I was at Wests for the last game on the weekend.
On the state of the oval. The ground looked as if it was bare but in actual fact the field was quite well grassed. the brown patches were couch that browns off in the winter and the green patches were Rye grass that grows in the winter. Admittedly there is heavy traffic on both the fields for training etc but that has always been the case. It is far better now than in years gone by when in the 70s it was like concrete and didn't have too much grass on it. So to say that it is a welfare issue seems to be rather uninformed in relation to the care and maintenance of rugby ovals.
On the match, Easts were far too good on the day, Wests tried valiantly but were just outgunned. I thought for Easts that White and Toua had good games didn't see Placid get the ball often and when he did he was contained.
In the forwards Gunn looked impressive although he might think about the yellow card he acquired and look to changing some aspects of his game.
Wests had some good players Hutchinson and Nelson fought hard all day and made some breaks. Green battled along but suffered from indecisive ball from Genia (Mullins from Easts played all over Genia). Probably one of Genia poorest games this season. He put new meaning into the Gregan shuffle. Some of his team mates would be muttering after receiving slow hospital passes through out the game.
Easts look to be coming good at the pointy end of the season, they will be tough to stop inn the finals. Good slick backline with some tough forwards
Look I am not saying any club will fall on its sword and I certainly don't want to see that happen to a great club like Wests or any of the existing Premier clubs. I am just saying that the condition of Sedgeman Oval is systematic of the lack of support for grass roots Rugby from the ARU/QRU.
"Filth Rugby" asked what is wrong with Sedgeman Oval - well ask a contracted Reds player who was injured on Saturday due to a head collision with the playing surface? The injury sustained was a direct result of the hardness of the playing surface. He will play no further part in this season.
FGS the playing surface is not good for Super 15 players, fourth grade players or juniors, it was redeveloped prior to the 2011 floods and needs some further attention - maybe one way the QRU can assist is by sending the Ballymore groundsman out to Wests to give them a hand. This is not a finger pointing exercise because Bottomley Park doesn't exactly resemble Twickenham at season's end either,
As for the review of the Easts v Wests game "Rat" please note that it wasn't Michael Gunn in the #7 jersey for Easts on Saturday that was Josh Parry. Gunn was sick.
As for Mullins he will get a sterner test this weekend when he lines up against Nick Frisby. Frisby, Campbell & Mehan have been the more polished opponents he's faced this year. Remember this is only Mullins first year in the #9 as he has spent the last few seasons filling every other position in the backline at some stage. In round 18 last year against Uni he wore the #15 and the last time they beat GPS back in 2012 he wore the #13.
And "Rat" please don't talk up the Tigers chances we love the fact they we are flying under the radar with no one giving us a hope.
Tigers Tale