Anyone have a lineup for Shore 1st, 2nds and 3rds teams to play Trial 1 against Knox this Saturday? It's looking to be a memorable fixture as I believe it may be the first time ever Shore plays Knox on the day of the Knox fete, so there will be a huge Knox home crowd present. Although, last time (pretty sure) that a GPS team played against Knox on the day of the their fete (obviously away at Knox), was Joeys in 2016, were they embarrassed them in a 38-3 win, in front of an enormous home crowd.
I'm not sure as to how this fixture will play out as Rex Bassingthwaite will be on the sidelines due to injury, but I beleive Jai Callaghan will be playing in his normal fullback position, so 1 out of 2 star players is better than none, but I don't think it will be enough to get them over the line. Given there's only been some informal trials from both schools during school holidays and the back end of March, it's hard to say which team looks more in favour of for this fixture, although, due to Knox having more returning 1st XV players (note some very good ones), based solely off that (as I haven't really had a chance to gauge how either team performs as a group due to no proper games yet), I would tip in favour of Knox, also because their whole team looks to possess a lot more size on average per individual than Shore. That winning team prediction also aligns with the pattern that has eventuated from this fixture in past years.
In the past couple of years, there is a reoccurring pattern where in this Shore vs Knox fixture, the home team wins. In 2021, and 2023, it was Knox at home winning both, and oppositely, in 2022 and 2024, it was Shore at home winning both. Although, prior to covid, which venue was played at each year was different, as after covid odd years now at Knox and even years now at Northbridge, as in 2019 that fixture was at Northbridge and 2018 at Warrawee, which Knox won both convincingly. It makes sense as the schools alternate the venue each year, and covid in 2020 meaning no trial games mucked up the order of alternating venue. I've been to this fixture every year since 2018, so I remember all the games since then, but I do not know much at all of this fixture prior to 2018.
After researching for this fixture's records prior to 2018, I could not find much. I'd be keen to get some details on this fixture from previous years to 2018, but I think that before 2018 these schools hadn't played each other for a substantial period, not since 2006, where Knox just won (please correct me if I'm wrong about 2006 being the last time before 2018). Prior to 2018, I think there may have only been 2 fixtures since 2006, so Shore vs Knox from around 2007 to 2017 had maybe 0 to 2 of those fixtures (at either venue), which makes sense as an old forum post from 2018 stated 'shore heads down the pacific highway to face Knox at Warrawee for the first time in many years'.
I would really appreciate some details on previous scores and what years this fixture occurred, as many as possible, but mainly after the ones since early 2000's. Given what I've found at what I already know, I think Shore might not have beat Knox at Warrawee since the early 2000's, which means that it's more than likely Shore's longest drought at a specific venue, which against GPS schools it's riverview since 2007. A sore loser would blame it on that the difference in altitude of 100 metres between Knox 1 and Northbridge A, which funnily at the GPS vs CAS game last year, a person I was watching the game with said that it's a little harder to breathe as the air feels 'thinner', which would have only been exacerbated by how cold it gets on Winter nights in the upper north Shore, as we all know what it feels like watching the GPS 1st XV vs CAS 1st XV game at 8pm on a June night at Knox 1; pitch black outside of the school grounds (more schools should take note and acquire floodlights for night games), coupled with very cold temperatures, means you need a warm meat pie or a sausage to prevent frostbite.
Anyways, apologies for my spiel, but this is may be my favourite fixture in all of world rugby (when at Knox 1), due to my affiliations with both schools. Shore vs Barker is up there as well for me, due to my affiliations with Barker, although less than Knox. This year has got to be one of the best for me in terms of fixtures, as 2 of my absolute favourite games happening in back to back weeks, and once more, Shore vs Barker at my favourite stadium, Allianz. Extra special that one, as Shore 1st XV has not played Barker since 2019.
I could not give an educated tip for this week as I do not know enough of either team yet to make an educated guess, but if I had to tip, I'd go something like 36-16 to Knox, but I hope I get proven wrong.