Shore convincing win over oakhill in 1st, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths. The new Shore 10 in the firsts came up after an injury and played and kicked well - making an argument to hold his place. The Shore 12 and 13 in both the firsts and seconds were outstanding - they were all over the park in both defense and attack. As reward the seconds 12 and 13 both earned some game time in the firsts when the match was in control and didn't look out of place. This depth in the seconds will come in handy at the end of the season.
As a front rower, the highlight to me was the Shore front row in the firsts - especially 1 and 2. Good to see fast and big men up front making making big hits, but also making metres in the pod structure. They were the clear crowd favourites. Some of the hits they took and gave silenced the crowd.
The backs look good (particulary Shore 12) but may not have the penetration of some of the other teams in the inside backs. The Shore 15 isn't a big man, but wow he plays a tough game executing some big tackles and showing zip zip speed in attack.
Why are Shore so hot and cold? Last week at Waverely about half the team were out with influenza (only 9 players trained during the week) combined with the usual one or two injuries. The Shore 12 is usually player of the match and was missing due to injury against Waverly, as was their number 1 in his third seasons in the firsts. Some of the Shore players took the field sick (and I think I saw one boy vomit on the field), but take nothing away from the Waverley outside backs - four of their tries were 90 metre jobs where they just beat the Shoremen with speed and ball skills. Also sure that Waverely had the same flu dramas as Shore and all the other schools. Waverley were clearly the better team in the firsts on the day. The seconds (24-22 to Waverley) could have gone the other way and would have if it wasn't for the worst refereeing decision I've seen for a while (penalty advantage in front of the posts twenty metres out, Shore missed the field goal and then the ref blew full time . . . apparently he 'forgot' he had his arm up for advantage when the field goal was on)
I think there'll be a few upsets over the nest week or two until influenza settles down across all the schools.
After the Scots vs Kings games today - i thinks it's pretty clear that the opening match of the GPS (Shore vs SJC at Northbridge) may decide the tournament.
In the firsts and seconds Shore beat Knox - but both were tough defensive games that could have gone either way, so on the form against Knox, Joeys will be favourites. However got a feeling that as the season grinds on and injuries accumulate, the depth of the Shore School this year on display in the seconds and thirds might be the difference . . . but only if they can beat SJC.
PS - the Shore meat pies are back . . . they sold out early as usual but the tandoori chicken pies were pretty special.
