52-7 Baker over Aloys: an excellent win by Barker and no one should get carried away with comparing this to how many points BC put on SAC in the last 2 fixtures.
Barker’s backline looked incredibly threatening every time it went through the hands. The centres are amazing, and the #13 is really something else. All the backs were slick, skilful, professional looking. Barker’s forwards were a menace, the tight five and the two props in particular. But they do need to work on a few things: (a) discipline which let them down, (b) individual decision making around the park (not from #10 though, he was excellent) and (c) responding to pressure. It's probably all one thing – they clearly expected to put 90 plus on SAC as Katoa's teams had done, and when it didn’t happen they weren’t happy and got frustrated. Both the #15s were under pressure all day, SACs from the kicks and chases, BCs from his own expectations and it told. There are obviously better CAS sides out there than SAC, so BC will need to deal with that. But returning to the first point, their backline looked as good and skilful and functional as any of seen at this level by me (and it did appear their usual #9 was out too and running the kicking tee instead). I believe the #10 is quite young. Big shoes, but he's already good and will be very, very good I'd guess.
SAC despite the score probably played as well as a unit of all the games I’ve seen this season. I'd say the gap in skill and effectiveness between their known top 3 or 4 players and everyone else in the side was much less noticeable. Yes, there were dropped balls and some stilted play in the backs, but they defended purposefully and clearly executed the game plan they were given. Made good decisions for the most (especially #12's quick tap for the try). They were never going to threaten BC properly (and I'm sure loved leading 7-5 for a small fraction of time), but hung in there and played to the best of their ability.
Aloys aren't going to be threatening titles, but they can be competitive enough at times. While I've not watched the Youtube 2015 videos of BC v SAC that are on the last couple of pages someone has been putting up, I remember watching games that year. A good non-numerical indicator of it not being really that long ago is that the current 2023 winger's brother was the 2015 winger (and his twin the #7 that year).
But depth will be an issue. A few injuries already, and if that gets worse it will be pretty tough. The Peter Murray Memorial Trophy match against Knox will be a difficult onslaught to stem, but hopefully the Term 3 matches will allow them to punch on a little.