That is quite a fact. Especially when you look back in history Joeys have been the out right most successful school, as most know. On contrast - this year's year 12 at Riverview have seen 3 premierships - 1 of those being a championship. One would have to say this is certainly a low for Joeys in regards to premierships and surely it wouldn't last long.
Does High go down to 7ths and 8ths?
What has been the secret in their recent revival? Increase in boarding numbers? Better coaching? Is this their longest drought?
Whilst I understand the thoughts of those who oppose this decision, I endorse it. The last thing that testosterone filled boys about to leave school and go into the big bad world is to see a bunch of boofheads turning a school match into a booze-up. The amount of alcohol fuelled violence afflicting the young today is appalling - well done Riverview for sending a message that it is unacceptable.
Playing their 1st, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths.
Somewhere earlier, someone also posted that the Riverview 5 year reunion transferred the date so as to coincide with St Josephs home game. Quick hands, this isn't alleviating the problem, this is simply moving the problem to somewhere else! If St Ignatius College are prepared to do this and allow their school to be tarnished by some Old Boys hell bent on smashing their livers on that day, should they not shoulder this responsibility????
I agree with everything that you have said. In no way was I endorsing the behaviour of the Riverview Old Boys and if they have in fact rescheduled their reunion to coincide with the game at Hunters Hill they should be stopped from doing so and ashamed for even thinking about it. Obviously these young men weren't taught basic manners, respect or common decency at school and/or at home otherwise, if they felt the need to arrange a booze up and/or reunion they'd know that a school containing 2000 or so minors watching a rugby match is not the place to do so.
Very valid point. The safety of players, students and on-lookers, should be, and is, the primary concern for both schools. Although it could come to this if, god-forbid, an event such as 2010 occurred again, I would really dislike seeing schools turn to mass security hiring and searches. This would really take away from an historic event that is open to the public who may have no affiliation with with either school or the GPS in general, but would be deterred if security searches took place.
I haven't seen a King's team list as yet but I expect that the sky blue and white will give a good account of themselves. Newington have pretty much the same backs as last year but are not as strong in the forwards particularly up front with the likes of Pryor-Lees, Vea etc moving on. New only beat King's 36-27 last year and I think that King's have a real chance of a surprise victory - in Davis at 9, Tulloch at 10, Davies at 12 and Kane at 15 they have some wonderful talent capable of putting on plenty of points. A lot will depend on what platform the forwards can lay for them - they need to win their set pieces and be ultra competitive at the breakdown- ultimately this will boil down to a fitness contest with hardest working set of forwards giving their backs the opportunity to prevail.
Your predictions seem logical.