Just Back from Granthem Reserve, we left after the 15s presentation and naming of the Sydney teams, sorry could write quick enough to get names and zone/club numbers though I think th breakdown is 13 MNZ players 5 each to MWZ and MSZ
A very tough call for many just out of the 23 whichever club/district/zone they are from, though all were reminded of the increased oportunities next year in the 16s. It as noted that there were several names re-ocuring from last weeks 16s schools association programs, including the work horse flankers from CHS that covered for the slightly mungo like pack, Some presidents XV 1 and 2s Backs and an ISA front rower.
School association 16s for these lads must be rated as a bit tougher than the Metropolitan zones 15s. If any of these competitors missed out this year it could not hve been by much and must be at the forefront in selectors minds for next year( I hope"someone to watch" notes are passed on)
I dont know how weighted todays 'final' was in the selection process, though one game in the serries over the state cup weekend and this zone championship weekend dosen't seem to have swayed to many earlier decisions.Though it was fitting for a final
MNZ controlled the teritory and possesion for the 1st 15min and could only come up with 3 points I think the lead swapped around 6 timesfrom this point to the final whistle. the game was settled on a full time MWZ penalty kick at goal, missed from 40+ metres that must heve crossed the post as the resultant grounding of the ball brought a silence of dissapointment and courtious relief.
It was an entertaining three try each scrap won By MNZ 20/ 19
It was pleasent to note that the spectators participation. The MWZ spectators, I feel placed a lot more store in this game. Their charges from Parramatta and Eastwood have had reason to believe they are equal to the Gordon and Warringah teams with little reward to demonstrate this. Their participation reflected this in noise levels and support from both sides was mostly related to the play quality of the game and did not include significant amounts of uninformed refereeing from 50+ meters away that becomes grating and irrelevent.