Sydney Subbies 2022

[Pfitzy]

Heard it here first team. Our esteemed subbies exec director is trying to get finals series changed from top 6 to top 4. Hard sell considering its been top 6 all year.

Ah, the rumour mill - just enough truth to spark something, without enough veracity to stop a campfire becoming a bushfire.

As someone who was at the Div 4 meeting last night, let me give some context: the discussion we had around Top 4 or 6 centred mostly around 2nd Grade (tho both were discussed).

With both Raptors and Canterbury announcing they would drop a side, Grose Cup becomes 10 teams. Having a 6-from-10 finals there almost becomes SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) where 8 of the 12 teams played finals. However, we were 11 clubs to start, so it isn't that much different in my opinion. Once Raptors came back in it evened it up, sure.

The second consideration is logistics:
Top 4 is a finals series you could do in 2-3 weeks depending on how you want to cut it. Only need 2 fields in week 1.
WIth 6 teams you're at 3 weeks minimum and you need 2 fields for the first 2 weeks.

The general consensus from clubs who attended seemed to be we should stick with Top 6 as advertised. The risk otherwise is a dropoff in player interest for those clubs just outside the finals, in a season that has already presented challenges. Similarly, those clubs in 5th and 6th have something to fight for, and there are several with game(s) in hand.

Not everyone is out of the race yet, and regardless of any likely beating a side might get in Week 1 of the finals, just making finals is a marker clubs can use each year to aim at.

Yes, including my club who might be able to get on a hot streak in the last few weeks and scrape in

 

[Heavyd]

Reports from Porters say Blacktown had 9 first graders and 5 colts had to back up to make 14 for 1st grade game. A brave effort from them to honour their wet weather commitments but sadly cannot see them seeing out the remaining session at this rate.

 

[Pfitzy]

Agree with you on some points. Think it is going to be hard for HAC to qualify a second grade team.

And they're playing 3 of the top 5 in Grose Cup, so even on points might not make it.

If you assume Redfield beat Saints in Grose Cup in their fixture , the gap from 5th to 6th becomes 12 points.

 

[Doritos Day]

Div 1 will end up being a battle of the top 3 - Only 2 teams can win it. HH are locked into 3rd and the other 7 are fighting it out to lose in the first round of the finals. Just depends which team wants to delay their Mad Monday by a week.
Colleagues look very strong across the board but were rocked by a good Waverley team. HH will go well against both but might be 1 season too early for us to win Kentwell this year.
I havent heard about player drop off at this point but will see this weekend.
2nd Grade- HH will win
Colts - Pats sit top but will choke in the finals like they did in Div 2 alot. Knox are a smokey if their colts dont get asked to play 1st grade
3/4's - Waverley and Blueys have really good squads in both and will be hard to beat. - Only issue for Waverley is how many of their ex-pats go back home for the summer. Blueys are big

No one will be beating BM in 4s, they can call that grade off now. Men against boys stuff from what I've seen.

Didn't realise how poorly Petersham are doing across the board, trouble brewing at Camperdown Park?

 

[Doritos Day]

How are grounds holding up after the recent deluge

I'm sure the famous Lofberg Oval is in sparkling condition.

Hopefully Lapstone is still in good nick, tied with Rawson for the best surface I've seen this season.

Yet to venture back to the Hurt Locker which was only just recovering after some relaying by council but I think it will make for grim viewing. Bad day to be an MCL when you journey out to Strathfield.

 

[Pfitzy]

How are grounds holding up after the recent deluge

A bit like this:

Hopefully Lapstone is still in good nick, tied with Rawson for the best surface I've seen this season.

The ref we had for First Grade said one of his AR's was up to the ankles on the side of Lapstone the week before. Hope it pulls up alright.

 

[The Wombat]

Div 1 will end up being a battle of the top 3 - Only 2 teams can win it. HH are locked into 3rd and the other 7 are fighting it out to lose in the first round of the finals. Just depends which team wants to delay their Mad Monday by a week.
Colleagues look very strong across the board but were rocked by a good Waverley team. HH will go well against both but might be 1 season too early for us to win Kentwell this year.
I havent heard about player drop off at this point but will see this weekend.
2nd Grade- HH will win
Colts - Pats sit top but will choke in the finals like they did in Div 2 alot. Knox are a smokey if their colts dont get asked to play 1st grade
3/4's - Waverley and Blueys have really good squads in both and will be hard to beat. - Only issue for Waverley is how many of their ex-pats go back home for the summer. Blueys are big

Agree that Colleagues and Waverley are the favourites but I think the pack is closer than you suggest. Mosman only lost by 1 to Colleagues last time they played and easily could’ve won that game.
BM are the favourites in 4s although Mosman inflicted their only loss on them last year, so it should be a good game this weekend.
Mosman and Waverley are the only contenders in 5s.

 

[The Wombat]

No one will be beating BM in 4s, they can call that grade off now. Men against boys stuff from what I've seen.

Didn't realise how poorly Petersham are doing across the board, trouble brewing at Camperdown Park?

Shammies 1s look decent and the club as a whole has improved on past year.

 

[Pfitzy]

Alright Div 4 this weekend for Round 11:

HAC v Oysters - can't see anything but a handy win for Harbour.
Saints v Renegades - hopefully the late-season surge continues and we can push for 6th spot and our first finals for over a decade for 1s.
Merrylands v Canterbury - this might be close until the Wolves pull away on numbers.
Mac Uni v Redfield - ROBR didn't have a game last week, and struggled a little against Raptors the week before. Mac Uni will be stinging from Harbour. Hard to tell, but I'll just go with structure over Fijian flair.
Epping v Chatswood - Rams over Stags. Should be a good game but too much power at Sommerville.
Raptors v Savers - men in black finishing strong to hold onto that top 2 finish.

 

[Eastcoast]

Into the more important divisions - Div 1
Mosman v Blue Mountains - Tough trip into middle harbour for Blueys - Mosman will be too strong here in 1's. The match of the day will be 4th Grade. Can Mosman handle the size of Blueys.
Knox v Colleagues - Tough gig here for Knox on the pristine field at Lofberg. Colleagues by 23
Forest v St Pats - Two teams who think they are better than they are. Melwood is a horrible oval in the middle of Winter. St Pats will be too good for Forest, unless they have trained on throwing games away this year?. St Pats by 12
Petersham v Drummoyne -Petersham are too strong here and have some stand out players that will bury the dirty reds. Shammies by 13
HH v Waverley - WOWEEEE - What a game this one is. Boronia will be pumping. Got the good news on the upgrade of facilities which will make it the best ground in Subbies. Even though Field 3 down the bottom is better. Gotta back the boys in here, Waverley are strong but hopefully we can knock them off by 1.

 

[Pfitzy]

Into the more important divisions - Div 1

 

[Doritos Day]

Into the more important divisions - Div 1
Mosman v Blue Mountains - Tough trip into middle harbour for Blueys - Mosman will be too strong here in 1's. The match of the day will be 4th Grade. Can Mosman handle the size of Blueys.
Knox v Colleagues - Tough gig here for Knox on the pristine field at Lofberg. Colleagues by 23
Forest v St Pats - Two teams who think they are better than they are. Melwood is a horrible oval in the middle of Winter. St Pats will be too good for Forest, unless they have trained on throwing games away this year?. St Pats by 12
Petersham v Drummoyne -Petersham are too strong here and have some stand out players that will bury the dirty reds. Shammies by 13
HH v Waverley - WOWEEEE - What a game this one is. Boronia will be pumping. Got the good news on the upgrade of facilities which will make it the best ground in Subbies. Even though Field 3 down the bottom is better. Gotta back the boys in here, Waverley are strong but hopefully we can knock them off by 1.

Love the contribution as always EC - hopefully some more D1 onlookers start to come out of the woodwork as its quite lonely here right now.

I've had my ear to the grindstone and am reliably informed that all is not well in Canada Bay. You might need to think about bumping that margin up a bit.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Love the contribution as always EC - hopefully some more D1 onlookers start to come out of the woodwork as its quite lonely here right now.

I've had my ear to the grindstone and am reliably informed that all is not well in Canada Bay. You might need to think about bumping that margin up a bit.

BUT WHAT ABOUT PHIL LAWRENCE

Rae Rae

 

[Doritos Day]

BUT WHAT ABOUT PHIL LAWRENCE

Rae Rae

I know nothing of the man and wish him all the best (should he exist) but Jesus Christ could be the next coach and would still struggle to rein in what's going on at Lyons Road; because I've heard it all.

It's not often a juggernaut is brought to its knees like this.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Mr Dorito, what is the goss?

Rae Rae

 

[Eastcoast]

I know nothing of the man and wish him all the best (should he exist) but Jesus Christ could be the next coach and would still struggle to rein in what's going on at Lyons Road; because I've heard it all.

It's not often a juggernaut is brought to its knees like this.

Do we have an old fashioned player revolt? Where are these players going? Mid season transfers could bolster a few of those clubs that love a good stack job to take silverware away from legitimate contenders

 

[Doritos Day]

Mr Dorito, what is the goss?

Rae Rae

Do we have an old fashioned player revolt? Where are these players going? Mid season transfers could bolster a few of those clubs that love a good stack job to take silverware away from legitimate contenders

I must be careful given the watchful eyes on this thread. My man on the ground provided scant details on the specifics you're after but if not mid-season, certainly before next I expect an exodus from Taplin that would rival the Israelites.

Players partners getting involved makes things tricky - otherwise matters could be settled with the old, "bring your mouthguard to training"...

 

[Eastcoast]

I must be careful given the watchful eyes on this thread. My man on the ground provided scant details on the specifics you're after but if not mid-season, certainly before next I expect an exodus from Taplin that would rival the Israelites.

Players partners getting involved makes things tricky - otherwise matters could be settled with the old, "bring your mouthguard to training"...

Can we get a report from the Bartenders sisters best friend at the Oxford Hotel who saw something in the after match function? I am very intrigued about this. Player Partners getting involved will never end well.
For us at the Bayview we just have a few beers and listen to Oz Icons play every week. Its a good spot

 

[Doritos Day]

Back to the rugby... Eastcoast that will be quite a day at Boronia. Thankfully the weather looks good - how's the surface? CluchTV might get a good workout in if the game is close as expected.

I will stick with my BM tip in 4 grade but Mosman are no pushovers especially at home. If BM jag a result you can most definitely shut that comp down for the year.

 

[Doritos Day]

Can we get a report from the Bartenders sisters best friend at the Oxford Hotel who saw something in the after match function? I am very intrigued about this. Player Partners getting involved will never end well.
For us at the Bayview we just have a few beers and listen to Oz Icons play every week. Its a good spot

I don't wish to elaborate at this time lest I be accused of muckracking. Should more information come to light I will update as appropriate; for now their position on the ladder says enough.

The Bayview is indeed good, definitely in the top 3 rugby-adjacent watering holes around the traps (of which the Oxford Hotel is not). Do they have Stan Sport?