Hello Comrades!
I hope all is good, healthy, fat and enjoyable in your world as we settle back, sugar our coffee and focus ourselves for a wee bit of reflection on the Saturday that was, when the mighty Blue Mountains Goats did descend onto the humble shores of Canada Bay for a day of shenanigans and a spot of rugby. With Saturday morning breaking rather bleakly, with a cold breeze and leaden skies, that then progressively brightened as the day lengthened, there was some fantastically entertaining rugby played in both directions by days end. And while results in the end certainly fell more in the red favour than the blue, it was nonetheless a good day out in the sunshine, with the rugby at least being played in generally the right spirits, and some much-needed higher grade successes for the Red Men, cementing some table positions, and demonstrating the sort of heart and effort that symbolise what our little club is about.
Following feedback about my writing and editing style, I’ll be taking a different approach from this point. So note that the First Grade report will be written, provided and submitted separately. That means I’ll just cover everyone else. Thus I welcome you all to comments from the Lower Grade Battlers.
Sutherland Cup (5th Grade) – Drew 17-17
With the Mountain Men bringing what appeared to be a veritable army of players, the 3 wins from 7 starts and so 3rd placed Blue Goats looked to be large, fresh, keen and well-prepared for the coming foray against the 1 from 8 and so 5th placed Red Brekky Crew early on Saturday morning. Comparatively, the Red Brekky Crew, being at the bottom of the feeding pile for players in the current player-dearth we are experiencing in the club, were in a real pinch for numbers. And so with help pulling players from 4ths, local bars, 185B Victoria Road, and even the local nursing homes (apparently) all efforts were made to cobble together a team. And in the end, the Red brekky Crew mustered the numbers to the point where we were suddenly comfortable enough to literally turn away fresh players who showed up to register with boots in-hand. And thus, with such a remarkable reversal in recruitment fortunes that we could now turn away players, the red and blue motely crews trundled out onto Taplin Oval – the home of all true legends and discards – to a smattering of applause and the odd dog fight among the morning passer-bys.
In a match that see-sawed either way, with all the verve, flashes of brilliance, and splotches of not-so-brilliance we all know to expect in Brekky Club fixtures, the red and the blue did set to about with each other with gusto and enthusiasm, if not much actual style. And with a scoreboard that would please the rugby gods, even if not too many else, in the end there were three pies and one sauce landed either way with the only real difference being that it was the Blues outside 3 doing their damage, whereas for the Reds it was two pies to Andy Sharpe at no7 and a pie and sauce to BigT Stuckey in no14 doing the business. To be honest, it was an entertaining affair, played with good heart and some heavy defence, with the tally of six tries validating that the footy was largely free, open and of the running variety.
Points were shared about with 3pts to Brandon ‘Lee’ Leota, 2pts to James ‘The Other’ Hayward and 1pt to Ken ‘Oath’ Leota taking the spoils.
After posting a 3rd draw for the season, the result means the Red Brekky Crew now sit at 1 win from 9 starts and so are 5th on the ladder with 13pts, while Blueys are 3rd placed with 3 from 8 (with 2 draws themselves) on 19pts, and with Lindfield jammed in between them. Thus the 3 & 4 table spots are still well open for a charge if the lads can muster themselves in the coming weeks. That said, the challenge this week will be the table-topping 8 from 8 for 39pts Waverlians. They will be good, fast and have their tails up. So the Red Brekksters best have their wits and brains about them this coming weekend.
Judd Cup (4th grade) – Drew 10-10
With the breeze picking up noticeably, and many of the same Red Sutho’s morphing into Red Juddo’s, it was a relatively discombobulated and ill-prepared murder of Drummoynians who had a quick inspo-cuddle for the basketball-esque ‘321’ palaver before taking the field on Taplin once more for the second chapter of the day. With a season tally of 2 wins and 3 draws from 8 starts and so still 5th on-table with 15pts, the Red Jugheads had a real chance here to ‘stake a claim’ in mid table against the 4th placed Goats with their 2 wins and 3 draws from 8 starts for 16pts. However, the rugby gods ordained that this be a day of low numbers for the Red Men, and thus the preparation had not complemented the opportunity. Comparatively, the Blue Goats looked fresh, big, motivated and hungry as the sides lined up, while some eyed each other with a bit of suspicion and others renewed old acquaintances, and then ripped into each other with the Refs opening whistle.
Despite the unimpressive score, the match was characterised by a lot of crowd-pleasing (and lung busting) end-to-end and open-field running. The Blue Goats used their size advantage close to the ruck to play a ‘one-off bash-runner’ game that was effective in bending the red defensive line, before they would swing to centres and wings who would did regularly take swathes of territory. Comparatively, the smaller Red Jugheads pack used faster ruck-speed and pick & drive, alongside a more effective set-piece, to stretch their opponents lungs and defensive lines before launching their own long-range raids. But for both sides, the marker was determined defence, with notable levels of physical commitment shown on respective trylines in-particular, that were worthy of much higher grades. But in the end, despite a total of 4 ‘held up’ dropouts each way, the Goats two un-sauced pies were matched by Charlie Yeoman’s boot, jagging a penalty and then saucing a remarkable pie that was pinched by a pirouetting, classical-ballet-inspired, 25 metre effort of Olympic level athleticism produced by some old fella defying the otherwise broadly held view that he should bugger-off back to the nursing home where it’s commonly believed he escaped from.
Laurels were awarded afterwards with the Big3 going to Tonga “You’ll never walk” Alone, 2pts to Paddy “The Kickoff Avenger” Cantrill and 1pt to that same old fella.
The Red Jugheads 4th draw of the year (wow) leaves the lads at 2 wins from 9 starts for 17pts and 5th on ladder whilst the Blue Goats remain in 5th spot with 2 from 9 for 18pts. Oddly enough, the upcoming opponents Waverley are showing as 10 from 10 for 46pts and so undefeated 1st placed on the Subbies ladder – I’m not sure how that works for them to have played 10. But whatever, it is what it is and whether it be a typo or otherwise CFMEU inspired, there is no denying the Waverlians are the benchmark of the season no-matter how you look at it. So it’s boots on and mouthguards in for the Red Jugheads to test their mettle next weekend.
Whiddon Cup (3rds) – Lost 17-5
Somehow, despite the previous weekends loss to Colleagues, the Red Widows came into the match in 3rd place with 3 from 8 on 18pts. Comparatively, the Blue Goats sat astride the 2nd placed pony with 5 from 8 on 26pts. So there was opportunity aplenty and much on the line for both sides as they lined up with brightening skies and now-lessening breezes overhead for the Thirsty Thirds tussle, still on Taplin Oval.
Comments from Supercoach Scully were that, as with the other lower grades, pre-match scrambling for fit and capable players marred preparations for the all-important clash. But clubmen and stalwarts rallied with players like Jope moving to Flanker and Charlie Yeomans rolling straight back out for game 2 (or was it 3?). Elsewhere, Sam McKenzie played heavily strapped and Richie Halstead materialised from parts hitherto unknown for a trot, whilst Tom “I’ve retired” Zwart suited up again as well. And considering such stop-gaps, Supercoach noted the Red Widows started very well with Cal Boland showing flash and timing to chime into a seamless backline play that put Tom Zwart over for an opening pie. However, despite the auspicious start, those then remained our only points, as recognised by the Referee, for the remainder of the game. And with set-piece and clean ball continuing to be a problem, that solo pie was not ever going to be enough against the Blue Goats who racked up three pies and one sauce to take the day.
Points were shared about as 3pts to Jope Naitasi, 2pts to Tom Sidgreaves and 1pt to Callum Boland.
Close post-game observation of match footage shows both Jude and Callum Bolland posting what for all the world appeared to be great tries. But unfortunately, neither were recognised as such. And these moments proved critical both in not just the match itself, but for the table as well, as the now 3 from 9 for 18pts Red Widows reside in 5th on table, while the 6 from 9 for 30pts Blue Goats consolidate 2nd spot. As with the other grades, eyes turn now to the 9 from 10 and 1st placed Waverlians as the lads prepare themselves to test their mettle against the table-topping pace-setters next Saturday in Bondi Heights.
Barbour Cup (Colts) – Won 22-19
Approaching the weekend on 2 from 8 for 11pts and so holding down 6th spot, the Red BaaBaa’s were in an optimistic mood to be confronting the 2 wins from 7 for 5th placed Blue Goats. And with Lindfield holding down 4th on ladder with a paltry 13pts whilst running headlong into table-topping Mosman, the winner of the weekends battle-royale at Canada Bay had a chance to tighten grip on a top4 spot as semi’s just start to peek over the horizon.
Comments from Supercoach Rowdy focussed on the point that having a full bench made a significant impact that translated directly to on-field results. With not just fresh legs to deploy as-needed, the simple amount of heart that spreads through a whole team from knowing you’re in a position to compete, puts everybody in a more focussed and elevated mindset to play hard and do what needs to be done. Accordingly, the Red BaaBaa’s applied pressure that generated possession and stress on the opponents, leading to both pies and serves of cheese to the Blue Goats as frustration got the better of them. As such, pies to Josh Rhodes, Peni Saurara, Aidan Whipps and a pair of pies to Nick Long, along with a few sauce-bottle squirts proved just enough to overcome the 3 pies and 2 squirts posted by the Blue Goats who, to be fair, never gave up.
Best & Fairest were awarded as 1pt to Ned ‘Every Week’ Greenwell, 2pts to Jordy ‘Bomber’ Lancaster and 3pts to Josh ‘Big Boy’ Rhodes.
The win has the Red BaaBaa’s at 3 from 9 for 16pts and in 5th spot, 3pts behind 4th placed Colleagues, whilst the Blueys move to 2 from 8 for 12pts and so 7th spot on the ladder. Meanwhile, this weeks foe, the Waverlians, are 2 from 8 for 9pts and so last on table. As such the Red BaaBaas really must rally themselves, recall the frustrations of their last meeting with Waverley, and put out a good effort this weekend to stay in-touch with the Top4.
Burke Cup (2nds) – Won 30-6
The Burke table coming into the weekend was quite interesting, with the Red Ressies at 4 wins from 8 starts and so with 18pts for 4th on table, while the Blue Goats were 2 from 8 for 15pts and so in 6th spot. Accordingly, the match shaped as a typical mid-season ‘must win’ if the Red Men were to honestly consider themselves serious season contenders. As such, off the back of some good recent form, the Red Burkies seemed in high spirits and ready to stamp a mark as they warmed up on the main oval whilst the crowd streamed in from Taplin, through the gates of Drummoyne Oval proper, once the Colties were done with their mutual pummelling.
Comments from Supercoach Woz in the after-glow were that, whilst the Reds were focussed on backing up the previous weeks emotional win over Colleagues, the lads were nonetheless clear-eyed on the challenge the Top4 rivals Blueys would present. And those fears seemed well founded as despite starting the match brightly, there Red Ressies seemingly then lost their way early in the match, trying to play around their tough tackling opponents. However, one recommitted to straightening the attack and being more ‘front foot’ in defence, via the stellar efforts of Boon Gutabua, Aidan Schmitt and Riley Alcorn, Drummoyne found the right mix of direct play and creative flair to seize control of the match. From there, Jordan ‘Future Legend’ Lancaster scored twice from fullback, including a spectacular 85-metre effort initially set up by talented centre Kisa Caginitoba, who himself demonstrated an impressive combination with star playmaker Robbie Labalaba. And that sort of creativity set the tone for the rest of the Red Burkies day. Supercoach further reflected that the final score was a fair reflection of the red dominance in what was a great overall display in a wholehearted team effort. Supercoach saw fit to mention all manner of contributors as ‘standing tall’, but made particular note of Kisa, Boon, Captain Corey Griffin, Jordan Dehaarte on return, Riley Alcorn and man of the match Aidan Schmitt as all being instrumental in their involvements.
Laurels were shared about as 1pt to Jordy ‘Resurrected’ Dehaarte, 2pts to Riley ‘He’s Back’ Alcorn and 3pts to Aidan ‘Achtung Baby’ Schmitt.
The emphatic victory sees the Red Burkies at 5 from 9 for 23pts and so 4th on table, 7pts clear of 5th placed Forest and 5pts adrift 3rd placed Hunters Hill. That said, the upcoming opponents Waverley have kept faith with the rest of their clubs stellar season to-date, being top of the table with 9 from 9 for 41pts. As such, not much needs to be said about next weekend. The Red Burkies are the underdog, the Waverlians are clearly flying high, and so on-paper at least, the Waverlians must be seen for the mighty challenge they clearly are. But the gods love a battler. And so it rests with the Red Burkies to gather their wits and sharpen their minds, to continue their recent run of form and jamb it into the lads from Bondi Heights next weekend.
Summation
So there you have it Comrades. We offer our thanks to the Blue Goats for the day, and with that also nod towards their general attitude week in and week out to cover the miles and put out teams across all grades who are physical, capable and play the game with vigour and verve. For our lower grade battlers, we acknowledge the gutsy efforts but lament more bloody draws for the Sutho’s and Juddo’s, commiserate another disappointing loss for the Thirsties, celebrate a heartening win for the BaaBaa’s, and admire the emphatic win for the Ressies. And so with that, a battlers season in a seminal year rolls on for all lower grades, with all still well positioned to take a tilt at the semi-finals.
As ever, many thanks go to all those who make our season happen, especially behind the scenes, but we all know we are a long way from done with this season yet. And in the midst of all that, yes we are still struggling to put enough warm bodies on the field to maintain the momentum built across the year to date. So grab your keys, grab you mates, don’t grab someone else’s missus, and most importantly, go grab your boots and get your backsides to Waverley Oval this coming weekend to pull on the studs and strap up your joints as we launch into Round 11 of the 2024 Sydney Subbies First Division rugby extravaganza.
Boire le vin
Nutta.
1st grade V Blue Mountains at Drummoyne Oval – Win 34 29
Well, the mountain men travelled to Drummoyne Oval undefeated and confident for the Round 10 clash and given they won the last encounter 33 – 13, who could blame them.
Whilst they were heard to comment after the game that they had players out for this clash, so did our team. However, having a strong Top Squad gave the Dirty Reds with again 7 players being called up to first grade an advantage in the end. Every player in the team should be justifiably very proud of their tenacious effort last Saturday and sending the Mountain Goats home unhappy.
Whilst the opposition scored a converted try to start the proceedings it was Captain Alex Connolly who scored next and “Dead eye Dick”, No 9 Ben Halmarick kicked the conversion and then 2 penalties to give the DD the lead.
The Goats looked rudderless in the backs in the 1st half with Lachlan ‘LJ” Jackson having another fine game in the centres and 14 Simeli (Max) Salabogi unstoppable at times.
However, whilst the opposition looked uninterested in the first half, their HUGE forwards and a positional change in their centres turned things around for them. Whilst the Drummoyne scrum had dominated in recent times, the size of the Goats forwards levelled the scrummage contest.
Tries to LJ, Max and No 10 Jackson Parfitt and more goals to Dead Eye had the Dirty Red crowd excited with the prospect of taking the undeafeted title away from the travellers.
LJ’s try came after a fortunate bounce and “falcon” for centre Evan Oconnor to sprint away in the clear and LJ was on his hip to receive a pass and go over untouched.
In what was probably the longest last 10 minutes in history the Goats were repeatedly turned away by the Red forwards on their tryline. Two tries were thwarted by the backs as they took their opposites into touch millimetres from the try line.
Outstanding online defence all round was applauded by everyone present and the lads proudly sung the club song in front of the local crowd. Whilst not ideal, we received 3 sin bins during the game and therefore making this win taste even better.
Special mention goes to Zechariah Browden and many will recall watching his exploits on the wing for the Reds for a number of years. Zech finally got his wish and was selected to play breakaway after wanting a positional change for some time. Zech turned in a Man of the Match performance and well and truly terrorised the much bigger opposition with his strength and outstanding defence.
These lads well and truly deserved their win and enjoyed the bevies in the sheds.
Ken Stevo
3 points – Zechariah Browden
2 points – Alex Wilmore
1 point – LJ