Petersham are a strong club and good bunch of guys so glad to see they are holding their own.
2nd Div 1st grade looks cometitive this year. Forest vs Breakers this w/e will be a cracker and should give the comp an idea if Newport are the real deal in 1s.
1st Div clubs struggle for numbers. More dissappointing is Campbelltown, Knox and Beecroft who have all forefieted 5ths grade for the year and Campbelltown also forfetied 4ths. A wake up call to subbies. 1st DIV should be 4 grades + colts, 2nd -4th Div should be 3 grades + colts. Head in the sand stuff really. Newport received 300 point Club Champ penalty last year for forefting 4ths so will be interesting to see similar punishment dished out to the above clubs by subbies.
Blacktown are my 4th Div favourite side and again were always physical on the field but good blokes off it.
Subbies needs a strong Newport as rugby on the penisula depends on there continued viability and success. Newport is a classic example of the success that comes from nurturing colts. Half of there 1s and 2s team are made up of their 2012/13 premiership winning teams.
BOBs look solid acorss the grades and should be a contender come finals time. Certainly feel for St Ives who are trying hard but face a long season at the bottom of the ladder.
Agree and disagree, because a couple of clubs cant organise the numbers, you want to drag every one down to the lowest common denominator.
Next it will be like some else suggested, just make it 3 grades plus colts, then some one will forfeit 3 rd grade. What after that, 2 grades and colts.
All clubs know the criteria going into the season.
To me one of the main benefits of subbies rugby is that it provides for all types players regardless of ability and commitment. In many clubs (1 st Div), 4th and 5th Grade provide that alternative.
Re: strong colts, agree 100%. I believe 10 out of 15 regular 1st graders at
Mosman are ex colts and from that 10 I believe 5 of them started in U7s with Mosman.