anybody want to comment on the terrible churchie season so far.
I was at the Village Green yesterday, watching TSS take on Churchie. TSS eventually got up 38-21, but I thought they had control throughout. I won't give a report but I thought Papworth really stood up against the ACGS backrow, as did Third, winning the contest against Eason. In the second half, I was more interested in dissecting Churchie's performance and after the match, I just sat there in genuine confusion for about ten minutes.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM.
I just can't put my finger on it, but I don't think it a skill thing. In fact, it definitely isn't, because half these players played outstanding footy in previous rep commitments. Some have pointed to the coaching of Jones but we're not in a position to comment on that. However, I can say that a couple of the TSS players just looked like they wanted it more than their Churchie counterparts. So effort is the only visible thing that can be occasionally questioned. I guess it is slightly understandable, given their hype prior to the season, and their 0-1-3 record so far, being schoolboys after all. Watson looked good. Cooney outclassed Schafer. Anderson and Nathan played very well as they have for the last couple of weeks. The Churchie pack struggled around the pack a little bit, perhaps indicating a lack of fitness (if not back to the effort problem).
Hopefully they are able to recover. They won't go through the whole season like this. So a warning to anyone that gets complacent.
Congratulations to Terrace on their first win in a couple of years, I can sense a reality check coming next week though.
Condolences to BGS - I can see countless similarities between the TSS and BGS team this year. Both have hardworking front-rows, I would say that TSS have the stronger props come scrum time. Having only watched a couple of BGS matches (1 trial and the opener against BSHS) I can say that their locks are unspectacular but solid enough. Both boast back-rows that would only be bettered by Churchie. Perrin, Papworth, Guttenbiel - Gilbert?, Saunders, Cornelson.
Both half-backs just go about their necessary business, servicing their star-studded respective backlines.
Greene is obviously the star player but Aiono and 13 form a potent combination, a very under-rated 13 for BGS. That's enough of the day-dreaming, but I was trying to say that both teams play a great expansive game, supported through such a mobile pack/backrow in particular. Both teams suffered narrow defeats against IGS, which would indicate that they successfully employed a tight game plan.
Nudgee are outstanding at playing this tight game, which is why I think they will have a win against Ipswich, making the competition very interesting indeed. You really have to start questioning IGS if they call uncontested against the front row of Postale, Mafi and Wessels...
