By “Nutta”
Bonsoir mes amis
Well Round 11 of the 2023 Sydney Suburban Division One rugby competition saw the Waverley Waves surge across the city to the inner west of Canada Bay and crash themselves over the rocks of the Drummoyne Dirty Reds. And speaking of rocks, it was surely a day of rocks and diamonds with mixed results each way once these perennial front-runner clubs of recent years were done with each other. Being the first run back for the Red Men after yet another wet-weather weekend ‘off’ following the mixed results of the Hunters Hill experience, in many grades this round pitted the front-runners of respective competitions against each other. And whilst for no one was the win or loss semi-final-ending, it yet surely did sound the bells quite clearly about not just whom will be standing at the tail-end of the season, but what the benchmarks of success will be.
So, with the solemn undertones of LIVIN’ Day well prevalent, with the crowd on the Hill and Bridge quietly building, and the Waves unable to field a Colts, the days tally began with a forfeit to the Red Men.
Colts. (Barbour Cup). Win 28-0 (forfeit).
5th Grade. (Halligan Cup). Lost 22-21.
With the Waves running no Colts, it was apparent early on the Waves had used the residual numbers to bolster through the ranks of grade. Thus Supercoach Heller’s Hero’s had a rare chance for a run and they took to the field with the gusto of men starved. Running about mid-way in the mammoth 34 team Halligan’s table with 2 wins and 1 loss, the Red Halligan’s Heroes were well aware they were stepping up a weight class to be taking on the 4th placed Wave’s Heroes who had 4 wins from 5 starts. Yet ‘get in the ring’ they did and the battle royale that ensued was well worth the price of admission (?!?!?).
Comments from Supercoach Hayward were that the Red Heroes were indeedy-do keener than mustard to start LIVIN day on a high. And the delivery was as good as the promise with some excellent play right from the kick-off quickly identifying the edges as the ‘place to be’. As such the outside backs created fast moving and dynamic progress down field and so took good territory gains. Accordingly the Waves stretched defence soon-after gave a too-wide gap and the ageless Dave ‘Fraggle’ Fraser waltzed through for a most-excellent pie of the Bill & Ted variety. Another pie from Jack Barrett followed soon after and leading into oranges the scene was set for a free flowing second half. However to Waverley’s credit, and unsurprisingly given their spot on the table, the Waves worked hard and stayed in the game. The Waves clawed their way back into the contest and by mid 2nd half they were only down by a handful of points. At this point calamity struck, some handbags were allegedly exchanged and the Ref applied Law 6.5.a to see the Red Heroes reduced to 14 men. With the extra man advantage combined with their familiarity and combinations, the Waves saw the chance to score as fulltime drew near. And score they did. And so the Red victory was snatched away in the dying moments. Bugger.
B&F went as 1pt to Dave Fraser, 2pts to Ryan ‘the other’ McDermott and 3pts to Tom Doyle.
It was surely a heroic effort for the Red lads, who do not get the game time they deserve, to challenge one of the competitions frontrunners. Nonetheless the loss leave the lads 15th of 34 sides on the Halligans list and so probably out of finals contention. However with Mosman and St Pats having Halligan’s teams there are still at least 2 more trots on the scope for the Red Heroes to keep their studs sharp for. So keep punching lads and don’t underestimate the impact on the higher grades of having the numbers at training and on game days. It’s fantastic to see. And as the injuries mount leading into Finals time (as they always do), he who perseveres will surely climb the grades.
4th Grade. (Judd Cup). Lost 10-5.
The Red Juddheads came into the weekend as 4th on their table with 6 wins from 8 starts for 26pts, being placed a comfortable 6pts clear of their rivals for finals – the 5th placed Blue Goats. So aside from some sort of calamitous collapse, the Juddies appeared semi-final bound as byes were yet to even the field among the teams ranked higher. However a good showing against the higher-placed Waves was necessary not just because it was a game to win, but because they are shaping as a major threat for end of year glory.
Comments from Supercoach Luke ‘man about town’ Hayward was that the weeks preparations had envisaged this match to have a finals level of intensity. And the reality did not disappoint. Much of the game was largely played between the 22’s as each side mounted attacks that were duly snuffed out by the others defence pressuring errors. However such building tension forces an outlet and it was the Red Juddies who blinked first, ceding successive penalties which gave momentum and field position to the Waves who then exploited the Red ‘back foot’ to bag a pie, although they missed with the sauce. Whilst aggravated to have given the Waves the lead, the Red Juddies responded well and shortly before oranges Rhys “the ribbon isn’t pink” Harvey capitalised on some outstanding Red Pig build-up play and bashed and barged his considerable girth over the stripe for a levelling pie. But again the sauce squirted wide. Thus at oranges it was one pie and no sauce a-piece (5-5). In-keeping with the 1st half, the 2nd stanza continued to be played between the quarter-lines with defence speaking louder than attack for both sides. However through the fatigue and the tension, Waverley managed to jag their 2nd pie sans sauce, but this time the Red Juddites could find no responder despite our lads best endeavours to work down the field. Accordingly the match closed with a two pies to one pie loss.
Best & Fairest were awarded as 1pt to Adoniah Lam Dam, 2pts to Ben ‘everywhere’ Meyer and 3pts to Tom Hall.
Interestingly, the loss leaves the Juddheads still at 4th on table with 6 wins from 9 starts for 27pts. Waverley have stayed ahead in 3rd spot with 33pts, but they are yet to eat their bye. Meanwhile Forest are 5th but nipping at our lads heels on 23pts. So there is a chance for the Juddies to jump into 3rd with some good work in coming weeks, while also little head-space or breathing room for complacency as the final rounds draw close. Accordingly, next weeks outing against table-topping Mosman is a massive opportunity for the Juddies to stake a claim and send a message as August draws nigh.
3rd Grade. (Whiddon Cup). Lost 33-7.
Coming off the ego-check that was the Hunters Hill loss, and the accompanying fall from 1st to 2nd place on the ladder, the match against the newly appointed Whiddon table-topping Waves was expected to be not just torrid, but most educational in terms of where the watermarks are to be a serious contender for premiership honours. While the Red Thirsties were vaguely aware that the Waves were Claytons table-toppers (given they are yet to eat their bye) nonetheless they, along with Mosman, are clearly the benchmark sides of the 3rd grade competition. With a couple of critical personnel missing from the Red Widows line-up due to the vagaries of life and middle-grade rugby, the Red Widows knew they came into this match as the clear underdogs. But gird their loins they did nonetheless. And so, led out by 100-gamer Stu Hammond, once more unto the breach they did advance.
Comments from Supercoach Scully were that the team warmed up well and looked to be up for the challenge, with the pre-game chat being focussed on the teams quasi motto of the year so far – be as good as you can be. Accordingly the game started very evenly matched with both sides having extended periods in possession as they felt out each others defensive structures and other bits. However it was the Waves who capitalised first on a missed tackle following some expansive play and the Waves posted the first pie. However far from going into shells, the Red Widow confidence showed through with determined mid-field running leading to a clever long-range midfield break and kick-through from Corey Johnstone that went within a whisker of a try itself. From the ensuing drop-out, the field position was not surrendered and, playing under two separate advantages for high tackles, Tom Zwart eventually crossed to post the pie-in-reply despite making things look much more difficult than necessary (he does that a bit). With Tom’s pie being sauced by Nick ‘flash boots’ Scully, the Red Thirsties looked ready to play-on into some good match shape.
However from there the plan went awry. Supercoach Scully reported that an injury or two forced reshuffling and the Red Thirsties lost shape and defensive connection. And through that open door, Waverley’s fitness and class walked through. Supercoach was complimentary to the Waves, saying they did the simple things very well, they played as a team and they stayed focused. There was little spectacular or special about their play, but rather the Waves played flat, fast and fit in displaying the quality side they are. It wasn’t the Red Widows day and Waverley skipped away and deserved their win.
B&F fell as 1pt to Etoni ‘Tonga’ Alone, 2pts to Charlie ‘Wild Man’ Kelso and 3pts to Callum ‘I didnae say that’ Richardson.
While disappointing, the loss is not calamitous as it leaves the Red Widows still as 2nd on table with 6 wins from 9 starts. Waverley hold 1st on 38pts – now well clear of the pack even allowing for their coming bye. In all of that, the upcoming Mosman are 3rd, also 6 from 9 but on 28pts (BP difference). So the Whales are neck and neck with the Red Widows. And with two losses on the trot now stinging the lads, the coming clash at Rawson Oval next weekend promises to be one of fervour and intensity if nothing else.
2nd Grade. (Burke Cup). Drew 15-15.
The win over Hunters Hill in their previous outing had consolidated the Red Burkies into 2nd spot on their ladder with 6 wins from 8 starts on 29pts, 6pts behind 1st placed Colleagues, whilst Waverley came into the round 3rd on the Burke table with 25pts. But Colleagues and Waverley both are yet to eat their bye. So while the table-maths showed Waverley to be no current threat to the Red Burkies, a good showing was nonetheless necessary to cement positions, clarify table spots and consolidate confidence heading into the August phase of the race for the Big Show in September.
Supercoach Mick has been busy so my observations were that the Red Burkies got into the game well from the outset with clean lineout ball unleashing smart across-field work and direct running bringing a penalty almost in-front of the sticks within 5min of kick-off. Things were boding well and solid pressure eventually led to the first pie to No8 Sione Takelo on about the 8min mark. No sauce was landed. One of the features on the early Red Burkies play, which became a constant of the match, was a dominant Red scrum that seemed to take ball from the Waves at will and one must wonder why that obvious advantage was rammed home more-so throughout the day. At about the 15min mark, a highly confusing Referee decision regarding a lifting tackle on young Kelso saw Reds reduced to 14men and from the resulting penalty the Waves bashed over for a try, likewise sans sauce, at about 13min. The Waves posted a penalty at about 20min but aside from that play seemed to camp between the quarter lines until at about 30min Ev O’Connor posted another Red pie, this time duly sauced. And so oranges came with the scores at 12-8 to the Red Burkies.
Multiple instances of late starts and lost time throughout the day reduced the 2nd course to only 25min and with time being of the essence, both sides attempted to ‘up the pace’ in the 2nd half. The Red Men applied solid pressure and were awarded with a good Red lineout and driving maul opportunity at around 45min, however it came to nowt. And while penalty after penalty and scrum after scrum saw the Red Men camped in the Waves half for seemingly the entirety of the 2nd half, the Waves defensive line always seemed to hold on just long enough to deny the Red Men what seemed an inevitable try. Yet another penalty at about the 60min mark saw a change in tactics away from lineouts and Ev O’Connor instead landed a 3pt penalty and so the Reds stretched to a 15-8 lead. However from the restart, a quick succession of penalties against the Reds saw the Waves jag a lineout deep in the Red quarter and from the resulting midfield play, the Waves snatched a late try adjacent the posts, duly sauced, and so the match ended at 15 a-piece.
B&F were adjudged as 1pt to Ben Saurara, 2pts to Evan O Connor and 3pts to Sione ‘he always looks like that’ Takelo.
The win has the Red Burkies still in 2nd with 6 wins from 9 starts on 31pts, 8pts off 1st placed Colleagues on 39 (but yet to bye) and 3pts clear of 3rd placed Hunters Hill on 28pts. Waverley and St Pats sit on 27 and 26pts respectively. So the Burke table is proving to be wide open coming into August. Thus while Mosman sit towards the bottom of the 2nd grade table, that makes the coming clash with the Trust-Funders of Rawson Oval of upmost importance to consolidate positions.
1st Grade (Kentwell Cup). Won 38-34.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. And on a day like LIVIN’ Day, with the Hill filled with club veterans and loved ones, and lining up against a fierce 1st grade and club rival of recent years, the pressure on our clubs foremost side to put the disappointment of Hunters Hill behind them and return to winning ways was palpable. And at 5th on table with 4 wins from 8 starts on 23pts, 4pts behind 4th placed Waverley on 27pts, the day was shaping as crucial for the Red Kentwellians as they approach the August race for semi-final spots.
Comments from Supercoach Dave ‘Birthday Boy’ Mews were that the Red Kentys were well aware of the criticality of the game, and so running into a strong breeze early, the lads were keen to start strongly. And so they did, with effective and sure use of the ball in hand against a very solid Waves defensive line that was quite cunning and resourceful in slowing our ruck-ball down. But the Red Kentys were in no mood to be denied and they eventually broke through the muck and mire and scored two sauced pies in quick time to No8 Alex Connolly and fly-half Josh Flannery. As fitting their table-spot, Waverley responded with vigour and pinched a sauced pie and penalty back before the Red Kentys closed out the half with a second pie and sauce to No8 ‘Fat Man’ Connolly. Thus oranges came with the board showing 21-10 to the good guys.
The second course began with an early pie to “Lost Lock” Reuben Brock, who was masquerading in jersey 6, and all looked good for the Red Kentwellians to kick-on and rack up a serious score. However the Rugby Gods are strange creatures and somehow the momentum inexplicably swung heavily towards Waverley and they racked up four successive pies in remorseless fashion to take the lead right before full time. Their crowd was going fairly berserk at the comeback and, thinking their last pie had the game in the bag, the Waverley enthusiasm spilled over into a veritable old-fashioned pitch invasion in celebration of their impending come-from-behind win. However as noted earlier, the Rugby Gods are whimsical if nothing else and quite literally with seconds left to play, a short kick-off restart drew a Waverley knock-on and from the scrum opportunity came multiple phases marching inexorably upfield to finally see Ruben “Lost Lock” Brock beat the last remaining defender and crash over for the game-sealing pie. Pandemonium unleashed both on-field and on the Hill and the Refs full-time whistle blast was lost somewhere in the resulting maelstrom of Red victory and song.
B&F were awarded as 1pt between Josh Flannery & Zech ‘century man’ Browden, 2pts to Alex ‘Fat Man’ Connolly and 3pts to Rubes ‘Lost Lock’ Brock.
The win landed the Red Kentys 5pts. But that still leaves the Red Kentwellians in 5th spot with 5 wins from 9 starts on 28pts, a mere 1pt behind 4th placed Waves (curtesy of the bonus point for 4 pies) and closing on 3rd placed Colleagues on 31pts. However both Waves and Colleagues are yet to eat their bye-pie. And that will leaven the table somewhat provided the Reds keep on winning. Thus all eyes turn to the slums and societal destitution of Mosman who currently sit on 4 wins from 9 starts on 21pts. Accordingly, belying Mosman’s relatively lowly position and morals, next weekend is shaping as a crucial fixture to win for the Red Kentys in order to chip away at the faux leads of the artificially gentrified and consolidate a spot in the top 4 of the Kentwell Cup table by the time August and semis roll around.
Closing Words:
So there it is and there it stays for this week at least. A forfeit win to Colts, a grand win at the death to 1sts, a draw to 2nds, close losses to 4ths and 5ths and 3rds got handed their butts. So a mixed day it was. But it was also a good day with a fair insight taken away into what level of play is needed to truly challenge for September glory. And LIVIN’ was well served.
Next week it’s Mosman. And Mosman is never an easy day, both socially or in rugby. Between navigating the Beamers and Range Rovers wedged in-between roadside-parked yachts to find a car park, be sure you read to the parking signs to not run afoul of the Parking Rangers. And avoid spending too long staring at the WBankers 3rd wives on Military Road, in their active wear that likely cost more than my wedding suit. You will go blind otherwise. Rather, focus on how Saturday will be a day for the hairy unwashed of the inner west to go unto the land of the Charlottes and Stirling’s, with their double-barrelled surnames and triple-barrelled lawyers, to pinch their silver spoons out from under their botoxed foreheads and surgically altered noses. Don’t just pull on some boots, but fill your boots and jamb your mouthguard in as you gird your loins and ready yourselves for the sojourn up Military Road to Rawson Oval and extract a pound of flesh in return for the fees you pay on your superannuation.
Boire le vin.
Nutta.
#dirtyreds #deeperthanblood
For the other rounds
Round 01
Round 02
Round 03
Round 04
Round 05
Round 06
Round 07
Round 09
Round 10