NSW CAS Rugby 2021

[AroundTheAnkles]

A Shore Parent with a boy in one of the games concerned told me at least three weeks ago that Shore would not be playing Barker and that the reasons why had been communicated clearly. For Barker to be claiming it is a last minute surprise is a bit silly. Perhaps Barker don't want to acknowledge the reason behind the decision and perhaps they thought Shore wouldn't follow through. Either way there should not be a shocking surprise about any of this.

As a reasonably well connected ex Barker student, I can reliably inform all GnG contributors and readers that Barker did not pull out of this weeks game against Shore. Students coaches and senior staff were surprised when the information was relayed. 1st XV matches are planed well in advance and this game was in both CAS & GPS schools calendars.
If anyone thinks its in Barkers interest or the students desire, to play a U18 colts fixture at 1.30pm rather than heading down to Shores ground at Northbridge to take on a school with a wonderful rugby heritage clearly has no idea on the passion within Barker rugby.
Hard working sports masters from all schools do a admirable job week in week out to ensure all teams get games against appropriate opposition. Usually that is against the school in the calendar, but when you come up against a wonderful school like Joeys which has amazing depth through all age groups then things get a bit jumbled.
In terms of last weeks games against Joeys from Barkers perspective, hindsight suggests that maybe the Barker 13As should have played the Joeys As. This was a call made by sports masters and coaches and was agreed in advance.
It is not our position to criticise sports masters who really do have the best interests of all students at heart here.
Pulling a 1st XV game 5 days out is pretty unusual, unless it is a player wellfare issue.
If the reason is as some here suggest that Shore had other things planned that day, then it is pretty poor communication, not only with Barker but with their GPS rivals.

 

[Crashy]

Joeys have 1000 students
Barker have 2,100 students.

Tradition. dedication and expectation are the hallmarks of Joeys rugby.

You do realise that half of Barker is also made up of girls who do not appear to play rugby in the boys teams.....

 

[Flavio]

You do realise that half of Barker is also made up of girls who do not appear to play rugby in the boys teams...

There is one girl playing in the 14A's !!!!

About third are girls but when you limit the number of Soccer teams to 2 as does Joeys and the demographic profile of the two schools it does allow a much larger pool of rugby players to draw from.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Joeys doesn’t limit the soccer teams, it’s just natural selection.

There is one girl playing in the 14A's !!!!

About third are girls but when you limit the number of Soccer teams to 2 as does Joeys and the demographic profile of the two schools it does allow a much larger pool of rugby players to draw from.

 

[Barker4Peat]

Apologies Snort, I was actually wondering why Barker4peat said what he said, 'against snorts rules', but now I realise that all you are looking for are logical reasons as to why you think a team will win or come last in the competition and fair enough. I agree totally that Aloys will likely come last, however hopefully an improvement from last year. I suspect the appointment of Brendan McKibbin is a good start in an attempt to make Aloys more competitive and by all accounts so far in the trials they look as though their defence has tightened. I do think Barker are going to be tough to beat this year and I think the CAS team could be strong against GPS. This is all based on what everyone has mentioned regarding the trial games.

Just want everyone to understand that what I said about "going against Snort's rules" was a comedic joke, not sure if you older fella's understand that sort of thing.

 

[Flavio]

Joeys doesn’t limit the soccer teams, it’s just natural selection.

Thats not what I was told from a Joeys dad

 

[Joker]

Thats not what I was told from a Joeys dad

Well it is a bit of both really.

As someone who has had a association with the College now over 45 years, I have been informed by the sportsmaster that is a combination of the following.

1. Students who attend Joeys know that Rugby is Religion and Football is supported. Hence when you go to Joeys, you generally want to play Rugby as everyone else is doing so. Hence team numbers are low.
2. Joeys say that there will say three teams in Under 13. Some parents who have no formal Saturday sport experience often will want their son to play in a code that exposes them to the whole "Joeys experience" and they chose rugby. Those who are fine footballers will go and play anyway.
3. In the senior years with bigger numbers, they still can only make four teams. The A team genrally can hold their own, but when a B or C team play another school's B or C team (and they have massive football teams) Joeys get flogged. Even A teams sometimes get walloped like the Joeys 15A's who lost 12-0 to Newington in 2018.

 

[Joker]

Assuming +103 is not a typo . feel free to call me soft, but.

I don't understand how the Joeys coaches, sports department, parents & school could let a score like that happen in an under 13's trial match. Given they are a fantastic rugby nursery with an amazing rugby history, I would have thought that they would have more respect for the game than to let that happen. I wonder how many St Pat's boys, siblings & parents have now been lost to rugby. If it meant that Joey's had to go out of their way to actively stop trying to score tries, then so be it.

The other thing that amazes me is what would St Pat's say to the parents if a boy was severely injured at, say, 90-0. It would be a case of gross negligence too me.

And no, this is not the fault of the 12 year old Joey's players.

Joeys 14A 67 St Patrick's 14A 0

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Yes, 100%, this group of boys is desperate for a hard game. They might get it this weekend vs Oakhill. To be honest, the mismatch bs Barker would have been much worse and they seriously put the breaks on in the second half anyway.

Joeys 14A 67 St Patrick's 14A 0

Am guessing that as a proud Joey's old boy, you are deep down not comfortable with a score like this. The wonderful history and tradition of the Joeys rugby program doesn't benefit from games like this.

Everyone involved in rugby needs to understand that we are all following a sport which is increasingly shrinking and collectively we need to consider what we can do to help stop that. Allowing genuine floggings at the school (and club level) is not the way forward.

 

[Number 7]

A Shore Parent with a boy in one of the games concerned told me at least three weeks ago that Shore would not be playing Barker and that the reasons why had been communicated clearly. For Barker to be claiming it is a last minute surprise is a bit silly. Perhaps Barker don't want to acknowledge the reason behind the decision and perhaps they thought Shore wouldn't follow through. Either way there should not be a shocking surprise about any of this.

Shore just put out a message about why the game isnt being played. I will paraphrase it:
1. Shore had a planned offsite for 1sts/2nds scheduled for this weekend. I know this is right because it was flagged in writing by the HO Rugby at the start of the season, albeit with no date mentioned apart from it was going to be on a Saturday mid-trials.
2. Shore offered Barker a game at 10am this Saturday in the form of a combined 1sts/2nds trial. Barker refused this offer.
3. The communication about whether there would be a 1sts or 2nds game came out late as there was apologies included in the comms, noting they had been trying to negotiate a game for 1sts/2nds.

What doesn't make sense is why it has taken until a week before the scheduled game for this to come to a head and why Shore could only offer a combined 1sts/2nd trial (rather than 2x full games).

Anyway Shore will play Barker across all other age groups from 3rds down.

 

[bcoldboy]

Yes the ex Barker parents at the Shore Rugby dinner thought it was a very, very strange thing to say. I don't recall them not wanting to play us in the 90s when they were flogging Barker..

Haha yep I saw it first hand in the mid 90's at Barker. Following the stellar early 90's / centenary teams; 95-97 were lean years at Barker - not helped by people like Ryan Cross carving up the field + the excellent Cranbrook 95 team. Anyway I think those years seemed to be the catalyst for improving the Barker Rugby program; as it certainly became more professional in late 90's. And yeah - I remember watching Shore pump us by 90 odd points or something ridiculous at Northbridge in 97 courtesy of Phil Waugh & Hercus. It's clear the school's approach to "recruiting" players has changed from my day when there was staunch opposition to do this. But hey, if you can't beat 'em, join em. The Marist boys have been doing it forever, so seems like a level playing field to me.

 

[Joker]

Am guessing that as a proud Joey's old boy, you are deep down not comfortable with a score like this. The wonderful history and tradition of the Joeys rugby program doesn't benefit from games like this.

Everyone involved in rugby needs to understand that we are all following a sport which is increasingly shrinking and collectively we need to consider what we can do to help stop that. Allowing genuine floggings at the school (and club level) is not the way forward.

Floggings have been part of the Catholic tradition. It builds character so you don't whinge when the "sh#t gets real"

 

[WTF?]

.........

2. Shore offered Barker a game at 10am this Saturday in the form of a combined 1sts/2nds trial. Barker refused this offer.

What doesn't make sense is why it has taken until a week before the scheduled game for this to come to a head and why Shore could only offer a combined 1sts/2nd trial (rather than 2x full games)......

Thanks Number 7, Shore offered 4 x 20 minute quarters, 2 for the 1sts and 2 for the seconds. You can see why Barker refused - hardly a stellar preparation/trial for the upcoming season.

Anyway, good luck to all teams this weekend, I hope that some great rugby is played by all, no blow outs and no injuries.

 

[Hankspank]

Saturday should be good rugby all round. Joeys may give Oakhill a touch up but from an ISA perspective with Joeys 2nds playing St Augustines both schools will get a good look at each other. Joeys set the benchmark in regards to rugby development from Yr7 - 12 each year (will also include Riverview in that). Others must be very good at developing the boys later in their school careers.
The younger age divisions will be very interesting as Oaks have been belting most in all divisions in yr's 7 , 8 & 9

 

[WLF]

Careful WLF, the mods would be watching. Don't continue the discussion on "the word that shall not be used" or you shall be sanctioned. I know. I am on my very last chance. Looking out for you mate

Thanks Joker ol mate! I was going to say to you earlier " Stay in your own lane" but now you have been a good guy, I won't! HA! Happy to have you and others in our lane!

Would MUCH prefer to talk about this weekends footy, sick of the back and forth ,you know what, banter !

 

[Crashy]

Haha yep I saw it first hand in the mid 90's at Barker. Following the stellar early 90's / centenary teams; 95-97 were lean years at Barker - not helped by people like Ryan Cross carving up the field + the excellent Cranbrook 95 team. Anyway I think those years seemed to be the catalyst for improving the Barker Rugby program; as it certainly became more professional in late 90's. And yeah - I remember watching Shore pump us by 90 odd points or something ridiculous at Northbridge in 97 courtesy of Phil Waugh & Hercus. It's clear the school's approach to "recruiting" players has changed from my day when there was staunch opposition to do this. But hey, if you can't beat 'em, join em. The Marist boys have been doing it forever, so seems like a level playing field to me.

what year were you in bcoldboy? I played 2nds in 94. lost the 'gf' against knox 5-0. can't remember if we beat any GPS schools but recall playing Kings, Shore and Ignatius (possible 3rds). Knox and Waverley were the strong schools then.

 

[cyclopath]

Thread locked for 24 hrs. Too many that cannot read the rules not heed warnings.

 

[cyclopath]

Open again.
Warnings will be scant, those who want to continue in the previous vein will just be banned. Don't care how long you've been here.
Think before you shit-post.

 

[WLF]

Very fair call Cyclo and timely, but, you beauty, we are back.

Now, how about tomorrow's games. LET'S TALK FOOTY GENTS!

Oakhill v Joeys : Hard to comment as Oakhill have clearly been vastly underestimated. The Knox team they edged out by a point last weekend IS a very solid team which speaks volumes for Oakhill. BUT knowing this age group team at Joeys, playing at Joeys, I choose Joeys to win. The margin in the game will be interesting.

Riverview V Knox : As stated above this Knox team is big, talented and solid all around the park.
View are without their tremendous no.10 and he is, so it does help Knox tomorrow.
At full strength I have previously picked View to win the GPS comp, BUT tomorrow, Knox can do it.

Newington V Scots : Newington at home will definitely have a go, they have some very good younger fellows, in particular the fullback, who I believe is in year 10, is very quick and a real goer, BUT people keep talking up Scots, so tomorrow it's time for Scots to deliver, so I pick Scots.

Aloys v Stannies : From all reports both are having a real go, especially Aloys, BUT I choose Stannies, BUT at Aloys home ground, which is magnificent, hand cut by scissors, carpet like, and I kid you not, BUT I still pick Stannies just..

Pats V Trinity : Pats will have a go BUT Trinity by quite a few, this Trinity side has some seriously good rugby boys, Hannaford being just 1, AND as my old mate Snort ( who if he reminds me 1 more time about Trinity V Waves in 1979 - I will shoot him), this Trinity team IS the dark horse in the CAS, GIVEN no major injuries!

St.Gregs v Cranners : LOOK this Cranbrook team at full strength IS the real deal. They currently have 1 very good player out, that I know of, BUT should still account for Gregs comfortably. Going forward Cranbrook need to play stronger teams, maybe every second weekend because playing and beating weaker schools in the trials makes them feel great early, then they start the real comp, CAS, and their 1st game is Barker..... You never know, but welcome to the real world!

Kings V Waves : If last weekends game was any indication, this should be tough. View beat Kings 12-10, and I have already talked up the View team, so Kings must be solid. Joeys beat Kings the weekend before by 40 BUT apparently Kings had quite a few missing due to a cadet camp, so the story goes, but does sound logistical, and I don't believe Joeys are that far ahead of View this year, quite the contrary. The Waves have also just been on a 4 day camp this week, so all deprived of their usual mummy food cooking, soft beds, etc, they appeared out of the bus like zombies!
BUT hey no excuses here, by now, they should all be fit, can sleep their little heads in tomorrow, and should be ready to go tomorrow at the suburb called Kings. A draw, noooo, BS, Waves to win.

I hope all this overview comes across as unbiased as possible, because as hard as it is, I tried!

Good luck to ALL boys and teams tomorrow, and NO injuries thanks!

As BP would say, Hi it's WLF!

 

[FoleyBealeFolau]

Very fair call Cyclo and timely, but, you beauty, we are back.

Not watching the tahs WLF?