By “Nutta”
Como están mis amigos
Going to Mosman for a day’s rugby is not ever an easy day out. And the trek up Military Road to Rawson Oval proved no different this year. Besides dodging the usual array of Range Rovers, Audi’s and Parking Rangers, Mosman have been strong since about 2005 and much of that strength is not only from good recruitment, which can wax/wane year to year, but also from a deliberate strategy of retaining higher-graders past their club-prime. These guys then filter their way down the grades as their teeth grow longer, and thus the young ‘uns coming through benefit from the rugby wisdom of those who went before them. In my experience, younger players learn more by such osmosis from the older guys in real game time, than they ever learn from the best drills and training-park routines. And Mosman are now well practiced exponents of this craft. And you see the fruits of such strategy on days such as we had last Saturday. It is a telling lesson.
But all that said, while it was a difficult day for many in the club, it was not such for all, with both Burkies and Colties have resounding wins as they looked to consolidate semi-final positions.
5th Grade (Halligans Cup). Lost 48-5
Coming into the weekend 15th of the 34 sides on the Halligans Cup table, it was difficult to know if our Red Breakfast Club were to play the Mosman 5ths, 6ths or 7ths – all of whom sat the Halligan’s table higher! However whomever they played, the part-time Red Breakfast Club took the field with brave intent at 2 wins from 4 starts, but knowing they were lining up against Halligan’s Heavyweights.
Comments from Supercoach Hayward were that, much like the parking at Rawson Oval, the social grades of Mosman are one of the big challenges of the season and our buys put in a hell of a fight for the entirety of the game, with a few incredible try saving efforts made by the outside backs and general bravery on display across the ground. Supercoach Hayward continued that the support of some Colties was greatly welcomed and special mention was made of Tom MacLaren who put Ant Man to shame with a level of breathtaking physicality by repeatedly bringing down men twice his age and three times his weight (or was it twice his weight and three times his age?). But in the end, the Whales slick skills, their clear familiarity and combination with each other, and the obvious experience of Mosman proved too much and saw them home despite our best endeavours.
Best & Fairest went as 1pt to Sean Bennie, 2pt to Tom ‘Ant Man’ MacLaren and 3pts to Miller ‘the Other Dirty Reds’ Dunlop.
Given the season that both St Pats and Forest have had, it is not clear if the Breakfast Club will have more runs in the closing weeks of the competition. However, likewise given the season so far, it is easy to see that with 1sts through 4ths all likely to make finals, there will be strong ‘up-drafts’ for players to push through into higher grades. So the need for the lads to keep being involved is not only desirable, but necessary for the club to keep putting its best foot forward. So keep punching lads and don’t underestimate the impact on the higher grades of having the numbers at training and on game days.
4th Grade (Judd Cup). Lost 43-0.
For the Red Judheads, the day was certainly one of benchmarking. Coming into the day at 4th on table with 6 wins from 9 starts for 27pts, with Forest nipping at our lads heels on 23pts, Hellers Heroes were well aware they faced the clear and away table toppers Mossy on 9 wins from 9 starts. So the day shaped as a massive opportunity for the Red Juddies to stake a claim and send a message as August draws nigh, but also get a real taste of the mettle of the Mossy lads and to plot and plan about how they may bring their perfect season to a crashing halt come Finals time.
Comments from Supercoach Heller were that, off the back of a close loss against Waverley, while the boys knew they were up against it this week against an undefeated Mosman, nonetheless spirits were high (flowing?) to take the Whales on. And in that spirit, the boys started strongly, holding the Whales to three tries in the first half despite some interesting Refereeing calling some good ruck work as infringements. However after oranges the lads struggled to keep defensive connection and certainly couldn’t mount any constructive attack against the pace and clean skills the Mossy lads were displaying. And so the score skipped away.
Best & Fairest were awarded as 1pt to Chase ‘Harder’ Gatland, 2pts to Rhys Harvey and 3pts to Tim Balshaw.
The loss leaves the Red Judheads in 4th spot on 27pts. Below them, Forest were leap-frogged by the Blue Goats into 5th spot with 25pts. What’s important in Judd Cup table terms is that Mossy, Waves and Colleagues have spots 1-3 sewn up, so the race is on for 4th spot and the chance to ‘start again’ in Finals. As such, the upcoming clash on 05 August with St Pats at Hudson Park is crucial, as is the following week against Forest, to post the 5pt wins necessary in each match and so control their own destiny. Finals beckon the brave.
3rd Grade (Whiddon Cup). Lost 21-0.
The Red Widows were approaching the match as 2nd on table with 6 wins from 9 starts. And they were facing off against a Mosman who were 3rd, also with 6 from 9, but on 28pts (BP difference). So with the Waves seemingly untouchable for the Minor Premiership, the impending battle between the Widow Whales and D.Reds promised to be one of fervour and intensity if nothing else. Unfortunately the Red Widows also approached the game in less than stellar form with more than a half dozen regular faces missing due to injury, higher-grade call-ups or ‘life’ exacerbating their confidence dents from two straight losses. And so the match proved not to be the true contest and measure that may otherwise have ensued.
Comments from Supercoach Scully were that, despite being decimated by injury, absentees and higher-grade requirements, including being short a co-coach/Captain and an entire front row, the side remained confident of overcoming the opposition and had trained well with unprecedented levels of positivity throughout the week. However the scope of the challenge became immediately apparent when on kick-off we faced easily the biggest opposition of the year to date, clearly giving away at least some 10kg per man across the pack if not the whole park. And such a size differential proved telling particularly when an early injury to our already make-shift scrum triggered the unearthing of yet another eager and adept prop from the McDermott front row factory. That said, credit to the opposition whom was able to push our courageous pack all over the park all day including for a push over try. Likewise, Supercoach Scully was complimentary to their Backs whom he described as adept in both attack and defence, and who adroitly shut-down any movement from our inside Backs to thereby starve our Outside backs of any ball they may have been able to develop. All that said, the Thirsties fought on and were aided in doing so by the return of LJ after a considerable absence, with his limited involvements indicating how useful he will be as the Red Widows close out the season.
Best & Fairest went with 1pt to Nick Scully, 2pts to Sam ‘Motor’ McKenzie and 3pts to Aidan Schmitt
With 3 losses on the trot, the Red Widows now sit 3rd on the table, their lowest position all year. And there is no disguising the disappointment in the group because of it. However all is not dismal and glum. The 10day lay-off will see around 8 regular faces reappear to reconsolidate the team and correct the course that has erred in recent weeks. Further the lads have had a good insight into the levels of footy that must now be attained if we are to push into September. And I’ll say again: 3rd on the table is our lowest spot all year. So spirits need not be downcast, but rather be full of anticipation to take the break, allow the niggles to heal, and then throw ourselves into St Pats and Forest, snatch the 10pts on offer over the 2 weeks, and in doing so potentially go into Finals as 2nd on ladder. I’m sure that the best this side has to offer has not been seen yet and, as said all year, the only thing that will beat this team is themselves.
Colts (Barbour Cup). Won 66-14.
One of the love/hate issues I have with Colts of any ilk is the mercurial nature of their play. Phase to phase, half to half and week to week, you really have no idea which side is going to show up. And that is as infuriating as it is addictive. Coming into the match against Whales having last registered a 22-8 victory over Hunters Hill before then having to sit on their hands across the Waverley weekend (forfeit), many were unsure of which D.Reds Colts side would show up to Rawson Oval: the callous and capable, or the wild and self-destructive? Where would the lads heads be as they shaped for the up-coming table-topping St Pats and the push to finals? Well, they certainly put those trepidations to bed with a win for the ages.
Comments from Supercoach Maybank were that while the Mossy lads were brave, they are also clearly struggling and no one wants to revel in others misery (noble comments I must say). Nonetheless, it was pleasing to see the lads focussed and intent, and the boys went into the match with the twins goals of ‘playing as we train’ and to secure the bonus point by half time. And both goals were achieved. This meant that as the 2nd half came, we had the luxury and good fortune to let the subs roll out and have some much needed time both ‘in the sun’ and building combination and familiarity after the lay-off. That said, Mossy were not a complete pushover and they had patches of play where they were more competitive. But in those moments it was also good to see the Red Barbourians hold to their shapes, then turn the screws and snuff out the Whales burgeoning efforts at resurgence. However Supercoach Maybank was also clear that not everything was perfect with work-on’s still being support play and (gasp) DISCIPLINE leading to penalties.
Best & Fairest went as 1pt to Liam Doyle, 2pts to Charles Kelso and 3pts to Josh Rhodes.
It is difficult to know just how valuable that win was in the grander scheme of things for Colts. Mosman Colts had posted 2 wins all year and are clearly struggling. So they had no form-right to be a challenge for the Red Barbourians who were 4th on table. However one thing I have seen for certain over my +20yrs of being about this club, has been the untold number of times a Drummoyne Colts Finals aspirations have been rolled up into a tight little ball and kicked clean out through Sydney Heads from bloody Rawson Oval by bloody Mosman. But Saturday 22nd July 2023 was not one such day. The Red Barbourians performed admirably well in not just winning, but in winning well. And in keeping with the mercurial nature of Colts as mentioned earlier, after being bottom of the table in Rd3, the Red Barbourians now sit 2nd on Colts table with 7 from 10 on 34pts, tied with Forest also on 34pts and with 4th placed Colleagues on 33 (but yet to eat their bye pie). Now all eyes turn to the impending clash of 1st vs 2nd with St Pats… this will be one to watch.
2nd Grade (Burke Cup). Won 46-14.
Coming into the weekend as 2nd on-table with 6 wins from 9 starts on 31pts, the Red Burkies were not anticipating being troubled by the 7th placed Mossy in any serious manner. However the impending clash with the Military Road Trust-Funders was important to consolidate positions in an otherwise crowded top of the table and a tight race to the finals. With Hunters, Waves and St Pats all vying with the D.Reds for spots 2-4 (Colleagues being too far out in-front for the Minor Premiership to challenge), the implications of either 0, 4 or 5pts would be significant. And so the Red Burkies approached this game with laser like focus.
Of the game itself, the game tone of Red dominance was pretty much set early when Joe Colley crashed over inside the first minute. But he was ruled ‘held up’. But not to be denied, at about the 8min mark, Colley set up the opening pie, duly sauced. Mosman hit back promptly enough as we munched a poor restart exit, gifting the Whales field position and leading to a 12th minute Whales pie in the corner down our left flank which was topped with sauce. The play was messy and unsettled for a while then until a great ruck break by Vuniana Gutabau in about the 17th minute created another pie, but the sauce squirted wide. Only 1min later Corey Griffin skipped over for pie and the pace was being set for a hefty scoreline. At about 28min, yet another Joe Colley midfield break set up a sustained period of Red pressure on Whales line and at 29min Trev ‘Yungfella’ Rangel crashed over for a sauced pie and the teams went to oranges at 24-7 to the Red Burkies. The 2nd course started and after some midfield to and fro, a solid Red lineout win on our own 22m unleased quick hands from Sione for Villame to make a lovely break down mid field and feed Vuniana for his 2nd pie of the day at 45min. The Red scrum started to get some dominance as of about 50min and that led to sustained possession and field position until in about the 58th min Tybs Smith jagged his own pie (un-sauced), which he quickly follow up with another pie, curtesy of Joe Colley again, at the 60min mark. Ev ‘Sniper’ O Connor tried to break his poor saucing form at that point with a cheeky drop kick conversion from in-front… and missed again. 41-7 at 60min. The match bogged down around midfield for a period allowing Whales to jag a late-meal sauced pie at 65min. And in the dying moments, a great dominant tackle from Jimmy ‘D-Fence’ Vuniwa jolted a Whales ball loose in open play which Ev O Connor scooped, scooted and jotted down over the line for the final pie.
Best & Fairest went as 1pt to Trevor Rangel, 2pts to Liam Corry and 3pts to Evan O Connor.
The 5pt win cements the Red Burkies into 2nd spot at 7 from 10 on 36pts, 3pts clear of Hunters on 33pts but well adrift Colleagues on 10 from 11 and 43pts. However upcoming St Pats on 26pts clearly have their eye on 4th spot on-table by knocking out Waves (32pts) who are yet to eat their bye. So St Pats will be fighting for their lives and will bring all guns available to bear challenge on 05th August at Hudson Park, particularly given the status of their Kenty side. And so only a fool would underestimate them, for many has been the day where St Pats rained on a Drummoyne parade. So gear-up and take no prisoners lads as it will be torrid and unforgiving from the get-go.
1st Grade (Kentwell Cup). Lost 33-29.
Coming into the match as 5th on ladder, a mere 1pt behind 4th placed Waves (curtesy of the bonus point for 4 pies the previous week) and closing on 3rd placed Colleagues on 31pts, the battle for 2nd through 4th spot on-table was well alive. As such, when considering our Mossy friends were placed 7th with 4wins from 9 starts, the match was shaping as critical for chipping into the Kentwell Top4, as byes pulled Colleagues and Waves back to the bunch. Alas, the win was not to be.
Comments from Supercoach Mews were that an early pie to No8 Alex ‘Pieman’ Connolly, un-sauced, got us off to a quick start and we pressured Mosman’s line for most of the first half. However execution was a problem and this compounded when we threw not one, but two intercept passes that led to long range Mossy pies and then allowed another pie from losing the ball in contact. All up, by gifting pies and penalties, we allowed Mossy a 20-5 lead by late in the first course. But a sauced pie to flanker Pete Taylor right on oranges closed the gap to 20-12 at the break. The 2nd stanza was essentially a repeat of the first in that we dominated possession but continued to struggle to execute when we had to. A second pie to Connolly (how many is that for the season?) and a pie to wing Rusiate Loganimasi closed the gap, however Mosman continued to answer with penalty goals or pies of their own to maintain their lead. A final Red pie on the bell by replacement fullback Liam Doyle closed the gap, but we had fallen off. That said, at least 34-29 was enough to secure a losing bonus point.
Best & Fairest went 1pt to Rusiate Loganimasi, 2pts to Ben ‘Johnny Cash’ Halmarick and 3pts to Alex ‘Pie Man’ Connolly (Wal, these pies are making him fat so get on that please).
There is no disguising the frustration at the loss. And the loss puts the Red Kenty’s in a tough spot late in the season. At 5 wins from 10 starts and 30pts they are seemingly welded to 5th on table with Waverley on 34pts and Colleagues on 35pts above them. However with each of those yet to eat their byes, the best those clubs may finish the season is 39 and 40pts respectively. Whereas good showings for 10pts against last placed St Pats and 2nd last Forest will see the Red Kenty’s finish potentially with 40pts and perhaps even make the semi-finals as 2nd on ladder (?!?!?). However a loss to either St Pats of Forest will likely put the Red Kenty’s season to bed, or at least make it contingent on other results. So the Red men have it all on the table before them, and are masters of their own destiny from here on. What are you going to do with it lads?
Closing Comments:
Firstly, congratulations to the Mosman Whales rugby club on their successes on the day. It stands testimony to their club that their lower grade strengths remain so clear and their otherwise season-long struggling Kenty’s rose up for the challenge. But aside from that, the fact that in these times of post-Covid struggle the Whales consistently field not just a 5ths, but also a 6th and 7th XV deserves a proper tip of the hat towards their organisation, club spirit and especially the plain old fashioned ‘stickiness’ among their cohort of players. It is something we would do well to replicate.
Secondly, the losses of the weekend and the last few weeks in general were not enjoyable. But in the calm light of day they do herald two things: firstly, for 4ths, 3rds & 1sts we now well know what is required to rise from the mire and challenge in September. The benchmarks have been laid bare about what is really required to be a serious contender. The question is, do we have the minerals for it? And secondly, for the club in the context of the previous two seasons, which have been the toughest to play over my +20yr association with this club, for us to be seriously talking about potentially having 5 sides reach the finals this year is nothing short of mercurial. That doesn’t mean we rest on laurels, and we certainly don’t say “Well we’ve done well enough”. For we aren’t finished with 2023 just yet. But from where we were, even only some 12mths ago, to where we are today, is simply breathtaking and a testament to the club as a whole.
We have another week off now. For many of us it is timely for injuries to heal and missing faces to reappear. But the same can also be said of our opponents. So regardless of your grades respective table status, all Red Men need to approach firstly St Pats (05 August away) and then Forest (12 August at home) with clear and callous intensity, determined to post the two required 5pt wins, as byes seek to leaven out both Waverley and Colleagues among us, and so approach the upcoming Finals in the best possible form and shape. Think of it as ‘Finals start versus St Pats’.
So get on the ready line Red Men. Remember where you come from. Remember what you represent. Remember we put a stitch in the fabric of our club each time you wear its jersey. So make sure the stitches you add are worthy of you, and worthy for those who will come after you.
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
Round 11