CAS Rugby 2013

[Wayne McLean]

Waverley 25 Knox 8. Knox looked the better going 8-0 up early. Stals silencing the critics with a good try & better defence early on but that was as good as it got! The loss of Van Zyl however when hard on attack saw the KGS pack lose ascendancy & any go forward however his one outs were getting him isolated & very little latching occuring. Then the line out went, scrum & tackles were missed & some ordinary passing from inside backs. Waves warmed to the task & started to win the A line battle & were simply more hungry! 10-8 half time. They scored some seriously soft tries through horrendous tackles where players went high. Embarrassing stuff. Waverley centre and hooker & forward pack put on a tradesmen-like display & got better as the game went on. Knox conditioning seriously amiss. It seems they are flat & have little in the tank in the last 20, recycled possession at snails pace, and backs when the over lap was on went too far & or sideways taking up the space, or threw some passes that were too high or too hard. No. 15 was their
best though in attack and defence & never stopped trying though will need to practice kicking like Johnny Wilkinson if to get to the next level. What concerns me is that, like 2011, a dominant age group has failed to convert at the highest level. 2nds& 3rds convincing winners 28-7 & 38-0. May be worth now building for 2014 by giving 2's 10 & 12 a go & when 13 comes back from injury this will be the back line for 2014. Well done Waves on a typical tough ground out victory......but Barker are going to repeat 2010 without doubt! Knox Rugby Mojo well and truly gone but stick with them because too much talent at school for this to stay this way under the guidance of Matty W. can only get better!

 

[beeman]

1st XV Waverley 25 def Knox 8
4 tries to 1 with 5th Waves try held up over line early in 1st half
Tough game played mainly between the 22s. Other than their 1 try Knox didnt really look like scoring.

 

[topcat]

Barker vs Cranbrook half time score was 7-3.
1st half Cranbrook dominated possession and seemed to not want to kick to Barker back 3 running multiple phases of play.
Barker looked dangerous whenever they go the ball, having one try disallowed in first half.
Second half different story with early try to Barker from set play to one of the centres under the posts.
Cranbrook seemed to suffer many injuries, with more than 5 players subbed on top of the 5 missing last week.
Barker backs too classy and ran away with the game with many 50m plus tries.
Forwards seemed to be an even struggle with Cranbrook having the edge in the scrum and Barker in the lineout.
Barker back line created many opportunities and score would have been higher but for some desperate defence.
Cranbrook showed good skills in holding onto the ball for multiple phases resulting in many penalties against Barker.
Barker best players 12, 10, 13, 14 (15 was carrying leg injury)
Cranbrook (15, 9, 8, 6 )

Final score 36-3.

 

[Eshayz]

Old boys from barker seemed to be having a good run with the cranbrook boys. Just as much fun as barkers back line had running more than half lengths of the field many times throughout the game.
Cranbrook had many players missing, but even still to win a premiership depth is a must. You cannot rely on the fact that noone will get injured, so I don't see much of an excuse really for cranbrook. However maybe I should cut a little bit of slack considering they had 5 or so out for the game.

As for spectators, the general vibe dropped as barker pushed too far ahead. To be honest, the way barker runs their Saturday rugby and sport in general is quite pleasing. as an onlooker when watching the waverley game last week and also this week watching cranbrook, their uniforms and language is not up to standard. it was actually nice to see the barker students taking pride in their school and dressing nicely with full shool uniform when supporting their peers.

As for next week. I guess all eyes will be on Barker yet again. Aloys could spring them on their home ground, but it'll be a tough gig.
As for Knox, I agree we should give the change some time before we can see any results. maybe the mightn't black and blue will be underdogs for 2 more seasons before the change really "pays" (150 grand) off.
Trinity really Havnt played up to their 100th year anniversary commitments this season. Again like last season they have a team of good players, not a good Team.

Barker won 36 - 3

 

[YR!]

I too was at the Barker and Cranbrook game. I must say, it was pleasing to see the quality of Barker's canteen. They really know how to do a steak sambo' in Hornsby! Barker, once again, were all over Cranbrook. I hope the quality of CAS picks up this year...Knox and Cranbrook have proven themselves to be average sides.

 

[Eshayz]

I too was at the Barker and Cranbrook game. I must say, it was pleasing to see the quality of Barker's canteen. They really know how to do a steak sambo' in Hornsby! Barker, once again, were all over Cranbrook. I hope the quality of CAS picks up this year.Knox and Cranbrook have proven themselves to be average sides.

where were you seated YR? I had quite a good seat opposite the scoreboard until the rain came. Then moved to where those beaut steak sambos were made! undercover, still a good view but not as good. The upside was being able to watch all the try's run towards me as barker were scoring down the canteen end, especially Stoltzs first try.

 

[CASoldboy]

As good as steak sambo's are, any injury news from around the grounds? I understand Cranbrook have been hit pretty hard already, any word from the Barker Waverley fixture in terms of injury? As much as i hate to say it, the school with the best depth (Barker) will be the hardest to stop... it seems like every year the injuries are becoming more frequent! As for the game i attended, Trinity V Aloysius, a very interesting fixture, with the sides playing 2 completely contrasting game plans. Aloysius executed there playing style better then Trinity, with the results showing on the scoreboard. Another disappointing loss for the green machine. Standouts for Trinity were the number 9 and 15, although there efforts were futile in a side that doesn't seemed to have gelled. For Aloysius, the number 13 had an absolute blinder, and the diminutive number 2 seemed to be everywhere. 15 also looked good.

 

[abr]

My nephew is playing Cranbrook 1st's and I'm a Barker OB...but living overseas. Is there any video of these CAS games? Would be great to see some of it.

 

[CASfan]

I can only imagine the disappointment the coaches at trinity will be feeling, definitely a game the could have and should have won, seems as if its back to the drawing board...

 

[Peabody]

My nephew is playing Cranbrook 1st's and I'm a Barker OB.but living overseas. Is there any video of these CAS games? Would be great to see some of it.

They tend to go up on youtube as end of season highlights as winnings teams assert their bragging rights. There's some good clips of past seasons available, especially classic Barker/Knox matchups.

 

[jimbellows]

Knox will improve, coach learning about schoolboys, them learning about each other and a completely different tactical game. So far new lineout tactics not on song and kicking game terrible, never within striking distance and no support on attack. Runners left stranded in mid-field defending on own ball. Wouldn't be surprised to see this come right in a hurry though.

Last season sheer guts spoilt Barkers unbeaten run, took them all season to perform, but it produced a classic, which is on clip.

Waverley good value on the day after looking wobbly initially.

 

[Eshayz]

My nephew is playing Cranbrook 1st's and I'm a Barker OB.but living overseas. Is there any video of these CAS games? Would be great to see some of it.

they stream the games live from barker games. I saw on the weekend a massive camera. but not sure what the website is. try googling it.

 

[casrugby12]

who do you think will be picked for CAS 2S

 

[Remy]

who do you think will be picked for CAS 2S

that number 8 from st aloysius had absolute blinder on the weekend, he was at every ruck and made some solid tackles on the fringe of the ruck at times, the real unsung hero of the team in my opinion don't be suprised to see him make the 2s

 

[JstWaiting4amate]

Match report for the trinity and Aloys game?

 

[Snort]

Match report for the trinity and Aloys game?

It was pretty bleak if you were a Trinity supporter. Trinity had the wind in the first half and dominated territory and possession, without having a whole lot to show for it. St Aloysius actually took a 3-0 lead through a Harrison Williams penalty from a ruck infringement. For much of the first half, Trinity bashed away in the St Aloysius quarter, only to lose possession. Eventually, Whicker worked an inside pass to Satiu, who crashed over near the posts from close range. Ebeling converted: 7-3. Almost immediately, St Aloysius hit back with a try to winger Vlachos. 8-7. Ebeling landed a penalty and just before half time Kotobalavu went over out wide - 15-8 at half time.

After the break, St Aloysius racked up ten points in next to no time. They made better use of a strong breeze than Trinity had. A scrappy backline move was going nowhere before Goodearl straightened the attack and rank 20 metres to score in the corner. Williams converted from touch and added a penalty to give St Aloysius an 18-15 lead. That became 23-15 when Goodearl scored his second, this time breaking four or five tackles. Trinity hit back with a typical try, Mclean rumbling over from short range. 23-20. But St Aloysius put the match beyond reach with the last try.

Trinity would be very disappointed with its effort. Weirdly, they did some things very well - things that they haven't done well in recent times, like maintaining possession for extended periods and winning their own lineout ball. But the backs lack cohesion and poor defence out wide (evidenced by Goodearl's two tries) probably cost them the game. The forwards played fairly well. Individual backs are playing well, too, but as a unit they haven't gelled. They haven't fielded the same backline two weeks running all season, and it shows.

Players? For St Aloysius, Goodearl was the matchwinner. He was always a threat in attack and his two tries decided the outcome. On the downside, he dropped one pass cold in midfield under no pressure at all and struggled to contain Kotobalavu in defence. Even so, it was his day. Harrison Williams played, but was plainly still carrying an injury. He wasn't used as a lineout option at all, and spent most of the second half standing out in the backs. Apart from two important tackles (one on a rampaging Satiu), he was quiet in general play. A great sideline conversion, though, and obviously his leadership is important. It will be good for his side when he regains fitness. I thought the scrum half (whose name I can't recall) played well, making one especially incisive break from a lineout. Rory Vevers was quiet, although after Barkley-Brown had stood him up and ran around him, he had the pace and the determination to get back to make a try-scoring tackle.

For Trinity, Satiu was back from injury, played about an hour and ran powerfully. McLean was also a handful when he carried the ball. Corias, after his three tries last week, was quiet. The new hooker, Nguyen, got his lineout throws right and made some strong runs. Ebeling is a makeshift fly-half, but played solidly and made a couple of nice breaks. His defence was sound, too. Kotobalavu, fresh from scoring tries by the hatful in SG Ball League, has bulked up without losing speed and was a threat whenever he had the ball, brushing through about five or six tackles on one run. It was odd that Trinity didn't get the ball to him more often. Or maybe that he didn't go looking for more work. Barkley-Brown, at full back, always looked dangerous. It's hard to be sure just how dangerous he is, because since he runs the ball back from fullback, he makes most of his yards before he reaches the defensive line. That said, he often beat the first defender who reached him.

It's beginning to look like a long season for Trinity. Well, in truth, for both these teams. But Trinity has plenty of work to do to be a credible threat at Knox next week.

 

[CAS Footy]

My nephew is playing Cranbrook 1st's and I'm a Barker OB.but living overseas. Is there any video of these CAS games? Would be great to see some of it.

CAS has got an independent film company that provides game tapes for each school via a private you tube link. I'm sure your nephew could get the link for each game off his coach and then email it too you

 

[JstWaiting4amate]

It was pretty bleak if you were a Trinity supporter. Trinity had the wind in the first half and dominated territory and possession, without having a whole lot to show for it. St Aloysius actually took a 3-0 lead through a Harrison Williams penalty from a ruck infringement. For much of the first half, Trinity bashed away in the St Aloysius quarter, only to lose possession. Eventually, Whicker worked an inside pass to Satiu, who crashed over near the posts from close range. Ebeling converted: 7-3. Almost immediately, St Aloysius hit back with a try to winger Vlachos. 8-7. Ebeling landed a penalty and just before half time Kotobalavu went over out wide - 15-8 at half time.

After the break, St Aloysius racked up ten points in next to no time. They made better use of a strong breeze than Trinity had. A scrappy backline move was going nowhere before Goodearl straightened the attack and rank 20 metres to score in the corner. Williams converted from touch and added a penalty to give St Aloysius an 18-15 lead. That became 23-15 when Goodearl scored his second, this time breaking four or five tackles. Trinity hit back with a typical try, Mclean rumbling over from short range. 23-20. But St Aloysius put the match beyond reach with the last try.

Trinity would be very disappointed with its effort. Weirdly, they did some things very well - things that they haven't done well in recent times, like maintaining possession for extended periods and winning their own lineout ball. But the backs lack cohesion and poor defence out wide (evidenced by Goodearl's two tries) probably cost them the game. The forwards played fairly well. Individual backs are playing well, too, but as a unit they haven't gelled. They haven't fielded the same backline two weeks running all season, and it shows.

Players? For St Aloysius, Goodearl was the matchwinner. He was always a threat in attack and his two tries decided the outcome. On the downside, he dropped one pass cold in midfield under no pressure at all and struggled to contain Kotobalavu in defence. Even so, it was his day. Harrison Williams played, but was plainly still carrying an injury. He wasn't used as a lineout option at all, and spent most of the second half standing out in the backs. Apart from two important tackles (one on a rampaging Satiu), he was quiet in general play. A great sideline conversion, though, and obviously his leadership is important. It will be good for his side when he regains fitness. I thought the scrum half (whose name I can't recall) played well, making one especially incisive break from a lineout. Rory Vevers was quiet, although after Barkley-Brown had stood him up and ran around him, he had the pace and the determination to get back to make a try-scoring tackle.

For Trinity, Satiu was back from injury, played about an hour and ran powerfully. McLean was also a handful when he carried the ball. Corias, after his three tries last week, was quiet. The new hooker, Nguyen, got his lineout throws right and made some strong runs. Ebeling is a makeshift fly-half, but played solidly and made a couple of nice breaks. His defence was sound, too. Kotobalavu, fresh from scoring tries by the hatful in SG Ball League, has bulked up without losing speed and was a threat whenever he had the ball, brushing through about five or six tackles on one run. It was odd that Trinity didn't get the ball to him more often. Or maybe that he didn't go looking for more work. Barkley-Brown, at full back, always looked dangerous. It's hard to be sure just how dangerous he is, because since he runs the ball back from fullback, he makes most of his yards before he reaches the defensive line. That said, he often beat the first defender who reached him.

It's beginning to look like a long season for Trinity. Well, in truth, for both these teams. But Trinity has plenty of work to do to be a credible threat at Knox next week.

Thanks for that Snort, should be an interesting game at knox this week for Trinity. Agree, ALOT of work to be done.

 

[rtd32]

Do you feel trinity will improve snort? It's a shame a side with such talent is underperforming. Having seen a little of them last year they seemed like they definitely had the potential to win CAS, but just fell away at the back half of the season. How far away are they from regaining form?

 

[Snort]

Do you feel trinity will improve snort? It's a shame a side with such talent is underperforming. Having seen a little of them last year they seemed like they definitely had the potential to win CAS, but just fell away at the back half of the season. How far away are they from regaining form?

Well, I hope they improve, partly because it's where I went and partly because it will be a better competition if they do. The coach (John Allen) has forgotten more about Rugby than I ever knew, so it would be presumptuous of me to tell him what's needed. But my impressions from Saturday are that they could improve in these areas:

1. Execution. These are the coach-killers: when you're camped in the opposition's quarter for five minutes and come away with nothing because of a knock-on or a turnover. To be honest, these are why I stopped coaching - I found it too frustrating. Trinity produced a number of these on Saturday. They ran with a strong wind in the first half and managed a seven-point lead. They should have converted their territorial advantage into more points.

2. More variety in attack. Trinity are quite entertaining to watch, because they almost always run the ball. They hate kicking away possession (partly because of their weirdly poor recent history at the lineout), so when they get a penalty, they usually tap and go. But their attack can be pretty static and one-dimensional. A forward picks up and drives. He's tackled. Another one picks and goes, but usually from a standing start. The best variation is the inside ball that Whicker likes to throw - last year it was to Malaki, this year the target's Satiu, at least until Moala makes it back. But there's some talent in the backs. Ebeling can break the line, Naylor has speed, Barkley-Brown looks a threat. I'd involve them more. I'd get Kotobalavu, who looks really powerful, to come into first receiver every now and then and hit the ball at pace. Actually anyone running onto the ball at pace, close to the line, would make a difference. Players like Satiu and McLean are making ground through sheer strength, but it's hard to launch an effective attack from a standing start. Plus, Naylor has speed - but he never seems to get the ball with enough space to use it effectively.

3. Better support play. There's still too much one-out running. Maybe Storey can help when he gets back. If I were a Trinity loose forward, I'd be shadowing one of the big-name players every time he got the ball. McLean, Satiu, Kotobalavu all carry defenders with them. That creates space for support players, if they can get there.

4. Better defence. Goodearl took his chances really well, but he ran twenty yards untouched for his first try and bounced out of four or five tackles for the second. Too many one-on-one tackles are being missed. There doesn't seem to be a very effective slide defence, and not all that much cover defence, except from Whicker.

5. Get the best team on the field. A problem for all schools, I know. But Malaki is gone for the season, and Moala and Storey were out on Saturday. I don't know whether Justin Fish was injured or dropped. But if Trinity could assemble a pack that had Moala, Storey and Corias in the back row, Fish at 10 and Ebeling and Kotobalavu in the centres, they could cause some upsets. Another coach-killer.

6. Switch on. There's sometimes, let's say, a lack of game sense. For example, several times on Saturday, Trinity's lineout jumpers got into the air to contest the St Aloysius throw. Only they didn't actually contest - they were just getting up to spoil. I counted three occasions when a Trinity jumper could have stolen the throw if he'd just put his hands out to catch the ball. But he didn't, because his eyes were closed! He was jumping because he was a distraction, not because he was after the ball. These are what the coaches love to call the "one percenters" - those little opportunistic moments where quick thinking can turn a game. At the moment, Trinity doesn't have the confidence to seize the moment when it presents itself (the exception was a smartly-taken quick lineout that led to a dangerous attacking raid).

What's frustrating is that they have actually improved. The things I normally find to quibble over weren't problems on Saturday. Whicker's passing was fine. The continuity was OK. They won their own lineout ball. And still they lost. But if they maintain the improvement, they can still have a respectable season. I hope.