Upset @ Hunters Hill 34-26 to Knox
Credit where credit is due, and coming off a loss to newington last week Knox really rose to the occasion and put on a show for allJoeys were rubbish in the first half.
They won the second half 19-3 but were still awful.
Well done KNOX on the result. You may have done Joeys a favour just like Trinity and Barker did in 2018.
You learn more from a loss than a win.
Credit where credit is due, and coming off a loss to newington last week Knox really rose to the occasion and put on a show for all
Knox wow! A joeys scalp.
A joeys without Gibbs is not so slick .might be a superficial conclusion
However joeys 2018, showed how preseason losses count for little, in terms of the comp
Waverley I see had a good day . won 1sts. 15-0, despite being without 3 of their best players,2nds, 3rds
And all A teams except 13As.
Wlf, bring on Joeys next weekend
Cranbrook have given themselves a easy pre season, whether it proves the masterstroke . time will tell.
However seems like CAS going to be a great year. a year where 2 rounds be good
I think you will find Henry O’Donnel was out injured today.The Barker Riverview game was frustrating from the Reds perspective. Take nothing away from View they were efficient especially at lineout time, but I am sure better and more consistent teams will be a much sterner test for View.
On the plus side for View was there lineout. It was brilliant all day and their 10, Bowen is a real footballer and given I hear he is in year 10, augers well for View over the next few years. View have a strapping athlete in H Odonnell at 12. My only criticism is he needs to get more involved as he has all the skills.
The negatives for View is their scrum. Barker took 3 tight heads and had them under pressure on a few occasions, which was really surprising given the View forwards have some big boppers in there. S Shmidt was a brick wall in defence, however he should be used more often running one or two off the ruck and use his size and athleticism more. He must weigh in at 110kg but today he was quiet ball in hand.
View were gifted the opening 7 points after a very promising Barker opening stanza gifted the ball to winger Garling who ran 75m to score outwide. Bowen's conversion was a ripper.
Bowen set up Views next try creating an overlap to put G Clark (11) in to make it 12 nil.
Barker responded and were within 5m from the line but stout defence by Tuckfield (2), Schmidt (5) and J Stone (1) held. A simple knock on by Barker released the pressure to enable View to escape. The following accidental Barker offside put View deep into the Reds half and a strong lineout win and rolling mall had O Hannan (3) go over. Bowen converted to make it 19 nil.
When Barker finally started playing error free rugby things started to happen. A great swerving run by Ovendon (10) created space behind the View defensive line and Galloway (11)) crossed for a fine try.
Captain Billy Pollard was instrumental in the next score with a bullocking run to put Ben Graham (14) in. The conversion out wide by Wheels (7) had the Reds back in it trailing View 19/12.
View hit back with Bowen scoring a fine individual try confusing the defence and with the extras extended their lead to 26/12.
Barkers scrum started to dominate and after a couple of tight heads, Ned Slack Smith (8) peeled off the back to score close to the posts. 26/19 to View but Barker was ascending and a draw was now looking like a just result.
A silly penalty by the Reds put View out by 10 with 5min to go. Barker kept looking for the final try but time and execution were against them.
With Adrian Brown (prop) still to return, Barker will have a very competitive scrum and the backs can score points. Ovendon (10) is a class player and his combination with Harrison (9) was pretty slick. Lucas Vaas (15) is maturing as a player and was very solid all day.
For View they need to fix the scrum and then use Odonnel (12)more as he is big and fast and looks like he could score plenty of points.
This game was entertaining but I do not think either side will win their respective competitions unless they improve significantly.
Looking forward to next Saturday . Joeys versus Waverley at Death Valley
My tip
Waverley this year, have great depth, right down to the 3rds.. who nearly beat St Gregs 1sts. Joeys on the other hand have players in the 2nds that would be shoe-ins in most school 1st XV . and depth?. OK lets just say when you have a 12ths, there is no shortage of personnel at HH.
Joeys would be smarting at their weekend loss to Knox, and the coaches would be looking to avenge the 2017 loss to Ben Donaldson's Waverley at HH . so if I had to put my house on it, I'd tip Joeys.. however I know Waverley will smell blood in the water, with Hickey maybe missing, and Gibbs with a big Cranbrook target on his diminutive frame, I think this could be a battle royale if Joeys don't bring their A game.
Should be a cracker - Joeys by 30.