Author: Lee Grant

On a cold, overcast Saturday that threatened rain, the second-last team on the ladder, Kings, had the unenviable task of visiting undefeated Newington, and winless Shore would be at Riverview, still smarting from a late loss last week. But the main interest was at Bellevue Hill where Scots and Joeys would battle it out for the outside chance of winning the competition should future results go their way. Scots v Joeys     by “Crackerjack” Bellevue Hill’s biggest crowd of the season, ramparts bolstered and rollicking with Old Boy re-unions, bagpipes and drums, and with a sea of cerise…

The last round of a schools’ 1st XV competition is always bitter-sweet.  They are glad that the hard grind is over but most of the boys will be playing with their best mates, and for their school, for the last time. St. Aloysius wanted to end their year on a high and didn’t want the big improvers, Cranbrook, to take their scalp back to the south side of the bridge.  Meantime two other southern teams, Trinity and Waverley, would continue their long-standing derby rivalry. But the big interest in the Round 10 matches was whether Knox would finish the season…

The first weekend of the second round of matches promised to produce the best contests of the GPS season. Riverview versus Joeys is a blockbuster event any year; Kings and Shore may be at the bottom of the ladder but wins are all the more precious to them. But the big game of the round game was at Stanmore.  Newington was hosting Scots and hoping to keep their unbeaten record intact, whereas Scots, who lost to them in May, could draw level with them on the ladder should they beat the competition leaders on their home patch. Newington v Scots…

The Wallabies had their last hit-out before the Bleidsloe Cup match tomorrow night in a Captain’s Run at Allianz Stadium, this morning. At least that’s what they called it; Head Coach Michael Cheika was barking instructions as usual although Stephen Moore spent a long time with them at the end of practice. A lot of time was spent on lineouts and restarts from the 22 and half-way–not giving away many secrets there. There was some kicking practice at the end and you could see part of the reason why Cheika wanted Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell in his stable. They…

At the end of the first half of the home-and-away competition Rich_E gives his predictions for Round 6, which starts the second half. Rich_E describes himself as an ex-piggy who played with lots a passion and not much panache.      by “Rich_E” The first half of the season is complete. Each team has had a chance to test their wares against the field and this Saturday marks the start of the ‘business end’ of the season. At the half-way mark, undefeated Newington tops the table and must be clear premiership favourites. It seems too that the G&G members…

Barker v Trinity     by  “rod skellet” Another wonderful afternoon presented players from Barker and Trinity at Hornsby, with the Barker No1 Oval in great shape for running rugby. With both teams coming off a loss the previous week, there was a lot to play for. A close game was expected as Barker always lifts at home and after a one point loss at Trinity in Round 1, Barker were out for a reversal of fortune. Injuries enforced some position switching in both teams with Trinity captain and no 8 McLennan playing prop and lock Liam Rasch…

The last round of the first half of the competition was completed in Round 5 and the most interest was at Lane Cove where Riverview was hosting unbeaten Newington. And, just quietly, there were a few phone calls to fans at Riverview from friends watching games at Bellevue Hill and Hunters Hill. Riverview v Newington     by “George Grant” First half Riverview made their intentions clear from the start with good go forward by Riverview’s forwards and Aussie School’s flyhalf Jack McGregor causing havoc for the Newington defence. In front of a good turnout of spectators Dom Mete…

The CAS Premiership could be decided in Round 8 at Knox but there was also interest in whether Cranbrook could maintain their comeback against Trinity, and could Waverley overcome their disappointment of their poor performance last week, at the expense of Barker? Knox v St Aloysius          by “Tahmen” In what was billed as the match of the round, the two top teams of the CAS competition went head to head at Knox 1.  Knox could win the Premiership with a win and the crowd was mindful that teams were separated by only one point the first time…

The city had dried out during the week and the weather was benign for Round 4. Handling the ball and playing expansively was easier than last weekend as Newington looked to keep their unbeaten GPS record intact at Stanmore, and Joeys sought to get back on the bike at North Parramatta. But the big game was at Bellevue Hill where Scots were hosting Riverview. Scots v Riverview      by “Rich_E” On a sunny and still afternoon at Bellevue Hill, a surprisingly smallish crowd was entertained by a free-flowing match featuring ten tries and a stack of big hits. First…

Trinity v Knox      by “Elfster” On a rather brutal winter Saturday in Summer Hill, Trinity was at home to Knox for Round 7 of the competition. Trinity’s late form suggested that the Round 1 result was an aberration whilst Knox would be wanting to remain undefeated in their quest for the Henry Plume Shield. First half The playing conditions were tough: cold, wet, windy and the ground heavy and muddy, suiting Trinity’s rugby style of hard, tough running forwards. Starting more composed than Knox, Trinity gained possession and territory. This was due not only to a penalty…

It was a cold day in Sydney and after some wet weather the grounds were heavy, especially in the cricket pitch areas.  The rain visited most fields during the 1st XV matches and the wind howled. Newington v Joeys After two rounds Newington were the only unbeaten team, having won both matches away.  For their first home game they were playing Joeys who had been shocked by Scots at home in Round 2. The boys went at it and, given the conditions, they put on a cracking game of rugby. First half Joeys hoofed the ball into the Newington half…

NSW I  22 – Queensland I 20       by “The Spaceman” It was a picturesque setting at St Ignatius College Oval Number One this afternoon for the final of the Australian Schoolboy Rugby Championships. Around a thousand had gathered for the State or Origin clash that did not disappoint. The freezing wind that ran down the ground on Thursday had disappeared and it was still, cool and dry as both teams ran-out onto the paddock at 12:45pm. For New South Wales I (NSW), Max Girdler (19) started in place of Gittoes (6) and Blaise Barnes (23) got the…

For the third day of the Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships Division I matches yesterday there was a bitterly cold southerly coming off the Harbour for most of the day and the teams that dealt best with that won their games. The match ups for the day were seeded before the competition and the four teams from the last two games were playing for spots in the final on Saturday. NSW I  35 – Queensland II  5       by “The Spaceman” First half It was blustery and chilly Riverview afternoon for the match of the day. NSW I…

NSW I   76  –  Western Australia 0 A gentle westerly breeze wafted in over the field from the main College buildings.  The sun had come out to dry off the surface moisture from the overnight rain.  Conditions were perfect for rugby. New South Wales 1st XV (NSW I) Captain, 10 J McGregor kicked off from the Northern end of the main oval to get proceedings underway for the days rugby. Unfortunately things were about to get bad, really bad, for Western Australia schools (WA). First half NSW I gave all their bench a start, apart from 19 Girdler who…

The 41st Sebel Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships started today at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, in Sydney. NSW I 50 Victoria 17    by “Huge Jarse” There was a slight dew on the surface of a resplendent-looking ground at St Ignatius’ College Riverview when the NSW 1st XV (NSW I) and Victorian (Vic) teams ran out under cool calm and overcast conditions to kick off the 2015 National Schoolboys Championships. First half With 19. M Girdler running on as the starting No 8 for NSW I, Coach Gill had deployed a team with more skyscrapers than there is in…

The AAGPS dominated their two games against Combined High Schools yesterday, and having beaten CAS Schools during the week, their players were well-represented in the two sides chosen last night by the NSW selectors for the National Championships. The day started wet and finished wet at Knox’s Curagul grounds, but there was enough fine weather in between to encourage some fine rugby. GPS 38 – CHS 8 The GPS Ones had thrashed CAS Ones during the week but the CHS lads proved to be tougher opponents in the feature game of the day. First half The opening was even as…

Conditions were heavy at Knox Grammar School for the annual matches between the CAS and GPS representative teams, and drizzle was intermittent. Would these influences help the CAS, the usual underdogs in these NSW Schools trial matches, to get close to their GPS rivals—or perhaps to spring an upset win? GPS 1st XV 50 – CAS 1st XV 0     by “Rich_E” What do you get when you combine players like Strang and McGregor, Pirrodi and McCauley, England and Kennewell in the same outfit? A red hot team that after 70 minutes of play had left the red…

Joeys v. Scots          by “Rich_E” With the GPS teams to be announced that evening, the big guns from both sides stepped up in what was an exciting game that surprised many. First half Premiership favouritism had shifted from Bellevue Hill (pre-season) to Hunters Hill (after Round 1). But from the kick-off, Scots made it clear they wanted to reverse that. In the opening minute Scots 7, Charlie Smith, made a clean break, but was called back due to a forward pass. In the next play, Smith was hit high in a tackle and Joeys were penalised.…

Was there anything that could stop the Knox juggernaut? Could another team even get close? Cranbrook v Barker          by “rod skellet” Last year’s champions, Cranbrook, had not won a game in 2015 but they had improved during the season and were due for a win. On the other hand Barker had won a couple at home beating Cranbrook in the first half of the season and also front-runners Waverley. Winning away at The Brook would help them to rebuild their season after a one-point away loss to Trinity last week. First half Cranbrook camped deep in…

To progress to the semi-finals of the World Rugby Under 20 Championship, Australia had to beat the Junior Springboks in Calvasino in their last pool game, or at least earn a bonus point in a loss to become the fourth-ranked team. Instead they were dominated for long periods by the young South Africans and had to struggle to contain the scoreline to 13-46. First half The physical command by the Junior Boks was evident early when they choke-tackled the Aussie Under 20s and had their scrum running backwards for a penalty. After the lineout they advanced up the other side…