Waverley 50 Newington 28. Physically large Newington team that have a certain game plan that will be effective against teams where they achieve forward domination. Newington scored 4/4 tries from pick and drives close to the line, but are limited in attack and fragile in defence in the backs. That having been said there were some big hits from both sides and I must admit that I wasn't sure how this would pan out for much of the first half. But Brooklyn Hardaker was too much to handle for the Newington backs every time he touched the ball, and the boys in blue were dangerous every time they got enough ball. Indeed, one could argue that the Waverley no 10 try where he strolled over with no one in front of him was because Newington simultaneously went for the intercept and tried to cover BH, while forgetting the 5/8 still had the ball.
Anyway, this was a very strong Newington side whose players certainly didn't shirk any work (the front row were busy all day) and can take and give the big hots but this Waverley team has threats across the park and are great to watch. They have very good individual players but the sum of their parts is the real bonus. Unlike Waverley teams of the past they play as a team rather than as talented individuals and their penalty rate is way, way down. When the players yell to each other 'patience' if they try to be too expansive, you know this is a team that knows their strengths and weaknesses. A joy to watch rugby played in the way it was intended, expansive with ball in hand. I'd pay to watch this crew.