3rd XV Final Report
Congratulations to Scots 3rd XV who claimed the 3rd XV premiership and the Col Windon Shield as Undefeated Champions for the first time ever. This was Scots first outright 3rd XV premiership and their first premiership since they shared it in 2014. And they absolutely deserved it. Grammar fought well in the final match but were outclassed by Scots and finished the season equal second with Joeys. It was a great season with many great matches and a very close contest in the end.
Scots 12 d Grammar 0
The match for the premiership was a great contest at Bellevue Hill, but Scots were in command the entire game. They retained possession very well and worked their efficient pick and drive to gain territory and create opportunities. They scored two tries in the match and that was enough. Grammar fought hard, but they could not cross the Scots line. Congratulations to Scots on a great season and a well deserved premiership. It's a tough one to win, particularly winning seven matches in a row. Grammar also had an excellent year with only two losses and while they would be disappointed to lose at Bellevue Hill, they have represented their school with distinction in 2023.
Joeys 32 d Kings 17
Joeys proved their ability at Kings with a comprehensive victory on JS White Oval. This followed their big win over Riverview and it has to be said that the Joeys team that finished the competition was much improved from the way they started. They should also be pleased with their equal second place. Kings finished the season with just three wins and for a team that promised a lot early on, they finished further down the ladder, but had a few close losses that made the difference.
Shore 11 d Riverview 10
What a cracking game this was at Riverview with a penalty on the final bell giving Shore a one-point victory. A scoreless first half was followed by a very tense final 25 minutes where both teams scored a single try. Riverview had the majority of possession, but Shore defended well and their final drive resulted in a penalty that sealed the victory. That win enabled Shore to finish clear 4th on the competition table, with some great performances to show for it. Well done Shore! Riverview and Kings finished equal 5th and handed back the Col Windon Shield that they jointly won last year.
TAS 17 d High 5
This Round 7 clash was played earlier in the season and resulted in the only win for TAS this year. They have played well in the competition, but were a little off the pace this year. High were vastly improved from last year (where they did not score a single point) but remained winless in 2023. Let's hope their rugby resurgence continues in 2024 and that they can continue to be competitive in the 3rd XV GPS competition.
That's it for me in 2023 and I look froward to covering the 3rd XV competition next year.
Regards
INP