3rd XV Round 7 – 12 August
Well, it’s the final round and what a round it will be. Firstly, congratulations to Scots who last week guaranteed at least a share of the 3rd XV premiership with their sixth win in a row. They remain undefeated to date and can become Undefeated Champions for the first time ever with a win over Grammar this Saturday.
Congratulations too go to Grammar for getting to the final round as the only team that can topple Scots. Grammar have lost just one game this year can share the premiership with Scots if they win this Saturday. So regardless we will have a new name (or names) on the Col Windon Shield after it was jointly shared by Riverview and Kings last year.
There are two other matches in the battle for the minor placings. Joeys travel to North Parramatta to play Kings in a battle for third place and that will be a good contest. And Riverview host Shore at Lane Cove where both teams are well back in the competition playing for pride. TAS and High have the final week off as they played their competition round 7 match early in the season.
Scots 3rd XV v Grammar 1st XV
Match of the Year for the premiership. The undefeated Scots team host Grammar at Bellevue Hill. Scots have the opportunity this week to achieve something that no other Scots 3rd XV team has ever done and that is to win this premiership outright. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the school is playing at Newington, but I trust they will have an early game and plenty of support at Bellevue Hill before everyone heads off to Stanmore. Grammar have a chance to upset the party and share the premiership with Scots. But they will need to win away against an undefeated team and that won’t be easy. Scots have looked the goods all year with excellent continuity, retaining possession and capitalising with great tries. Grammar did exactly the same last week against Kings– starving Kings of possession and notching up five excellent tries. This will be a cracking game and I am almost reluctant to tip a winner, but I am predicting that the undefeated Scots team will complete the season with a final win at home to claim the Championship outright.
Scots by 2.
Kings 3rd XV v Joeys 3rd XV
Joeys now sit in third spot on the table after their excellent win over Riverview last week, whereas Kings are coming off a tough loss to Grammar. This match at Gowan Brae will be a good contest between two evenly matched teams and an excellent curtain raiser for the 2nd XV premiership decider between Kings and Joeys. I think Joeys can win this final 3rd XV round based on their much improved form against Riverview, but it’s a big day for Kings and the school will be hoping for a clean sweep on JS White Oval.
Joeys by 7.
Riverview 3rd XV v Shore 3rd XV
Riverview and Shore are finishing the season well off the pace, even though they have had their positive moments. Both teams sit on three wins and three losses, so this looks like the battle for the mid-table placings. Riverview hand back the Col Windon Shield, but a final win here would be a good end to the season. Shore need to bring the form that they demonstrated when they beat Grammar, but they had a close battle against TAS last week and I think Riverview will be too strong at home.
Riverview by 5.
Good luck to all players for the final round of the competition.
INP
