Gudday Cobbers,
Welcome to the mothership of match reviews. So while I do apologise for the War & Peace dimensions of this report, I also do acknowledge there was a mountain of material and events to cover. So herein I’ll attempt to record, comment and poke some gentle fun at some of the elements that contributed to the massive week that spanned the week capturing the 150th Gala dinner and the Round 9 proceedings of the 2024 Sydney Suburban Rugby, Division One fixture against our friendly neighbours to the north, Hunters Hill. So strap yourselves in and let’s get about it.
Firstly, I must acknowledge the sheer amount of work and good will that went into the last week. The efforts from folk too many to mention, who all made contributions too deep to articulate, and so led the charge in facilitating all that went on, were simply magnificent. But so were the efforts of all those who travelled across the world or across the suburbs to participate. So all deserve some form of mention. The best proof the impact of their endeavours was in quality of the pudding. And given the bonhomie, the smiles and the joie de vivre on display across the whole week, it could only be seen as an unmitigated success and a worthy acknowledgement of the mana and reach of our club. I think that for all who were involved, it was something to be both honoured and humbled to be a part of.
Pregame – the Gala Dinner
Some may say I am distasteful, but bugger them. For me, the first salvo of the week was somewhat inadvertently provided by Tom ‘Unit’ Herlihy, whose unfortunate passing and funeral service on the Monday did facilitate a well-mannered and well-attended gathering of many of the who’s-who of the DDRFC at the Drummoyne Sailing Club to pay their respects. With no disrespect to Unit or his family, I found the timing of Unit’s commemoration rather ironic, and so would have been much to his liking and sense of humour. Besides its solemnity and timing, the event also served to ground us on so many levels, reminding all attendees of the depth of the clubs membership, its international reach, its multi-generational influence, and it’s ability to draw so many from so far. Thus there was so much poetry in that, that I raise yet another glass to Tommy on a game well played.
From there, aside from the countless number of sideline dinners, drinks and meet-ups across the week between so many, the Friday night pregame warm-up materialised at the Edinburgh Hotel on Bathurst St from about 3pm onwards. By the time I wandered in around 4pm, there was a hearty contingent of Red Men quickly agglomerating and laying the foundations for a full night of festivities to come. By around 6pm, easily some 40 lads, with a smattering of better-looking halves, were limbering up for the evening to come by renewing old friendships, reliving old glories and no-doubt telling a few lies over pints too many to count.
From there, we made our way to Doltone House to be met with a fantastically well laid out room, chock full of the clubs living history decked out in their considered fineries, and with enough liquid lubrication on-hand to flood the engine rooms and re-sink the Titanic again. With compare Tony Squires holding the whistle, the evening did play out through sparse-enough formalities (well done there), across the feeding of the gathered horde (no mean feat), and into the dancing and mingling that do accompany such evenings. As ever, the only problem with the function was that it ended too soon and Father Time brough many an in-depth and highly enjoyable conversation to an all-too-abrupt end.
But that said, the warm-down was kindly facilitated by the Arthouse Hotel around in Pitt St (thumbs up to whomever organised that) who served their purpose as the post-pre-game dressing shed amply well. From there, the crowd did slowly disperse, some back to homes and accommodations near and far, others to alternate salubrious locations of ill-repute, and yet the odd other to seek comfort under the stars and dew in slightly less unorthodox circumstances. And so we did retire, to wit to slumber, with broad smiles from stories retold, and to gird our loins and Panadol our heads for the following day.
Sutherland Cup (5th grade) – Drew 7-7
With a thoughtful delay to kick-off to facilitate the Juniors to charge-about the main oval (to say nothing of offering some small consideration to the later rising participants from the previous evening), the swag had only just been packed away and the morning dew had scarcely burnt off the grass before the Brekky Crew did take the field for an 11am start with an impromptu Referee spurring them on. With the lads being 6th on-table with 1 win from 6 starts for 9pts, and running against a hitherto winless Hunters team, the Red Sutho’s had a chance here not to be missed.
The match started well for the Red Men. They defended their own patch stoutly for much of the first half of the first half, in the face of resolute Hunters Hill attack, before then resolutely moving the ball downfield. And the gradual turning of the screws was eventually rewarded when Richard Harris bashed and barged over for a short range pie on the right side of the sticks, duly sauced by Luke Jones, shortly before half time. However the impetus was not maintained. Perhaps it was the untimely interruption of half time, the dislocative impact of the sleep in, or perhaps it was the ineptitude of the first half refereeing, but either way the Red momentum was lost, the Hunters no10 bagged a pie and sauce of his own in the 2nd stanza, and so the opening foray of the day ended somewhat anti-climatically with a 7-all draw.
Points went as 3 points Pat ‘Machine’ Cantrill, 2 points Ken ‘Rolla’ Leota 1 point Luke ‘Sniper’ Jones.
The result sees the Red Brekky Crew move up into 4th spot at 1 win & 2 draws from 7 starts and so on 11pts, while Hunters remain winless but now on 6pts curtesy of 2 draws. Conversely, the upcoming opponents Colleagues will provide a sterner challenge given they are 4 from 5 for 19pts and so inhabit 2nd spot. Therefore, the Red Sutho’s best harness their new-found momentum and gather their wits to go cross over Kings Cross and sally forth into the rarefied reaches of Woollahra this coming weekend.
Judd Cup (4th grade) – Won 15-5
After a succession of close losses and an astounding 3 draws, the 8-5 win over Mosman had elevated the Red Juddites from last to 5th on table with 1 from 6 and 9pts. Against that, while Hunters had only 1 from 5 for 7pts, that 1 win had been against the Red Men in Rd1. So the bout was shaping as deceptively even for both sides as they trundled out and eyed each other off with distaste while the two No3’s renewed their now-ancient acquaintance with mutual insults. This would be a classic lower-grade affair that would come down to ‘who wanted it more’ and for one, this pundit wondered whose pre-game reflections in their respective sheds would prove enough to see their lads home?
Comments from Supercoach Heller focussed on that whilst it was an ‘untidy’ win, it was nevertheless a good win. And it was very good to come away with such a win, at home, on such a prestigious day, particularly as we had blown a 14-0 lead to lose 21-14 the last time we met at Boronia. Supercoach was keen to point out that this weekend the Red Juddites had wanted to make amends and deliver on what we know the lads knew they could achieve. In the vein, DD were stronger across the paddock, as was evident from the amount of go forward the pods provided, off the back of dominant scrum and lineout performance. Given that platform, the Backs were able to exploit the outside channels, with the likes of outside centre Arthur Pichon and fullback Tim Balshaw getting particular mention, alongside a rampant Fraser Lamont, whose short-channel running was duly rewarded with a pair of pies. And with that, Oscar Lee also got mention for his power-running leading to the 3rd pie while carrying three opponents on his back. Against that, the Hunters one opportunistic try in the first half was never going to be enough to stop a red team clearly determined to take the day.
Points were awarded as 3pts to Oscar ‘Everywhere’ Lee, 2pts to Tom ‘The Jackal’ Hall and 1pt to Fraser ‘Pieman’ Lamont.
The win was ugly. But teams who can play ugly but still win, can go on to win anything. So with now 2 wins and 3 draws from 7 starts, and so 13pts to reside in 5th place, the Red Juddites must certainly look towards Colleagues, at 3 from 6 on 18pts and in 3rd spot, as a well-heeled opponent desperately in-need of being well-heeled and trodden over next weekend, if the lads are to push on and give the 2024 Judd Cup a shake. We shall see what Supercoach Hellers men can produce…
Barbour Cup (Colts) – Lost 29-3
The previous loss to Mosman, some weeks ago now, had not changed much on the table for the Red Barbourians. Mosman were encamped in 2nd spot given the Hunters lads were still on their unbroken run (6 from 6) and the DDR were still 4th despite the loss, on 2 from 6 and 10pts. Given Colleagues were sitting in 3rd also on 10pts, the Red BaaBaa’s could use the upcoming opportunity to jump over the Blue Boys before their upcoming meeting. But all this was mere hypotheticals and there were more immediate issues to be decided – including getting 15 warm bodies on the field against the Hunter Hillians.
Comments from Supercoach Rowdy were that, in what was a highly stressful week for the coaches and managers, the rugby gods came good and 14 players had been scrounged up by kick off time. And the game was quite entertaining and of a good standard with the Drummoyne boys notably aggressive in defence and making some good line breaks which just couldn’t quite be converted into tries. Accordingly, a penalty to captain Nick Long were our only points of the afternoon. Conversely, Hunters Hill were a good size, with size and discipline, and as becoming their table status, they did stretch away towards the end as numbers and fatigue took their toll. That said, the Red BaaBaa’s did themselves proud with what they had at-hand.
Points went as 1 to new recruit Jack MacLaren, 2 to Fletcher Hardwick (who has never looked fitter), and 3 to Will Cardwell who played like a man possessed. And special thanks go to Junior Amituanai who made his Colts debut after being spotted in the stands 10 minutes before kick off with Supercoach being keen to see me highlight that “you are always welcome in our team mate!”
The loss means the Red Barbourians are tied for 4th spot with Forest – both on 2 from 6 for 10pts – while the upcoming opponents Colleagues are 3 from 6 for 15pts. Against that, Hunters and Mossy have stretched away to 30pts. So the fight is on for 3rd & 4th spots as semi’s loom over the horizon. So the Red Lads are far from being a spent force and are in-fact shaping to be in a good spot as the season rolls into the deciding weeks. So, ‘get around it’ lads for your fate is still very much in your own hands, especially if you put these poncy Woollahrians in their rightful place (under your boots).
Whiddon Cup (3rds) – Won 15-13
Remarkably, the Red Widows came into the weekend in 3rd spot with 2 from 6 on 13pts, 5pts behind the 2nd placed Blue Goats. Against that, the Hunter-Hillians were likewise on 2 from 6, but for only 10pts, and so were snapping at red heels. So again, as with the other grades so far, the confrontation was looming to be a closely contested struggle, to be decided on the smallest of whims, and so requiring each side to be as fully committed to that task at hand as they could be. And so it proved to be.
Comments from Supercoach Scully were that the Red Widows started the game well with Joe Colley making yards seemingly at will, and Sam Yip likewise proving elusive. However the loss of Yippy shortly thereafter to an ankle-scare, alongside the yanking of Joe for higher grades, discombobulated the lads. Despite Tim ‘Bashman’ Balshaw and Nick Long proving ample cover, the early momentum appeared lost. That said, the cover called upon from the bench proved decisive with Peni, Joshy Rhodes and James O’Ryan all also doing themselves proud.
In-terms of the progress of the match, despite the replacements heroics and the likes of Tom Warr and his impressive post-contact metreage, the pies bagged by Jim Davis and Nick Long with one sauce-squirt to Nic Scully (12) were looking likely to be insufficient to overcome the Hunter Hillians with their 2 pies and a penalty (13). However late game direct running and resolute pressure bore eventual fruit as the increasingly frustrated Referee blew the critical penalty in the red favour, midway between the Hunters quarter and half-way, with scarcely a breath of time left on the clock. Cometh the moment, cometh the man, and so young Nic Scully stepped to the tee and slotted the required 4-iron with aplomb to see the flags raised, the black & whites hearts broken and the points secured to send the Red Widows into the hysterics of victory.
Points were awarded as 1pt to Nic “Sniper” Scully, 2pts to Jim “The Rock” Davis and 3pts to Tom “Goneto” Warr.
The win sees the Red Widows still in 3rd with 3 from 7 on 17pts, 9 adrift the Blue Goats in 2nd and 3pts clear of 4th placed Mosman. Meanwhile, Hunters are tied with Colleagues for last, each with 2 from 6 on 10pts. As such the Red Widows will be meeting an increasingly desperate Colleagues side next weekend, and so need to gather their wits and firm their plans to do what must be done and stay in-touch with the table leaders as the competition passes over into the second spell of the season.
Mayors XV vs Invitation XV – a few tries scored as an offering to the Rugby Gods.
What do you say about a game like that? What I can say is that, while anticipation elsewhere may have been high, the expectations were decidedly low amongst the 30 odd aged warriors, in various states of disrepair, who gathered on Taplin to chat, joke, glance warily about, and brace themselves to participate in a bit of stretching and galivanting before the coming collision in front of a growing and expectant crowd on the sidelines of the main oval.
To a generous smattering of applause we did take the field of legends, dreams, and the odd lie, to first bow our heads in memory of absent friends (notably Tom Herlihy) and to then get some happy-snaps while all were still upright, clean, fit and uninjured, before the pea was blown and friendships were laid aside as the foes-for-a-day did engage. Now I must note here that there had been whispered mutual consent prior to kickoff that the match was to be played in generous manner, without overt contesting of the ruck, and in a spirit of general bonn homie and accord. Well that idea lasted all of about 8 seconds until Corey Luyten got about 5miles offside and Jimmy Burns dived clean over the opening ruck to herald that actions do indeed mean a lot more than mere words. Thus, with niceties summarily tossed out the window, the tackles started hitting dead centre and the ruck quickly became a maelstrom of boots, the odd thumb jammed in dark places, and enough offsides to mistake proceedings for an Aussie Rules match at times as Referee Chris Long did his upmost to keep the spectacle at least vaguely resembling something approximating rugby.
In the end, who knows what happened? Be it Johnno Sage’s elusive running lines, Johnny Sinisa mesmerising ball movement, Sam Roach’s lineout cunning, David Mews soaring high, Andrew Phillips unerring boot, Wally Carpenters disregard of personal safety or Wise Gavidi and his midfield magic, somewhere in all that there were 4 tries scored, a gallon or two of port drunk, the odd hamstring strained and more than a few utterances of “I’m too old for this shite” heard, before the pea blew the last time and the song was sung.
What I do know are three things: firstly, so much for a gentle game. The hits were hard as we were all moving just slow enough that lads could be properly lined up. So the bodies were sore on Sunday, no doubt. Secondly, it was such a heart-warming event to be involved in that all agreed the match would not be the last of its kind. And thirdly, the pride and gratitude to be included in such an event, on such a day, in such company, was enough to make even this old hardhead a bit soft around the edges and even get a bit of dust in the eye.
Burke Cup (2nds) – Lost 32-0
With the carcasses and false teeth of the old men cleared from the field, hostilities did resume against the Hunter Hillians with 2nd grade charging out in the lengthening shadows. The Red Burkies came into the match in 4th spot with 3 from 6 for 14pts, 2pts behind the 3rd placed Hunters Hill. So this match was shaping as potentially a real marker in establishing who will be in what sort of form as the season matures and teams consolidate their foundations as folk jockey for spots. But ‘laxity is a laxative’ as my dad used to say, and the match itself failed to deliver the quality contest folk expected to see.
Comments from Supercoach Woz were that the mighty Red Burkies were simply outplayed by their top four rivals, with the Hunters performance unexpectedly elevated by the injection of several stellar players not seen in the previous rounds. With such talent materialising, the visitors dominated the carries & collisions and were equally aggressive in defence, pinning the red men in their own third for most of the first half and setting up an unassailable lead before oranges. To the player’s great credit, the Red Burkies rallied in the second spell and had the majority of possession, but couldn’t convert such into points before the passion and physicality of both sides escalated into a series of spiteful incidents, resulting in the game being called early by a clearly rattled Referee, with still at least some 15 minutes still to play.
There were some hard lessons to be learnt from that match, but that said, the lads were valiant. Best for the Reds were brothers Niall and Mark McDermott, splitting the 1 & 2 pts between them (1.5 each?) and 3pts went to Captain and late night juggernaut Corey Griffin.
The weekends results panned out as a remarkably different table compared to last week, with the loss meaning the team are now 3 from 7 on 14pts and 6th on table. Meanwhile, Hunters rocketed up to 2nd on 5 from 7 for 26pts. More pertinent to this weekend, Colleagues are currently 5 from 6 on 21pts and so are a team that our lads really need to put a good performance against if they hope to seriously feature in the end of year proceedings. Rip in Bhoyos.
Kentwell Cup (1sts) – Lost 33-8
The Red Kenty’s came into the weekend reasonably well positioned mid table with 3 from 7 on 19pts. However that wasn’t much of a guide as with so many fixtures played or not played due to weather, the table was somewhat deceptive. In-line with that, Hunters were 3 from 6 on 16pts. Nonetheless, the history between our two clubs is ‘rich’ with rivalry and everyone knew that on this day, the table would matter little as the two sides set-to against each other yet again. And so, against the backdrop of an increasingly raucous crowd on the hill and stands, the teams did charge forth under the lights to set-to and test each others mettle.
Comments from Supercommentator Ken were that all were conscious the Hunters team had been strong in recent times, but nonetheless the lads were confident headed into the fray, somewhat unusually under lights. However, in what proved to be a torrid and relentless evening, it was the black & whites who scored first with a converted pie, to which they promptly added 2 penalties to skip away to an alarming early lead. But to the calls of “Scrum Scrum Scrum” coming from the ‘motivated’ 4th graders in the Pig Pen (the Old Stand) the Dirty Red 8 and indeed their front row in-particular of Tommy Botting, Callum Richardson and Christian Vanezi, reminded our northern friends that the day was far from done. And following that sustained pressure, Alex ‘Pieman is back’ Connolly finally barged over for a try, shortly followed by a Ben Halmarick penalty. Suddenly the Reds seemed ‘back in the hunt.
However penalties and possession eventually told and the Hunters Hill fly half’ repeatedly put his team in the right places. And with that pressure, so also did the injuries mount with the lads losing Peter Taylor, Sione Takelo and Liam Doyle. From there, the weight of possession, the quality of the opponent and the dislocation among our own meant the game slipped away. Supercoaches Johnny & Mick were as disappointed as the players at the loss. However all still seem quietly confident that this team does indeed have what it takes to be a threat in the 2024 Kentwell Cup competition if they can find some rhyme, rhythm and consistency in their performances.
Points went as 3pts to LJ in acknowledgement of his stellar defensive effort, and the 2 &1 to Botting and Vanezi respectively for their efforts up-front.
The loss and other weekend results have shuffled the Kentwell table significantly. Now at 4 from 8 for 19pts, the Red Men sit astride 5th spot, 2pts behind the resurgent Lindfield in 4th spot on 21pts. Upcoming opponents Colleagues sit stone, motherless last on 1 from 6 for 4pts, and so must be seen a victory that simply must be exploited for both points and credibility reasons. But that said, there are tones hiding therein of the pre-game thoughts of Lindfield, and we all recall how that went. So at the risk of uttering great football cliches, it’s ‘one game a time and let’s not get in front of ourselves’ for the Red Kenty’s. And that starts with swording the Blue Giants at their home in destitute Woollahra this coming weekend.
Summary
Well there you have it. I don’t know what else to say. It was an enormous day, in a massive week, in a momentous year. And thus the party rolled on well into the night off the back of yet more Al Colgan shenanigans (well surprise me!). The young men played their part, while the old men still answered the call, and our partners and betters collected the pieces on Sunday. So all did their bit and a huge thankyou must go to all who did. Yes we lost more than we won on the day, and that’s a shame. But those details pale against the enormity of what we celebrated, as that event was about more than just one day. Through 150yrs, the iterations of our club in their various forms have stood strong. And again on Saturday it showed to all and sundry who we are, that here we stand, and that despite all the ups and downs of our years and the day, the stitches we put in our jersey’s were worthy of the club we represent and the flag under-which we strove on Saturday 29th June 2024.
We’ve played all without fear for 150 years. And we will play them for 150 more.
And yes, for those wondering, Drummoyne oval is still a surprisingly comfortable place to sleep.
Boire le vin.
Nutta.