Balmain Subbies
Ted Thorn (20)
Just remember the 15s have the Glengarry factor
NSW AAGPS 2025
- Thread starter Joker
- Start date
I have been walking through the gates at Stirling Bridge for over 45 years. Yesterday was probably one of the best.
First port of call was the famous canteen. On arrival I was greeted with megawatt smiles by the very lovely Shore mothers who couldn't be more on point. With the famous pie in hand I ventured to my usual bench to enjoy the sunshine and the action taking place on the oval. The pie was though my main focus and I attacked it with caution, all the while trying to record the nuances of this baked good. The crust was flaky on top and firm underneath. The meat was plentiful but my pie was warm so I could really get to enjoy it. Anyway it was a solid 8. Later in the afternoon I again tackled the pie, not after charming the Shore Mums once again. This time everything feel into place. Crust, meat, fragrance and mouthfeel all on point. 9/10.
At this point you could say this was my highlight of the day (other than the results). But no. It was only the beginning.
To begin the day, @Squidlips came and found me. We had a great chat about all things work, families, jail cells...etc. A great fella with incredible worldly experience and a deep passion for Shore. It was such a pleasure to meet him. I look forward to round 2. Not long after he left a group of three Shore lads found me. I had spoken to them in 2024 and it was a delight to see them again. As always I was so impressed with level of maturity, respect and knowledge. Not long after a 5th generation Shoreman came and caught up with me. It is incredible that his first family Shoreman played in the 1908 rugby premiership. How very special. There a couple more as well who stopped by for a moment.
At the conclusion of the match I slowly made my way past the Hawker Stand. Here I was approached by a number of boys who wanted to say hello. (No photos please) They were great to meet. All of them once more demonstrated the Shoremen ethos of respect. I was also most fortuante meet a few 1st XV Shoremen who were again incredibly polite even though they felt slightly down. It was delight to meet them including Henry Baxter, who even after 70 minutes of trench warfare, had a warm smile and a firm handshake. Lovely fella.
Yesterday was a highlight and a revelation. In all my years of lurking behind my keyboard I have yet to come across a school that shares so many of the same values of Joeys. Shoremen were exceptional. They gave firm handshakes, warm smiles and engaged in conversation. There was plenty of laughs too. As a teacher it was an ideal for me to produce good men. Shore are doing something right and it was on full display yesterday. Congratulations Shore. You did everything right to make my day worthwhile. (Just get the pies in the warmer earlier please)
First port of call was the famous canteen. On arrival I was greeted with megawatt smiles by the very lovely Shore mothers who couldn't be more on point. With the famous pie in hand I ventured to my usual bench to enjoy the sunshine and the action taking place on the oval. The pie was though my main focus and I attacked it with caution, all the while trying to record the nuances of this baked good. The crust was flaky on top and firm underneath. The meat was plentiful but my pie was warm so I could really get to enjoy it. Anyway it was a solid 8. Later in the afternoon I again tackled the pie, not after charming the Shore Mums once again. This time everything feel into place. Crust, meat, fragrance and mouthfeel all on point. 9/10.
At this point you could say this was my highlight of the day (other than the results). But no. It was only the beginning.
To begin the day, @Squidlips came and found me. We had a great chat about all things work, families, jail cells...etc. A great fella with incredible worldly experience and a deep passion for Shore. It was such a pleasure to meet him. I look forward to round 2. Not long after he left a group of three Shore lads found me. I had spoken to them in 2024 and it was a delight to see them again. As always I was so impressed with level of maturity, respect and knowledge. Not long after a 5th generation Shoreman came and caught up with me. It is incredible that his first family Shoreman played in the 1908 rugby premiership. How very special. There a couple more as well who stopped by for a moment.
At the conclusion of the match I slowly made my way past the Hawker Stand. Here I was approached by a number of boys who wanted to say hello. (No photos please) They were great to meet. All of them once more demonstrated the Shoremen ethos of respect. I was also most fortuante meet a few 1st XV Shoremen who were again incredibly polite even though they felt slightly down. It was delight to meet them including Henry Baxter, who even after 70 minutes of trench warfare, had a warm smile and a firm handshake. Lovely fella.
Yesterday was a highlight and a revelation. In all my years of lurking behind my keyboard I have yet to come across a school that shares so many of the same values of Joeys. Shoremen were exceptional. They gave firm handshakes, warm smiles and engaged in conversation. There was plenty of laughs too. As a teacher it was an ideal for me to produce good men. Shore are doing something right and it was on full display yesterday. Congratulations Shore. You did everything right to make my day worthwhile. (Just get the pies in the warmer earlier please)
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The Ruckman
Stan Wickham (3)
Great to hear, that’s what it’s all about. Let’s just hope we can get a better result in the 1st and 2nd XV next time.
Fantastic Sir Toad
Stan Wickham (3)
Trial round v Waverley
High 1st XV 22 d Waves 4ths 7
Waves 5ths 22 d High 2nd XV 5
Waves 16B 38 d High 16A 5
Waves 16D 45 d High 16B 20
Waves 15C 27 d High 15A 7
Waves 14C 49 d High 14A 0
Waves 13C 60 d High 13A 5
Any thoughts from Waves observers.
Fantastic Sir Toad
Stan Wickham (3)
First win since 2023 (v Newington 3rds) I think
StillPlYing
Frank Row (1)
13As
Newington 0
Riverview 12
Newington 0
Riverview 12
Jakeburner65
Allen Oxlade (6)
They are mercenaries. What do you expect. Why I prefer 2nds rugby these days, and not these Harlem Globe Trotter pro teams.
Famed_Star
Allen Oxlade (6)
I really feel as though if this was a Joeys kids, Joker would have told people to stop by now.
Mungo1866
Allen Oxlade (6)
The GPS site shows TAS 1sts played High 1sts in what is called round 4 of the 3rds comp on 10May with a 22-3 win to TAS.
Rugbynbeers
Billy Sheehan (19)
Thought I’d put this out there.
watched Joseph Sua'ali'i yesterday at the Kings v Scots game and wow he is a exceptional young man and great ambassador for the kings school.
started his day off at the Doyle fields watching his younger brother and ended watching the 3rds,2nds and 1st Xv. He took time to take a photo and sign autographs for every single person who came up to him no matter King's or Scots, would have been over 1000 kids easily. After this he would stay and talk to these boys for long periods off times.
what a Outstanding Young man.
watched Joseph Sua'ali'i yesterday at the Kings v Scots game and wow he is a exceptional young man and great ambassador for the kings school.
started his day off at the Doyle fields watching his younger brother and ended watching the 3rds,2nds and 1st Xv. He took time to take a photo and sign autographs for every single person who came up to him no matter King's or Scots, would have been over 1000 kids easily. After this he would stay and talk to these boys for long periods off times.
what a Outstanding Young man.
Ace Ventura
Larry Dwyer (12)
Thanks for the scores, those who sent them in. Below are the Round 1 Results and the Tables after Round 1.
Mungo1866
Allen Oxlade (6)
Be nice to do the B teams as well if possible just to see what depth was like (and I’d know how my sons team was travelling)
We tried that a few years ago. It was so difficult to get the B scores we ended up dropping it.
As always I am most grateful to our stats guy @Ace Ventura for his work in this area. I am sure I speak on all of us when I say thank you kind sir
Backintheolddays
Ted Thorn (20)
Kings will miss Risati - real lack of attacking punch without him (although six tries were scored!) - he creates opportunities by the defence he brings to him. Kings back up centers defended admirably yesterday but there was no real attacking threat from the backline apart from a couple of jinking runs from Sawyer. Best progress was made through their amazing front row going route 1. Second row were work horses and back row didn't quite gel but that will come. The smaller backrower carries too much as opposed to supporting and protecting - enthusiasm is good but must play to strengths.
Surprised at New getting over View and similarly Shore pushed Joeys. Will be a close comp - c'arn the sky blue and white.
Surprised at New getting over View and similarly Shore pushed Joeys. Will be a close comp - c'arn the sky blue and white.
Schoolboyrugby23
Allen Oxlade (6)
Agreed, it scares me how good they are and lost to Waverly by 40. Waverly 13s must be some sort of team
Jim Belshaw
Bob Loudon (25)
Thank you for these scores. They provide a cross check for the relative strengths of TAS and High playing a Sydney school.
In a very early match against Kinross TAS suffered some heavy defeats. Firsts Kinross 43-12, Seconds Kinross 66-0, under `16s a Kinross victory score not known, First girls Kinross 19-0. The presence of girls rugby is having some interesting effects. Most TAS games against coed schools now included both genders. With these results I wondered about the strength of TAS this year.
Against High in what was in fact the first round of the GPS thirds comp, I know that the full comp hasn't started yet, TAS won 22-3 placing TAS as the temporary comp leader on points! While High wasn't disgraced, I thought that TAS was significantly the better team. TAS actually won all the rugby matches. Of these I watched the 16s, thirds, seconds and firsts. I wasn't impresses by the 16s on either side, although TAS won well. It was nice to see the thirds who, while a smaller and younger team, was pretty smart. I have always thought of the thirds as a Cinderella team struggling to get matches. TAS once had three open teams below the top two, but it's hard to attract and motivate if you don't have anyone to play. The TAS seconds, my old team, were much better than I expected, outclassing High. Bottom line is that TAS has some depth this year.
Overall, High still just won the long-running Harris and Hanlon cup across a number of sports. My congratulations. Interestingly, TAS won the open soccer which made me wonder how TAS might go in the GPS competition.
Thinking about this post led me to look at TAS sport more broadly. There has been a lot of rugby activity, far more than I had realised, but there is more competition from other sports offering more competitive options. Rugby is holding its own for the moment in part because TAS provides so much infrastructure. I might write something on all this because reading the G&G posts makes me feel that I live in very different sporting world.