the two; depth is the key and that is something most Div 4 clubs do NOT have. Particularly as the injuries pile up.
We were prepared for tough games against Epping as they'd have far more players than us to call on. Getting them and Savers twice with our history of inconsistent selection would be even tougher e.g. a couple of our RAAF guys were on mission in Round 2 and are on mission again.
Ultimately, it is what it is, and we didn't put away games that could have seen us finals bound with 2 rounds to go. We'll take those lesons and look to build next year.