Sydney Subbies 2022

[The Ghost of Raelene]

8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals

14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.

 

[Pfitzy]

8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals

14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.

Yep - 20 weeks maximum: 14 rounds, 2 wet weather, one long weekend bye, and 3 of finals.

Easter is April 7-10 next year, so if the season starts April 15 - I hasten to add all these dates are just my speculation, not official :

Rounds 1-4 - Apr 15 > May 6
Wet Weather May 13
Rounds 5-7 - May 20 > Jun 3
Long Weekend Jun 10
Rounds 8-12 - Jun 17 > Jul 15
Wet Weather Jul 22
Rounds 13-14 - Jul 29 > Aug 5

Finals for Aug 12-26

After that it is a question of whether Divisions are going to be staggered again. Typically Div 1 finishes a week later but they usually have an extra Wet Weather weekend anyway.

 

[Eastcoast]

Completely agree - Alot of players are good for the first half of the season but dont commit until its finals time again. Alot of sports in the same situation trying to get people to commit full time is almost impossible.
Players then will come back for finals time. Subbies have alot of big decisions coming over the off season. Hopefully we can keep the top grades at a good level.

Speaking of a good level - that Petersham pitch on Saturday was terrible. Groundsman is going to have some issues rolling that for Cricket season.

 

[Numberthree]

Completely agree - Alot of players are good for the first half of the season but dont commit until its finals time again. Alot of sports in the same situation trying to get people to commit full time is almost impossible.
Players then will come back for finals time. Subbies have alot of big decisions coming over the off season. Hopefully we can keep the top grades at a good level.

Speaking of a good level - that Petersham pitch on Saturday was terrible. Groundsman is going to have some issues rolling that for Cricket season.

The pitch at Camperdown is always terrible. It takes one game on a rainy Saturday and it's done for the season. You'd think after this many years council would have found a way to improve drainage but doesn't seem to be a priority.

 

[Numberthree]

8 is the sweet spot right? With a 4 team finals

14 games is the most I think anyone can really bare now.

There's some talk about Div 1 being a 9 team comp next year - 16 games, every team gets 2 byes so no need for the guaranteed byes. Same length season. I don't think subbies have any real appetite to send Drummoyne down. They had a tough season but at least they kept rolling out 5 teams every week and weren't being beaten by 100. Same for Petersham. I think there are a lot of conversations to be had before the final makeup for div 1 is resolved next year.

 

[Numberthree]

All good from our end. Petersham are strong and have good players across the park but we were still down 5 of our normal starters in 1's and were up by 22 before taking the foot off the gas late

Looking forward to a final series without any drama similar to what seems to have happened in the lower divisions.

I was out there on Saturday, HH look to be in pretty good form, maybe the best form of the comp right now. Thought the game turned in that period in the second half with HH up 20-10 and Petersham on their line for 5 minutes. Eventually got held up over the line, knocked on soon after the dropout and next minute HH are scoring up the other hand. 20-17 becomes 25-10. Games can turn on small things.

 

[Heavyd]

There's some talk about Div 1 being a 9 team comp next year - 16 games, every team gets 2 byes so no need for the guaranteed byes. Same length season. I don't think subbies have any real appetite to send Drummoyne down. They had a tough season but at least they kept rolling out 5 teams every week and weren't being beaten by 100. Same for Petersham. I think there are a lot of conversations to be had before the final makeup for div 1 is resolved next year.

and Knobs down to Div4 to start their rebuild?

 

[Numberthree]

and Knobs down to Div4 to start their rebuild?

Who knows with Knobs. They forfeited every game except Colts for the last 4 or 5 rounds. Gonna take some major rebuilding work.

 

[Pfitzy]

I guess my first question with Knox: *why* are they forfeiting?

Is it simply that they've run out of guys able to play at First Grade level due to injury or absence? Saw a lot of clubs lose players in July/August to Euro holidays.

If you can't get your First Grade on the field, the cascading effect on every grade can be dangerous. So 28-nil might be preferable to more injuries and long-term departures from the club.

Personally speaking, I wasn't thrilled to be playing a lot of First Grade this year given my age and fitness. I can't imagine what it is like against some of those First Div teams.

 

[Numberthree]

I guess my first question with Knox: *why* are they forfeiting?

Is it simply that they've run out of guys able to play at First Grade level due to injury or absence? Saw a lot of clubs lose players in July/August to Euro holidays.

If you can't get your First Grade on the field, the cascading effect on every grade can be dangerous. So 28-nil might be preferable to more injuries and long-term departures from the club.

Personally speaking, I wasn't thrilled to be playing a lot of First Grade this year given my age and fitness. I can't imagine what it is like against some of those First Div teams.

They were down to 1s, 2s and colts from pretty early in the season. They had 2 guys red carded at the end of 1s for abusing the ref in the game against Petersham (which they lost at the death) and that was it for the season. Guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back for them, don't know much more than that.

 

[Heavyd]

Div 2 Semi Finals Preview

1st grade
UNSW vs Hawkesbury V: Only clash this year resulted in a 45-21 victory to HV. Can see a similar result coming Saturday with a strong HV result, as along with Newport these two teams are a class above in Barraclough
Newport vs Lindfield: Lindfield will be praying for rain all week to try and nullify Newports sparkling backline. Sefton was a bog last week and is not at semi final standard. Newport victories 41-10 and 29-17, the last game being 3 weeks ago when Lindfield scored two late tries in last 5 mins. But having watched Gordon beat Norths yesterday anything is possible in finals footy. Newport should win and win well with a Breakers victory by 15+ (unless it pisses down and it will be closer).

2nd grade
UNSW vs Newport: UNSW edged out a tight victory in the teams only clash but Newport were down signifcant cattle with a covid outbreak impacting players across the grades. UNSW late season form has been strong and they will go in justifed favourities but think if Newport are at full strength they can overcome this challenge. My blue eye says Breakers but I will go with UNSW in a very tight affair.
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier were deserved Minor premiers and go in heavy favourites. My only concern is game fitness as they havent played for 3 weeks but they should have enough talent to see of a gallant Hills outfit.

Colts
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier edged out a 8-5 victory mid season and Hills will like their chances of an upset. Question marks remain over Lindfields backline defence but I think a forward game beckons with Lindfield heading to the big dance.
Newport vs Easts: Easts inflicted one of only two losses for the Breakers and are a real chance of getting the biscuits here. This game will come down to a touch of class from someone to secure a victory. Head says Easts but heart says Breakers...just by 1

3rd grade
Newport vs UNSW: Minor premiers should have too much firepower for UNSW and should grind out a solid victory even though their only season loss was to the students. Saturday will have a very different Newport side to that mid season loss.
Hills vs Lindfield: Hills will be way too tough for old soldier and a 10+ victory awaits for Hills.

 

[Pfitzy]

They were down to 1s, 2s and colts from pretty early in the season. They had 2 guys red carded at the end of 1s for abusing the ref in the game against Petersham (which they lost at the death) and that was it for the season. Guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back for them, don't know much more than that.

Having a look at team sheets for the season (excluding Colts).

They forfeited 4th Grade twice in the first half of the year.
The game being washed out on 2nd July, followed with the Bye on 9th July, looks like it hurt their Third Grade with 2 forfeits there immediately after.
That's a 4-week period with no Third Grade, before they returned in R11 to smack Shammies 61-0 in 3s.
People going overseas for some sun?

Anyway, it seems odd that things went to bits after their biggest numbers at home since R5.

I see the theory about Red Cards but that's two guys.

Round	Location	Players	Opponent	Notes
R1	Home	65	Pats
R2	Away	58	HH
R3	Home	62	Forest
Wet Weather 21st May
R4	Away	47	Blue Mtns	Forfeit 4s
R5	Home	63	Mosman
Long Weekend
R6	Away	50	Pats
R7	Home	47	HH	Forfeit 4s
R8 washout	Away			Postponed - see below
Competition Bye Round 09 Jul
R9	Away	29	Colleagues	Forfeit 3s & 4s Game moved to Woollahra 3
R10	Away	27	Drummoyne	Forfeit 3s and 4s
R11	Home	54	Shammies	Forfeit 4s Knox 3s won 61-zip!
R8 Wet Weather	Away			Forfeit all to Waverley This was the game from 02 Jul
R12	Away	0		Forfeit all to Forest
R13	Home	0		Forfeit all to Blue Mountains
R14	Away	0		Forfeit all to Mosman

 

[Numberthree]

Having a look at team sheets for the season (excluding Colts).

They forfeited 4th Grade twice in the first half of the year.
The game being washed out on 2nd July, followed with the Bye on 9th July, looks like it hurt their Third Grade with 2 forfeits there immediately after.
That's a 4-week period with no Third Grade, before they returned in R11 to smack Shammies 61-0 in 3s.
People going overseas for some sun?

That Shammies game was Old Boys Day out at Knox and that 3rd grade team was not their 3rd grade team....

 

[Eastcoast]

Cricket pitches everywhere are fucked, not just Camperdown....

With another El Nina wet weather shit-fight forecast this spring, I doubt any cricket will be played anyway...

Horrid sport cricket. What were the grounds like at the other games this week in the Div 2/3/4 Finals

Colleagues got onto Pfitzys favourite surface while Hudson had improved slightly on earlier in the year and Melwood was melwood.

 

[Pfitzy]

Colleagues got onto Pfitzys favourite surface

Ugh. Terrible.

 

[sterlingmortlocksgloves]

Div 2 Semi Finals Preview

1st grade
UNSW vs Hawkesbury V: Only clash this year resulted in a 45-21 victory to HV. Can see a similar result coming Saturday with a strong HV result, as along with Newport these two teams are a class above in Barraclough
Newport vs Lindfield: Lindfield will be praying for rain all week to try and nullify Newports sparkling backline. Sefton was a bog last week and is not at semi final standard. Newport victories 41-10 and 29-17, the last game being 3 weeks ago when Lindfield scored two late tries in last 5 mins. But having watched Gordon beat Norths yesterday anything is possible in finals footy. Newport should win and win well with a Breakers victory by 15+ (unless it pisses down and it will be closer).

2nd grade
UNSW vs Newport: UNSW edged out a tight victory in the teams only clash but Newport were down signifcant cattle with a covid outbreak impacting players across the grades. UNSW late season form has been strong and they will go in justifed favourities but think if Newport are at full strength they can overcome this challenge. My blue eye says Breakers but I will go with UNSW in a very tight affair.
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier were deserved Minor premiers and go in heavy favourites. My only concern is game fitness as they havent played for 3 weeks but they should have enough talent to see of a gallant Hills outfit.

Colts
Lindfield vs Hills: Old Soldier edged out a 8-5 victory mid season and Hills will like their chances of an upset. Question marks remain over Lindfields backline defence but I think a forward game beckons with Lindfield heading to the big dance.
Newport vs Easts: Easts inflicted one of only two losses for the Breakers and are a real chance of getting the biscuits here. This game will come down to a touch of class from someone to secure a victory. Head says Easts but heart says Breakers...just by 1

3rd grade
Newport vs UNSW: Minor premiers should have too much firepower for UNSW and should grind out a solid victory even though their only season loss was to the students. Saturday will have a very different Newport side to that mid season loss.
Hills vs Lindfield: Hills will be way too tough for old soldier and a 10+ victory awaits for Hills.

Believe Lindfield are playing Beecroft in the colts not Hills.

 

[Heavyd]

Believe Lindfield are playing Beecroft in the colts not Hills.

My bad. Lindfield by 20+

 

[Pfitzy]

DIV 4 GRAND FINALS

Grose Cup: Harbour (2) v Redfield (5) - ROBRs won the Round 6 clash 27-15 while Eaysters looked unconvincing over Merrylands. I think Redfield will get up here.

McLean Cup: Harbour (1) v Savers (2) -hard to go past Harbour here. The most points they've conceded in a game this year is 22 (Canterbury R1) and 21 (Renegades R6), both of whom had significantly larger forward packs than what Savers possess. Harbour held Redfield to nil in their semi, so in a game of speed and skill, Harbour most likely to win.

 

[Heavyd]

Where is Sydney Harbour from?

 

[Pfitzy]

Where is Sydney Harbour from?

aka The Oysters, they're based out of Lyne Park and came to the competition back in 2020. Whacked everyone in Div 6 to win the title, and were on track to win Div 4 last year when COVID hit.

Have lost 1 game in their history (to Redfield in 2021, by a point), and this year they've got Easts 5th Grade as their 2s.