John I. Dent Cup 2017 - ACT Premier Rugby

[No.8]

Royals 42 - Queanbeyan 17

I honestly wasn't really surprised by this - Queanbeyan are struggling at the moment and have so many players out - I just couldn't see them getting within 20 of the Blue Boys.

Royals are an extremely well drilled side - they are so fast to react to situations the opposition just don't have a chance.

Cusask and Staniforth really set the structure for the side and then they have so many options its not funny.

Royals are prob one of the most complete and together sides I have seen in a few years in the John I Dent - they will be extremely hard to beat.


Queanbeyan as mentioned are in a world of hurt at the moment - even their second grade side looked extremely weak today - nearly like a colts side.

Let's see what happens once the injured players start to flow back - but I guess at the moment for the 1st XV it's about trying to stay in the top 4 to get at least a shot for the title come the end of the season.


On a side note - does anyone know why Angus Le Lievre left Queanbeyan and went to Royals? He played for Queanbeyan two weeks ago and was playing for Royals 2nd grade today. . . .

 

[Green grass]

Another powerful display from the Blue Baggers yesterday.
Hard to see anyone stopping them this year.

 

[No.8]

Things don't get any easier for Queanbeyan - it was Oj Noa's last game for the club yesterday - he is off to New Zealand to play for the Papatoetoe Rugby Club - I believe he would be looking to get picked up by Auckland in the ITM Cup.

He played out of his skin yesterday - close to being man of the match in a losing side.

There has been no sight of Sok even watching the games for a number of weeks so not sure if injured or he has finished up as well?

Last year Queanbeyan had by far the best forward pack in the comp and this year are really struggling - Penca try's hard every week but there's only so much he can put on his shoulders. Hopefully Ryan Jones is back ASAP.

Also JR was injured yesterday. . . .

I know it sounds crazy but Queanbeyan have some extremely good 3rd and 4th grade players (mostly Eddies old 1st XV players) - they have a gun centre pairing in 3rd's of Rienhold Kamilo and Lani Tiatia - I would nearly be tempted to bring these sorts of players upto 1st/2nd grade also Tony Fifita comes to mind - Rienhold Kamilo is an extremely good player - big, physical - crash ball/Ma'a Nonu style centre. He may of even played Aussie Schoolboys a few years ago? If they have the drive I would be def considering them if I was the 1st/2nd grade coaching staff. Just an idea. . . .Lani played mostly 1st/2nd grade last year not sure why he isn't there again he a fantastic rugby player. . . .

 

[No.8]

Would be very interested to know if anyone knows the situation with Angus Le Lievre leaving Queanbeyan - he even walked over to the 2nd Grade Coaching staff of Queanbeyan yesterday after the game and it looked like a fairly heated discussion. . . .

 

[Green grass]

Didn't see the incident but would be fascinated to know what happened there/ why he has come across.

Anyone able to post the ladder here?

 

[RoffsChoice]

 

[Istanbul]

It's a pretty good battle for 3rd and 4th and given No 8's updates about the situation at Queanbeyan I'd say Darra, Wests and Unis are all a chance at making the four. I wrote Uni off a bit early perhaps.

 

[No.8]

It's a pretty good battle for 3rd and 4th and given No 8's updates about the situation at Queanbeyan I'd say Darra, Wests and Unis are all a chance at making the four. I wrote Uni off a bit early perhaps.

The ladder I don't think has been updated just yet this week, after the weekends games - but I think Whites may drop out of the Top 4.

Making this weekends game V's Gungahlin - I believe nearly a make or break game for the season.

The only thing that is really a positive at the moment for the Whites is they prob have the easiest run-home;

Round 10 - Gungahlin

Round 11 - Uni-Norths

Round 12 - Tuggeranong

Round 13 - Easts

Round 14 - Royals

Round 15 - BYE

Round 16 - Wests

Round 17 - Easts

No disrespect to Easts but Queanbeyan get to play them twice over the next 2 months.

Also 4 of the above games are at Home and 2 at Griffith V's Easts.

 

[Istanbul]

The ladder I don't think has been updated just yet this week, after the weekends games - but I think Whites may drop out of the Top 4.

Making this weekends game V's Gungahlin - I believe nearly a make or break game for the season.

The only thing that is really a positive at the moment for the Whites is they prob have the easiest run-home;

Round 10 - Gungahlin

Round 11 - Uni-Norths

Round 12 - Tuggeranong

Round 13 - Easts

Round 14 - Royals

Round 15 - BYE

Round 16 - Wests

Round 17 - Easts

No disrespect to Easts but Queanbeyan get to play them twice over the next 2 months.

Also 4 of the above games are at Home and 2 at Griffith V's Easts.

Not a bad run home at all. You can pencil in the points for the Easts games now. Rounds 10,11 and 16 are the obvious big 'must win' games against the 3 teams fighting for 3rd and 4th on the ladder. Realistically the Whites also somehow need to launch hard at one of the games against Vikings or Royals to get a result that will suggest to other teams that they aren't just making up numbers in the finals series. I'd be resting Penca and anyone else with injuries in the Rd 13 East clash with a view to coming home fresh and hard in the last three games.

 

[No.8]

RANKTEAMPBWLDFADfBP4TBP-7PPtsFORMMR
1

Royals Rugby Club 7 2 7 0 0 390 92 298 7 0 43 100.00
2

Tuggeranong Rugby Club 8 1 7 1 0 318 119 199 7 0 39 87.50
3

Wests Rugby Club 7 2 3 4 0 185 193 -8 4 2 26 42.86
4

Gungahlin Rugby Club 7 2 3 4 0 174 211 -37 5 0 25 42.86
5

Queanbeyan Rugby Club 7 2 3 4 0 238 213 25 2 2 24 42.86


6 Uni-Norths Rugby Club 7 2 2 5 0 155 272 -117 3 1 20 28.57

7

Easts Rugby Club 7 2 0 7 0 42 402 -360 0 0 8 0.00

 

[No.8]

That ladder looks terrible haha - but you get the idea.

Queanbeyan have now been knocked out of the Top 4 - so this weekend's game is a MUST win for them to get back in - and with Wests playing Easts you could nearly bet your house Wests wont be moving.

 

[No.8]

Didn't see the incident but would be fascinated to know what happened there/ why he has come across.



Anyone able to post the ladder here?

Hey mate - got this from 'yourmatesam' on the Southern Inland thread Re: Angus - might be the reason he moved;

"I believe Angus' employer is the physio that works with Royals, which would make sense. Royals have also had a strong connection to the Riverina in recent years."

 

[No.8]

Not a bad run home at all. You can pencil in the points for the Easts games now. Rounds 10,11 and 16 are the obvious big 'must win' games against the 3 teams fighting for 3rd and 4th on the ladder. Realistically the Whites also somehow need to launch hard at one of the games against Vikings or Royals to get a result that will suggest to other teams that they aren't just making up numbers in the finals series. I'd be resting Penca and anyone else with injuries in the Rd 13 East clash with a view to coming home fresh and hard in the last three games.

Yea mate basically the Gungahlin and Wests games are MUST wins - I think if they drop either of them/or both it could nearly be the end of their season.

Totally agree V resting guys like Penca in the Easts game/s - I think an injury to Penca could also nearly mean the end of their season.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

 

[bluebags]

Despite not having been to a game in a couple of weeks, will continue to have a stab at this w'ends results;

A closer scoreline but no cookie for Easts...Wests by 15-20

Royals to continue to hone their attacking skills. Royals by 35-40

Based on No 8's news re: the Whites and some further strategic player losses, ...Eagles by 7-10

 

[Istanbul]

Despite not having been to a game in a couple of weeks, will continue to have a stab at this w'ends results;

A closer scoreline but no cookie for Easts.Wests by 15-20

Royals to continue to hone their attacking skills. Royals by 35-40

Based on No 8's news re: the Whites and some further strategic player losses, .Eagles by 7-10

Those predictions look on the money to me, but I'd be a bit more generous with the margin Wests will win by I think - 50 -60 I'd say.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Queanbeyan 29 def Gungahlin 12
Wests 71 def Easts 10
Royals 27 def Uni-Norths 26

 

[Istanbul]

Queanbeyan 29 def Gungahlin 12
Wests 71 def Easts 10
Royals 27 def Uni-Norths 26

Qbn looked solid today against a Darra team that I thought was disappointing. As No 8 has been saying, the whites have uncovered a good 10 but still rely too much on Penca. Nadruku looked in better nick today and I thought it was a pretty good effort for a team going through a tough trot.

Be very interested to hear a report from the Uni v Royals match. Very interesting result- were Unis good or Royals bad?

 

[No.8]

Whites probably played the best rugby they have all year today - I think they really stepped it up and was very pleasing to see.

As Istanbul mentioned Nadruku was in better form, and Liam Moseley (the young 10) is getting better and better every game - he controlled the game very well today.

Young Lewis Bozzato (No.7) for Whites played extremely well as well - close to 'man of the match'. I thought Larry Manu stepped it up a notch and really made a claim to stay in 1st grade (he has played 2nd grade all year).

Another pleasing sign for the Whites is that they fielded an extremely strong 2nd grade side today - Billy Chalker was a stand-out and Mitch Douch is back and looked extremely good.

Also not sure if the coaching staff were reading my posts last week (jokes) but Lani was back in 2nd grade at 13 (from 3rd/4th grade) and looked REALLY good - will def push for a 1st grade spot the next few weeks.

The Whites looked like a totally different club from last week - let's just hope they keep building on this as the injured players straight to come back.

Whites should sneak back into the 4 now - they have Uni-Norths in 2 weeks (next week is a full round BYE) at Uni - which again is a MUST win game if they want to play finals.


As Istanbul said as well - keen to hear from feedback on the Royals V Uni game - didn't expect that score. . . .

 

[Istanbul]

I wasn't at the Royals Vs Uni game but was at Brumbies this evening and Sione, Staniforth and Muirhead were all benching and had a run with Brumbies. Maybe Royals struggled without there main stay Brumbies players. Not sure if Cusack played or not today for Royals? As I recall he was ruled out with a head Knock against the Vikings a game or two back?? Maybe Royals don't have as much depth as people think they do? Good on Uni for giving them a good touch up !!

Hi Debbie - I think you are right. In my view Royals probably have better coverage across most positions than they have had in previous years but I don't think it runs too deep and once you remove the talent you listed I think they come right back to the field. I'd say Tuggies tend to have the best depth. An injury or two or a loss of a player to another comp and the Royals wheels might look a little wobbly!