Sydney Colts - 2017

[I like to watch]

Yep, but 3's & 4's is pretty much self levelling.
If you are an aspirational player,you will change clubs rather than play 3's.
If they are playing you in 4's,then you would be a delusional aspirational player

 

[sidelineview]

Yep, but 3's & 4's is pretty much self levelling.
If you are an aspirational player,you will change clubs rather than play 3's.
If they are playing you in 4's,then you would be a delusional aspirational player

The ''surplus'' Colts will need to be accommodated somehow.

No doubt Clubs like Randwick and Uni are building for the future with a view to taking out a 1st Grade Premiership down the track some time.

We'll see how it unfolds.

 

[the baz]

The ''surplus'' Colts will need to be accommodated somehow.

No doubt Clubs like Randwick and Uni are building for the future with a view to taking out a 1st Grade Premiership down the track some time.

We'll see how it unfolds.

And there in lays the problem sidey. Its fine to build for the future but if u have a club that has a large player surplus and the dont get adequate game time, they will either leave the club or the code. I can forsee clubs that promise players alot not being able to deliver.

 

[amirite]

Yep, but 3's & 4's is pretty much self levelling.
If you are an aspirational player,you will change clubs rather than play 3's.
If they are playing you in 4's,then you would be a delusional aspirational player

PLENTY of those in rugby.

 

[the coach]

Worth remembering that clubs seldom get to hang on to their rockstars for more than 1-2 seasons. Harrison Goddard only lasted 1 season at Wicks before being signed by the Rebels. And add to that rep games, a few being recruited to 7s, injuries, some promoted to 1st or 2nd grade and the turnover can be quite high. As per my earlier post, about 70% of 2015 colts 1s and 2s moved up to grade at Wicks last year. And yes, some of them had to be content with 3rd or 4th grade.

 

[Azzuri]

Interested in the results of any the various colts trails today...

 

[The Honey Badger]

Interested in the results of any the various colts trails today.

UNI trialled in a 3 way against West Harbour and Penrith. Uni accounted for Penrith pretty easily, West Harbour game was more even with both sides winning a half.

 

[Dingasden]

What they need to do, so they cant be swayed by arguments about how the clubs have already recruited etc is come out now or soon and say next year this is what will happen - and what should happen is to create a massive disincentive for clubs to recruit non-local rockstars: thus make one non-local rockstar so points heavy that you cannot viably recruit another

And the criteria of what is a local junior needs to be clear, of some substance and be verified by Sydney juniors.

 

[Dingasden]

Worth remembering that clubs seldom get to hang on to their rockstars for more than 1-2 seasons. Harrison Goddard only lasted 1 season at Wicks before being signed by the Rebels. And add to that rep games, a few being recruited to 7s, injuries, some promoted to 1st or 2nd grade and the turnover can be quite high. As per my earlier post, about 70% of 2015 colts 1s and 2s moved up to grade at Wicks last year. And yes, some of them had to be content with 3rd or 4th grade.

If you're good enough to move up to grade as an u20 player, surely you're good enough to play 1st colts. So why would a player chose to play or be content to play 3rd or 4th grade rather than 1st grade Colts?

 

[amirite]

If you're good enough to move up to grade as an u20 player, surely you're good enough to play 1st colts. So why would a player chose to play or be content to play 3rd or 4th grade rather than 1st grade Colts?

I think he means post-Colts.

 

[the coach]

I think he means post-Colts.

Correct

 

[Shadow]

Interested in the results of any the various colts trails today.

Souths played Easts at Rockdale with a strong wind blowing straight down the field. South won 3rds and 2nds with both clubs having good numbers.
In 1sts Easts won 5-4 in tries and i would think both teams coaches would be happy about fitness and committment.
Souths had the wind first half and did not take advantage of it with some poor kicks and poor kick options. It was right up there with the Wallabies and it was 1 all at halftime time. Easts were dominant at the break down and worked there phases where as souths were a lot more flamboyant and could not put a lot of pressure on Easts because of Easts breakdown work. It was certainly a clash of styles. Easts with the wind applied the blow torch and got away to a quick 3 to 1 lead but souths hit back with some excellent attacking rugby of the back of some strong defence and lesd 4 tries to 3
Souths made mass changes taking of pretty much there entire forward packand a number of backs with Easts hitting back with 2 tries the last right on the bell to win 5-4. All 3 grades of both teams had good hitouts and all games played in excellent spirit in hot and testing conditions.
Easts are not an overly big side and not knowing who did not play but based on yesterday they will have to keep working hard on there lineouts and scrums they were not dominated but were under presure. They are very good at the break down and will get high phase counts. Backs have some pace but looked a bit predictable but all 3 sides had excellent kicking games with big boots.
Souths just could not build pressure and with an average kicking game made it tough but they havea strong pack and some very quick backs and scored 3 tries from long range with good support play. Knowing who did not play the signs are very good for Souths who will have some excellent depth
The refs in 3rds and 2nds let the game flow and could have blown a few more penalties or put down more scrums but played it as trial matches. The 1sts ref was blowing off the cobwebs of his whistle and dusted of his rustiness working through the rule book and went back to maby rules to make sure he got the arm gestures for that rule just right.

 

[sidelineview]

Randwick played Warringah last Saturday. A comfortable win apparently.

They play Northern Suburbs next Saturday at Rockdale.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Randwick looked significantly bigger than Warringah in Colts 1.

 

[Tahspark]

Azzuri et al, any observations that you'd care to share from the Highlanders v Rats trials today? Cheers.

 

[Tahspark]

Easy to disregard that enquiry, Just checked the Gordon website (should've checked before posting ) and read that the trials today were cancelled due to the weather. Hard to gain any wet weather experience in Sydney.

 

[Azzuri]

Easy to disregard that enquiry, Just checked the Gordon website (should've checked before posting ) and read that the trials today were cancelled due to the weather. Hard to gain any wet weather experience in Sydney.

It's frustrating in the extreme for players and supporters to have games cancelled due to weather.

The creeping "nanny-fication" of our game is hard to stomach. How the hell did we all survive years of playing on water logged,chopped up fields in the driving rain. It's didn't hurt us as players to learn to handle the same sloppy, difficult conditions that our Northern Hemishpere counterparts play in almost every weekend.

Sadly the age of litigation and risk aversion has a firm grip on the cojones of Council decision makers!

Short of lightening and deeply pooled water, games shouldn't be canned in my opinion or at the current rate colts will spend half the season on the couch eating cheesels off their finger tips, watching old re-runs of I Love Lucy instead of reacting to the 3 greatest words ever uttered in the English language: Crouch, Bind, Set.!

The simple solution if playing ground owners don't want to invest in better drainage and ongoing field prep is 4G fields. These have been embraced in Europe and work a treat. Surely with the cooperation of local councils, Shute shield clubs, the NSW RU something could be done...

I won't hold my breath!

STOP PRESS: an example of a ARU CERTIFIED 4G Field can be seen at Centennial Park for those that are interested.

 

[amirite]

It's frustrating in the extreme for players and supporters to have games cancelled due to weather.

The creeping "nanny-fication" of our game is hard to stomach. How the hell did we all survive years of playing on water logged,chopped up fields in the driving rain. It's didn't hurt us as players to learn to handle the same sloppy, difficult conditions that our Northern Hemishpere counterparts play in almost every weekend.

Firstly, it's a trial game.

Secondly, it's not about fucking up the fields now, it's about making sure they're still holding together in August when it matters. Better fields are safer, but they also produce better rugby. This isn't "nanny-fication".

 

[I like to watch]

That might be a good point to justify why all the trial games were called off yesterday.
But the comments you object to,are made in the context that pretty much all ovals Sydney wide are closed at the slightest sign of rain all year.
I'm not one for play must go on regardless, but Sydney councils have become quite precious about closing ovals.
It can be frustrating!

Edit: I'm just back from kicking the ball around for a couple of hours.

After a night of rain, in racing parlance, the oval would be rated a firm 4, nowhere like a heavy 8 or 9 that would justify closing the oval.

It defies logic

 

[Azzuri]

That might be a good point to justify why all the trial games were called off yesterday.
But the comments you object to,are made in the context that pretty much all ovals Sydney wide are closed at the slightest sign of rain all year.
I'm not one for play must go on regardless, but Sydney councils have become quite precious about closing ovals.
It can be frustrating!

ILTW, I'm looking forward to revisiting this issue at finals time if it rains.

I'll be standing on the sidelines ready to take in some fantastic finals footy and as I look out across the beautifully manicured (albeit wet) ground i'm sure I'll be amazed at how well the grounds have endured the 5 punishing rounds of football that's been allowed to be played on them. I won't be alone however, because I know that lurking in the bushes nearby, in their council issued high-vis rain protection accouterments will be the Council Urban No-play Team (no prizes for spotting the acronym) on guard with their trusty Clover Moore Left Wing barometers, rain gauges and blotting paper test kit.

Seriously yes it's a trial but the Council doesn't care if it's a trail or a bloody final and there appears to be a blanket instruction that if it rains the grounds are closed. It's a freaking winter sport and surprise, surprise it rains in winter! So being an ideas man let me suggest that we move Rugby to summer so the grounds will be OK to play on and all we have to worry about is the occasional heat stroke victim!