Hello Bro Joe
Hope you had a wonderful Xmas break and a happy new Year.
With any thing up to 12 players returning from last year's 1st XV, plus the added benefit, that they are now mainly a 17 year old team, last years result's could be a thing of the past. As I believe the potential for an improved performance, is certainly a real possibility. Remember, they represent a very talented age, group that was under defeated in 2017 as the 13As again in 2018 as the 14As, lost only one in the 2019 as 15As and again as last year's 16As, they only lost only one game.
This talent is further expressed as this 16s age group, won the Immediate GPS Athletics last year. Although, they will most certainly will be facing some predominantly powerful 18 year old teams. it is likely the gap they faced as 16year olds last year, will be narrowed this year.
It will be most interesting to see how much they have improved. At this level, improvement will not just be confined to playing skills, but a year of physical growth, increased personal confidence and the absorption of last year's experience into their team's cohesion. Additional benefits, will include the further development of their playing style and a knowledge they now know, the playing standards together with the physical effort, required of them to play 1st XV GPS Rugby. Some of these factors are unknown ingredients in a teams's development, as such they represent an element of unpredictability. So Bro Joe, I am more optimistic about Newington's player potential for 2021 and 2022.
I don't know C.Holiday, or his impact on New's performance. But he is but one player and Rugby is a team sport. I know New possess some raw talent, that could develop and cover his lost. For example few people expected last year's 16As to be as successful as they were. I believe most were drawn from the 15Bs and 15Cs of 2019. Yet they developed into a very lethal 16A side. Having only being beaten by a strong Shore side, who they beat in the preseason. The introduction of these 16As players, could prove to be an additional element, indeed a game changer for the depth and player ability this year.
Unfortunately, restrictions in the length of the playing season could be harmful, indeed devastating for team development.
Time will tell, but as a New Supporter I look forward to this wild card potential, with the hope that some more favoured sides are heading for potential ambushes again New and even Shore. Remember how in 2015 that New side was unrecognisable from the one that played in 2014. My prediction for the 2021 season is one that it will be a closer competition between all schools. So expect, some big efforts from both Shore and Newington, to to create a more level playing field in GPS Rugby.
