Always a pleasure to read3rd XV Round 2 Preview
The 2025 3rd XV competition season is well and truly under way following the first-round matches on Saturday 31 May. There are 7 rounds and the teams only play each other once, unlike the 1st and 2nd XVs, so every match counts and it’s a hard competition to win. Shore 3rd XV holds the Col Windon Shield from last year.
Round 1 Results:
Riverview 31 d High 0
Kings 27 d Scots 12
Shore 28 d Grammar 5
Joeys 24 d TAS 18
TAS 1st XV v Shore 3rd XV (11:00am on TAS Backfield)
TAS put up a very strong showing against Joeys at Hunters Hill in round 1, only losing by a late try. They have some fast outside backs and the necessary big forwards to challenge the other teams in this competition. But Shore also started well, defeating Grammar at Rushcutters Bay. This should be a terrific match in Armidale, and based on their good showing against Joeys, I think TAS can win this one at home on the glorious Backfield. But it will be close.
TAS by 3.
Joeys 3rd XV v Scots 3rd XV (11:00am on SJC #1)
Joeys are on the board following a win over TAS at Hunters Hill in round 1, and they meet a Scots team coming off a first-round loss to Kings. While it is only round 2, this is pretty much a grand final for Scots, as history has shown that it is very difficult to win this competition with two losses. Joeys found that out last year, and they will be looking to eliminate Scots by registering their second win in a row. I think they will be able to do that. I note that the Joeys 1sts and 2nds are playing later in the day at Riverview so this could be a quieter crowd than usual on SJC #1.
Joeys by 10.
Kings 3rd XV v High 1st XV (1:00pm on JS White Oval)
Kings opened the competition with a strong win over Scots at Bellevue Hill and are looking the goods for this home clash against High who went down to Riverview in the first week. High have definitely improved from last year but are facing a very promising Kings team that should have no trouble notching their second win.
Kings by 20.
Riverview 3rd XV v Grammar 1st XV (1:00pm on Riverview #1)
After a solid win over High in round 1, Riverview have a home fixture against Grammar who struggled against Shore last week. I did not see the Grammar match, but they will certainly need to bring their best here because otherwise they will also be facing two losses on the trot. I think Riverview will prove too strong at home and are likely to claim a second successive victory.
Riverview by 10.
Good luck to all players for round 2 of the competition.
Fun fact, I know of no school to have won the holy grail of them all. Cricket, rugby, rowing, Athletics.Riverview could be the first AAGPS school to win the 1st XV Rugby, Rowing; HOTR, State, National and Henley schoolboy VIII titles, all this year.
Long season remaining in a tough comp', regardless, the boys maneuvered themselves into a great position. Go View!
hool to have won the holy grail of them all. Cricket, rugby, rowing,
Fun fact, I know of no school to have won the holy grail of them all. Cricket, rugby, rowing, Athletics.
Joeys came close in 1956 when they won 3 of the 4 but came 3rd in the cricket.
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Anyone else out there who can claim the holy grail? Let me know.
Yeah I know, not like we won 5 in a row or a dual 1sts and 2nds premiership back to back or a premiership every year for the last 4 years.You'd think with that many pros coming out of a place the trophy cabinet would have been chockers for the last 25 years...
Scots won exactly two 1st XV rugby premierships between 2013 and 2017, or just one if you account for the fact that both were joint premierships split with Newington.3 scholarship players doesn't win a premiership, (8 does for Kings in 2023 though)
We last won a prem when we won 5 in a row from 2013-2017![]()
From the Joeys archives.Riverview arguably came closest, winning Rowing, Athletics and Rugby in 1964, with no comp that year in cricket.
HereScots won exactly two 1st XV rugby premierships between 2013 and 2017, or just one if you account for the fact that both were joint premierships split with Newington.
Where are you getting five from?
Ahh very good sir Joker, i remember when i read that in the paper on the sunny morning of '64.
Yes I boarded there for 6 years 1st XV 64-65 we also played in local comp on Wednesdays I can remember sometimes the ground was FROZEN I’m pleased I wasn’t in the forwards at the bottom of those rucksThe coldest game I ever played was for Armidale Teachers College v Guyra. It was so cold there that even God didn't come down for a look. When we ran on the field at 10am there was snow falling and ice on the ground...."crunch, crunch, crunch...". Temperature? 2 degrees. Scrums never felt so good. Group huddling for warmth. The winger mind you would be turning blue. Half time was rum for the forwards and pink lady cocktails for the backs. After the games, both clubs returned to the Royal Hotel to defrost near the fire.
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Nice work Joker, I was going to look at 1964 for View, I know it was a successful sporting year, taking out some of the IV's as well as the VIII in Rowing, undefeated 1st XV Rugby and winning the Athletics. Interesting regarding the cricket season, or lack there of..
Takes 15 players to win a game of rugby.Given Scots has the 2 Large brothers and Hightackle Lemoto in their line-up does anyone know why the team has underwhelmed this year? The trio must be the most valuable future earning school boys in the country. When did Scots last win a championship or even a premiership? Given the star studded lineups they have been able to field year in year out why haven’t they need to higher a trophy polisher this decade?
Some very funny Joeys boys changing them so they've won every single year?Too weird. I was relying on Wikipedia which is totally wrong? Someone may consider fixing.
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