By “Nutta”
Ni Hao Cobbers
I find it hard to contain my pride, and my relief, for the club now that the 2023 Sydney Suburban Rugby Union Division 1 regular season has come to its conclusion. Our results and our lack of numbers in recent times have seen us skate the fraught line of relegation too closely for too long, especially given we are on the eve of a truly magnificent anniversary accomplishment as a club next year. But off the back of enormous efforts from club, committee and ‘every man and his dog’ this year, we have not just moved out of relegation strife, but rocketed back to the fore of 1st Division rugby where we have proudly stood for the last +20yrs. That has been demonstrated no better than by the simple, empiric fact that we have mustered and deployed up to 5x senior grades and 2x Colts grades a number of times this season. And that has been just fantastic in and of itself. But for us to do not just that, but then go one step further and get all five regularly playing teams through to the semi-finals commencing this coming Saturday 19th August, is just breathtaking.
But before we get too carried away, let’s review the days events of Saturday 12th August when Forest rugby made their way down Warringah Rd and met the Drummoyne Dirty Reds at the picturesque Drummoyne Oval on the banks of Canada Bay.
4th Grade (Judd Cup). Won 20-14.
The Red Juddites came into this last week on a knife edge. The unexpected loss against St Pats had left the lads precariously positioned, grimly holding 4th spot with 27pts, while Blue Mountains as 5th on 25pts and Forest as 6th on 23pts circled menacingly. So with the Blue Goats expected the sword the Petersham lads at Lapstone’s dizzying altitude, nothing but a 5pt bonus-point win was going to be enough to ensure progression. Finals were starting one week early for the Red Juddites.
Comments from Supercoach Hayward were that the Red Juddites were well aware of their ‘win or go home’ scenario, and so the boys met the challenge with great intent. And to that end, Rhys ‘The ribbon is not pink’ Harvey stole the ball from the opening kick-off and that seemed to set the tone for the match. Not to be out done, Tim Balshaw kept being Tim Balshaw and made the defence look like a colander when he shortly after sailed through, virtually untouched, to post the opening pie. And that effort was matched by Paula Makisi, dreaming of days gone by in showing he still had some goods on the outside by finishing a lovely team try to cap off a dominant half. However Forest, with a mathematical chance of making the finals, were not to be outdone so easily and they clawed back into the match with a pie early in the 2nd half. And so the game developed into a proper arm-wrestle until Dave Fraser rolled back the years with a brilliant solo try in the corner as he was getting bailed over touch. It was a worthy contender for try of the week. And so, while Forest managed to pull back another pie later in the game, the Red Juddites could smell the win, dug deep and managed to steal possession back to seal the win and a spot in the finals.
While the Tristan’s do struggle with the Stirling’s as Mosman play Colleagues in the Major Semi on Drummoyne Oval, the 4th placed Red Heroes will open the days accounts against Waverley this weekend in the Minor Semi. Supercoach Heller has a squad packed with youth, enthusiasm and enough push-ups to make an F45 Instructor blush, so they will be in fine form and mettle to meet the Waverley Waves head on in what should be a ripper of a match. The last match between these two was a 10-5 Waves win that was played largely between the quarter lines, was decided on defence and a ‘he who blinks first’ attitude and so this match will be no different.
3rd Grade (Whiddon Cup). Won 17-12.
Coming into the match as 2nd on table, the Thirsty Widows were not really in any serious danger of missing out on the Major Semi Final. However a hard, confronting knock was needed by the group to shake loose any vestiges of complacency or ego that were hanging about after last weeks drubbing of St Pats. And a hard and confronting run was what the Red Widows got.
Comments from Supercoach Scully were that anyone who may have inadvertently stumbled into the Red Widows dressing sheds prior the match would have been struck by the palpable intensity and steely determination of the group. However, Forest met the guys head on from the whistle, and the Foresters simple structures and direct methods made them unsettling opponents yet again, despite their lower position on the ladder. Forest came to play rugby and they were not going quietly. To add to the Red Widows woes, simple handling errors were costing early opportunities and then a back-sprain to Rabeeh ‘Ultimate Trainer’ Karaali seemed to inhibit the teams composure. However Ben ‘Yung Fella’ Sykes proved an able replacement and with Aiden ‘Coach says I’m a Flanker’ Schmitt and Captain Doc fairly levelling Foresters in the mid-field, the ship seemed to steady. There were some memorable moments in the day: Tom ‘Mr Flash’ Zwart’s fantastic intercept followed by him finding the only patch of quicksand on the field, Cory “I’m faster than that” Johnstone getting caught 5metres short of a pie, Nutta and Doc discussing philosophy and Sam ‘Double-tap’ McKenzie running over every Forest player at least twice but still not finding the try line. But the long and short of it was, after the Foresters pinched an early pie, our lads thought Richard “That was 50metres wasn’t it?” Jobson’s pie and a penalty from Nic ‘Superboots’ Scully would likely see them home. However a late 2nd pie to the Green Machine ‘put the yips’ into the Red Widows and it took some determined Piggy line-bashing to position Will “The Intern” Freudenstein to seal the deal with a late pie, duly sauced by Nic “3 from 3” Scully, to see the job done.
Best & Fairest went as 1pt to each of Brando, Superboot and The Salmon while 2pts went to Stu Hammond and 3pts to Aiden “The Accountant” Schmitt. An honourable mention also went to the new guy Ben ‘Someoneorother’ Sykes.
The win left the Thirsty Widows unchanged on the table at 2nd spot with 8 wins from 12 outings, 11pts behind Minor Premiers Waverley who finished with 8 from 10 played. So, again while the Tristan’s do struggle with the Stirling’s (Mosman play Colleagues) in the Minor Semi on Taplin Oval, the Red Widows will make havoc and do battle against table-topping Waverley in the Major Semi played on Drummoyne Oval proper. In fairness it must be noted that the last meeting of these two sides was a 33-7 hammering dished out by the Waves to a depleted and disjointed Red Widows outfit. But whilst not taking away from Waves performance, the side that takes to Drummoyne Oval this Saturday will be quite different in body and brain. So the stage is set for what should be a very intense match and very likely the 1st viewing of the Grand Final to follow.
Colts (Barbour Cup). Lost 32-12.
Coming into the weekend at 4th on table with 35pts and taking on the 2nd placed Forest on 39pts, the lads knew they were in for a big assignment. But given they had pushed the unbeaten Colts Minor Premiers St Pats all the way in an unlucky loss the weekend before, spirits were understandably healthy among the Red Barbourians that the Green Machine could be met head on and dealt with as part of thorough preparations for semi-finals.
Comments from Supercoach Maybank were that with plenty of players missing and others out of position, the squad knew they had a tough game ahead given Forest had played a great season to-date with good structure and big, strong runners. And that was exactly what the Red Barbourians got. To that end, when the Reds had the ball, Supercoach Maybank said the Red Barbourians looked dangerous. But the core issue was we spent most the game defending. So although the end score line was not what we wanted to see at the end of the day, the boys were to be commended for not giving up. They backed up in defence time and time again, and they put their bodies on the line for each other. Frankly, it was tough to watch. But there was plenty of heart shown. Closing comments from the coaching team were to give a massive shout out to the players that backed up, played out of position and simply didn’t give in on a day that was ‘hugely tough’.
Best & Fairest went as 1pt to Tom Lacey, 2pts to Will Hobson and 3pts to Callum “That’s not a kilt!” Richardson.
Two losses in two weeks is not what this side has become accustomed to, nor the desired way to go into Finals. However the major issue was that given Hunters Hill achieved a bonus point in their 7-0 loss to St Pats, both Hunters and D.Reds finished the season on 35pts a-piece. However after some fortuitous by-laws were thoroughly examined, the D.Reds slipped through to Finals with 7 wins for the year compared to Hunters 6. As such, the Red Barbourians will line up against Colleagues this coming Saturday in the Minor Semi-Final on Taplin Park while St Pats and Forest meet in the Major Semi. The Red Barbourians lost 19-12 to Colleagues in their last meeting in a match that went right down to the wire. So it should be another absolute nail-biter between two long-running protagonists this coming Saturday.
2nd Grade (Burke Cup). Won 33-29.
Last week’s surprising loss to St Pats saw the Red Burkies come into Saturday as 3rd on table with 37pts, 1pt behind Hunters and 5pts clear of Waverley in 4th spot with Colleagues unassailable Minor Premiers on 48pts. So while assured of a Semi Final berth, the lads were keen for a good win against last-placed Forest to dispel the disappointment of the previous week and to perhaps take back 2nd spot on ladder. However the Green Burkies proved far tougher than the lads had anticipated.
Comments from Supercoach Mick were that he had jitters about this game all week and we did not disappoint in making the last placed Green Foresters look good. Mick lamented that a terrible kick-off and general start to play heralded the tempo and timbre of the Reds and we were on the back foot from there. And but for some individual brilliance by Joe “Don’t Pass!” Colley who nicked the days first pie, it would have been far worse. To illustrate, not long after Joe’s effort we would throw another intercept try (fourth one this year) and allow Forest to draw level at 7-7. They shortly added another pie to their plate and it took another bit of Joe ‘Devine Inspiration’ Colley intervention to grab back a 14-12 lead at oranges. From there the game ranged back and forth in the second half as each side played pie tango, but the Red Burkies held out and got their bonus point win in a match that the lads would otherwise simply rather forget.
Best & Fairest went as follows: 1pt to Josh ‘Mr Sensible’ Hayward, 2pts to Tybs ‘Mr Everywhere’ Smith and 3pts to Joe ‘Don’t Pass’ Colley.
The loss last weekend to St Pats and Hunters Hill securing a 5pt bonus-point this weekend win meant that the Red Burkies now come into finals in 3rd spot with 8 wins and a draw in 12 starts for 42pts. This weeks opponents in the Minor Semi again are the Waverley Waves who finished with 7 wins and 1 draw from 12 starts. So in-keeping with the shared draw from earlier in the season, the table is now set for a battle royale this weekend as 3rd meets 4th on Taplin Oval in the chance to go again the following weekend and push for September glory.
1st Grade (Kentwell Cup). Lost 29-26.
The Red Kenty’s came into the final round of the season as 4th on-table with 35pts, and so well placed to put the cleaners through the 2nd last placed Green Foresters and hopefully go into the Semi Finals at least in 3rd spot and possibly even 2nd depending on the balance of results. But it was not to be with the Forest lads proving a stubborn and unforgiving opponent in their last hurrah of what was a difficult season for them.
Comments from Supercoach Mews were that the Red lads were well aware that making Finals only required a bonus point or two. But equally they were conscious that the Forest lads were likely going to throw everything, including any random kitchen sinks, into a first grade shot at victory as they attempted to get up and out of 1st Division relegation zone (a place we know well of late). And that sort of do or die struggle was exactly what the Red Kenty’s got as a poor kick-off receipt and Forest pressure led to Forest opening the scoring with a penalty goal. However after largely dominating territory and possession for a period, we struck back well with sauced pies to Tiger Parker and Filipe Labalaba. However Forest weren’t laying down and, curtesy of a combination of their good work and our complacency, Forest jagged back a late pie to send the teams to oranges at 14-10 to the Red Kenty’s. Play resumed in the 2nd stanza with Alex ‘Pie Man’ Connolly charging 30metres up field for his initial pie of the day and, after camping in the Forest quarter for an extended period, he bagged his now-expected daily-double of pies to establish a 26-10 lead midway through the second half and the match seemed well in-hand. However such a perceived comfort-level and points-buffer has proved prophetically problematic for the Red Kenty’s this year and this was to be no different. Thus it was likely of no surprise to regular Red pundits when Forest came roaring back into the game. The Green Machine started dominating the contact zone, while we slipped off tackles and gave away cheap possession and penalties as we failed to respect the ball nor the opponent. All up, our failure to execute allowed Forest back into the game and a final converted Green pie, scored on the bell, saw Forest steal a 29-26 win from under our very noses.
To say the celebrations of the Forest Faithful both on and off-field were dramaturgical, ostentatious and of most-memorable thespian intensity would not do justice to the display that unfolded. But it was what it was and they done what they did. So good luck to them. It will be remembered I’m sure.
Best & Fairest was a-judged as 1pt to Christian ‘Travelling Wilbury’ Vanezi, 2pts to Ben ‘Boots’ Halmarick and 3pts to Alex ‘Fat Man’ Connolly.
At the end of the day, full credit to Forest for ending their season on a high. For the Red Kenty’s, the two bonus points collected (4x tries and loss by <7) saw them squeeze out Colleagues for 4th spot on the table with 6 wins from 12 starts and 37pts, 2pts adrift Waverley who finished 3rd on table with 7 from 12. So, just for something completely different, Drummoyne will play Waverley on Taplin Park in the Minor Semi-Final whilst Minor Premiers Hunters Hill will meet the Blue Goats on Drummoyne Oval in the Major Semi.
Closing Comments:
So again, another mixed day of three wins (4ths, 3rds and 2nds) and two losses (Colts and 1sts). And to Forests credit, despite some of their teams lowly spots on the ladder, they came, they saw and they gave as good as they got. But while I am disappointed we made such hard work of the day proceedings, on reflection I’m happy to have had to lock horns with them on the eve of finals because, even if nothing else was accomplished, everyone in Red got a joltingly good reminder of the level of physical commitment required to take our footy further this coming weekend. No one got an easy game and even those who won did not win easily. So in-terms of a wake-up and ready-up for what’s coming, they were a well-timed opponent.
Furthermore, for those that missed it, the efforts of the PI Crew in hosting a fantastic Culture Night in the upstairs bar afterwards was just fantastic. Beer, meat, bread, songs and disgraceful attempts at dancing while watching the Tilly’s take out Les Frogs in the Women’s Soccer World Cup Quarterfinal was as magnificent as it was memorable (sorry Coco, but it was).
And it-terms of what’s still to come, this coming weekend sees us all strap-up and tear-in again for the first round of semi-finals. 4ths, Colts, 2nds and 1sts all play in Minor semi-finals on Taplin Oval while the mighty Thirsty Widows will carry the flag into a Major Semi on Drummoyne Oval proper. And in what is all-but a quasi-competition round, the D.Reds will play the Waverley Waves in all senior grades whilst the Colts play their long-time nemesis Colleagues. So don’t miss the opportunity. Don’t miss the chance to say, years from now, that “Aye, I was there!” when the Dirty Reds hosted the Finals. So gird your loins, pack your camper chairs and be sure your calendar is free for what should be an outstanding day as Drummoyne Dirty Reds host the opening round of the Sydney Suburban Division One semi finals for 2023.
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
Round 12
Round 13