Sydney Subbies 2020

[Danny Dribbler]

Can't we just run the competition without Epping being in the comp this year? Obviously the corona started at Epping High School & the Epping 5 Dragons have been recruiting players from Asia for a few years now so we know which club is most at risk. Or maybe also include clubs close to Epping just in case they have unfortunately & unwittingly come into contact with a player so Redfield, Hills, Barker, Renegades, Drummoyne, Newport & Mosman would also have to sit out 2020. With alot of these clubs being Div 1 & 2, some of the sides that ran out of money such as Balmain, Brothers & Beecroft would then get the chance to move up a division to make up the numbers.

That is the only way I can see us playing any games this year. Change my mind.

 

[Danny Dribbler]

And since we can't play any rugby on a saturday arvo, how about we set up a virtual/zoom boat race. Everyone should have received a copy of the draw, so every saturday at 3:15, set up a boat race against the team you were meant to be playing online. I know some of the private school boys might want to skull a soy almond flat white vegan piccollo that early in the day so they might have to forfeit, however the rest of us are drinking from lunchtime anyways so at least it gives us an excuse to crack one open at lunch.

My tips for this week are in Red

Div 1
Drummoyne vs Petersham - Shammies only recruit hard drinkers from the north of the UK so should shit this in
Waverley vs Mosman - Waverley is another corona hotspot & alcohol kills the virus so they will have the whole club lining up to drink
Colleagues vs Knox - I will take the home team as I think Knox will struggle all year in Div 1 this year
Forest vs Blue Mountains - Forest to win to prove themselves in Div 1.

Div 2
UNSW vs Lindfield - Uni wont win anything this year
Hunters Hill vs Redfield - HH don't get paid to stick around for the drinking
Barker vs Epping - Alcoholics will beat the Pretty boys
Pats vs Hills - Free rego means no drinking during the season so Hills in a canter

Div 3
Briars vs Harlequins - This might be a draw as both teams are just happy to be in Div 3 after 43 years in Div 4
Newport vs HV - Newport with home ground advantage in that magnificent clubhouse
Beecroft vs Hawkes Ag - Beecroft to win due to having a better fence around their ground than HA
Iggies vs Blacktown - Blacktown to drink Bourbon instead of Beer & still win easily

Div 4
Balmain vs Irish- The Irish, need we say any more?
TBC vs Mac Uni - Mac Uni proved they couldn't even beat the Bye last year so I'm going with TBC
Oatley vs Brothers - Oatley to win with a surprise appearance from big Junior Paulo who will skull 8 beers at once
Northern Saints vs Canterbury - They can have as many name changes as they want, they still cant skull a beer.

 

[Pfitzy]

As a few clubs have started posting up, Subbies are now looking at three options:

A) Providing everything goes well in terms of governments, national and state unions etc lifting restrictions by end of June:
Restart July 18 for 7 rounds + a finals format that may need to be compressed into one day (Cup/Plate/Bowl/Shield)

B) If that doesn't come off and we get pushed back a few weeks to (say) August:
Gala days and basically a chance for clubs to get some rugby in

C) Fuck all. Stay home.

Would suck for our planned charity day...

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Hard to think what life will be like if we still can't play sport in 3 months.

 

[Pfitzy]

Hard to think what life will be like if we still can't play sport in 3 months.

2 to go

 

[Pfitzy]

Seeing a few clubs returning to training under the restrictions (turn up, groups of 10, no contact, no socialising after, and straight home for a shower). Still 5-6 weeks before preseason in effect, so not sure what the hurry is.

We're still not allowed on our ground firstly because the Eels fenced it off, and secondly because NSW Health haven't told Council it is available to open yet.

 

[hawktrain]

Anyone heard word on how many grades will be contested in each division given the shortened season/restrictions?

 

[Pfitzy]

Anyone heard word on how many grades will be contested in each division given the shortened season/restrictions?

I think the idea is floating around that lowest grade becomes non-compulsory in the higher divisions.

 

[Pfitzy]

Just saw an update from SRU Chair Phil Parsons - they're aiming for 1st XV and 2nd XV compulsory and 1st Colts. Everything else at discretion of club. Very cautious about Penrith, but those conditions could be ideal for them to stand up again

 

[Heavyd]

What’s happening with kick off? I’m hearing Newport have 60 at training and are raring to go. Heard that they are trying to leave an hour between games for disinfecting???? WTF. There will be no crowd, no atmosphere and no players backing up if that is the case. In fact I would argue don’t even bother kick starting the session if they are going to impose ridiculous controls on game day.

Sterilise the balls at halftime/full time, no shared water bottles. Then let’s just get on with it.

 

[Pfitzy]

It certainly will be an issue for bigger clubs unless further restrictions come off.

We've started training again and picked up all our kit as well so at least we're trying to get people down there to pay $50 to grab shorts, socks, and training shirt. That way we're not out of pocket.

Unless something serious moves on Macquarie Street in the next 2 weeks I think we might just have gala days come August.

 

[BJT]

It certainly will be an issue for bigger clubs unless further restrictions come off.

We've started training again and picked up all our kit as well so at least we're trying to get people down there to pay $50 to grab shorts, socks, and training shirt. That way we're not out of pocket.

Unless something serious moves on Macquarie Street in the next 2 weeks I think we might just have gala days come August.

Dunno....pretty sure that would devastate playing numbers at a lot of clubs. Obviously subbies isn't as serious as Shute, but a lot of the guys are still highly competitive people, just maybe a little less skilled and more time poor compared to the premier guys.

For a lot of them, if there's essentially nothing to play for, oh and you'll still have to pay some kind of rego because insurance will still be there, a lot of players and coaches just won't bother, and many I doubt you'll see again.

 

[Pfitzy]

Dunno..pretty sure that would devastate playing numbers at a lot of clubs.

Agreed, but what are the options? No rugby will be just as devastating.

 

[Pfitzy]

For a lot of them, if there's essentially nothing to play for,

1) Bus trips
2) Boat races

Get in a couple of those and you'll do alright. If the "competitive" guys want to sulk about that, well they're not playing Subbies for the right reasons

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

1) Bus trips
2) Boat races

Get in a couple of those and you'll do alright. If the "competitive" guys want to sulk about that, well they're not playing Subbies for the right reasons

The only reason to play in the first place.

 

[Pfitzy]

The only reason to play in the first place.

Have got a couple of clubs quietly asking whether we'd like to host them at our new ground and the Ettamogah postmatch - mainly for the latter I think

 

[Pfitzy]

NSW Sports Grants finally got announced. That takes a bit of pressure off.

 

[Karl_H]

NSW Sports Grants finally got announced. That takes a bit of pressure off.

$1000 - doesn't touch the sides but better than nothing I suppose

 

[Pfitzy]

$1000 - doesn't touch the sides but better than nothing I suppose

Nah these are the ones we applied for late last year as part of the regular funding. Ended up with about $7K which takes a lot of pressure off in the current scenario where entering and insuring a team is below half the usual cost.

We'll still go for the other $1000 if they're offering

 

[Pfitzy]

So the draw is set down for 18th July with Div 1 kicking off a week later.

Going to be interesting to see who comes back with numbers enough to stay in 4th Division. Effectively already dropped Thirds but a couple of teams might be a bit shaky for 2.