Sydney Subbies 2024

[TheBigArvo]

Heavyd not a good day for the old newport breakers.

can hear a pin drop in porters reserve tonight.

As the often greats and late Doris day would say - que sera sera.

Your a brave person to be writing Newport off before the final whistle. They proved what they could do under strength last year. Briars msy have got them yesterday. But they also may have awakened something down at Porters. Watch out on Grand Final day.

2 teams in Grand Finals and 3 teams in with a shot next week. Pretty good position that most clubs would take.

 

[TheBigArvo]

Throw the form guide out the window when it comes to Sydney Harbour. They just refuse to lose finals games!

I think someone did some stats on them. They’ve only lost a few games overall since coming into the comp a few years ago. This year’s been tougher but still getting the job done in Finals.
There success would rival the great Redfield sides of the early 2010s

 

[Lurker]

Any word on how the Shammies are going and their predictions of ‘wiping the floor’ with Div2?

Oh sorry - saw their 3’s into the final. Good springboard back into Div1…..

 

[Pfitzy]

I think someone did some stats on them. They’ve only lost a few games overall since coming into the comp a few years ago. This year’s been tougher but still getting the job done in Finals.
There success would rival the great Redfield sides of the early 2010s

Except Redfield had more than 1 team.

 

[Heavyd]

Big day for subbies yesterday.

Great to drive past Hassell park and see plenty of action on the old home of rugby with DIV 3 finals

Out at Rothwell a try on the bell denied the Breakers the win in what was a brutal physical contest. They will use that disappointment, dust themselves off and go again at Concord against Hills.

2nds were in control for long periods but didn’t get the big calls and will regroup to take on Epping, a team they’ve beaten twice this season.

Colts led at halftime but were out enthused by a very good St Pats outfit in the 2nd half. Some silly errors cost them big time and they’ll no doubt work on that this week.

3s and 4s into the GF.

Chatting to some Briars and St Pats boys there was plenty of talk re Epping. I’m not buying into it, they have played all season and the end result will be what it will be.

Clubs with all grades in finals are always up against it coming up against clubs with only a few grades who can run fresh 8 man bench’s. St Pats were able to run 3 or 4 from last week’s Barraclough in 2s which helped with their depth.

A big week of recovery before the boys go again. Great that there will be 5 clubs represented out at Concord. Maybe we will hear more passionate west is best chants?

On a side note, I’d like subbies to provide guidance on how fields are selected for finals series going forward. Newport would have loved to have had the opportunity to host the Majors.

 

[Prodigy]

Big day for subbies yesterday.

Great to drive past Hassell park and see plenty of action on the old home of rugby with DIV 3 finals

Out at Rothwell a try on the bell denied the Breakers the win in what was a brutal physical contest. They will use that disappointment, dust themselves off and go again at Concord against Hills.

2nds were in control for long periods but didn’t get the big calls and will regroup to take on Epping, a team they’ve beaten twice this season.

Colts led at halftime but were out enthused by a very good St Pats outfit in the 2nd half. Some silly errors cost them big time and they’ll no doubt work on that this week.

3s and 4s into the GF.

Chatting to some Briars and St Pats boys there was plenty of talk re Epping. I’m not buying into it, they have played all season and the end result will be what it will be.

Clubs with all grades in finals are always up against it coming up against clubs with only a few grades who can run fresh 8 man bench’s. St Pats were able to run 3 or 4 from last week’s Barraclough in 2s which helped with their depth.

A big week of recovery before the boys go again. Great that there will be 5 clubs represented out at Concord. Maybe we will hear more passionate west is best chants?

On a side note, I’d like subbies to provide guidance on how fields are selected for finals series going forward. Newport would have loved to have had the opportunity to host the Majors.

Allegedly, clubs were approached about hosting the semi finals.
I have no idea on how, or when, the approach was made.
I would have loved to have hosted at Epping as well. Could have been good for the club’s bottom line.

Addressing SubbiesSoftie’s concerns, it’s been spoken about ad nauseum. It is what it is and it’s not like we’ve pulled the wool over anyone’s eyes and smacked either competition. Happy for you to seek me out at Concord this Saturday and discuss…..
Our Stockdale team on Saturday was made up of:
4 x 2023 Barraclough players
1 x 2023 Robertson (colts) player
2 x returning players who’ve had a number of years off
3 x new players to the club and the game of rugby
2 x 2023 Stockdale players
2 x 2023 Blunt players
1 x new player to the club
Hardly the ‘stacked’ team you are insinuating.

Again, you know who I am, find me at concord and I’m happy to go over it with you.

 

[SubbiesSoftie]

4 x 2023 Barraclough players

I think this proves my only point? 4 1st graders in a team that isn't 1st grade. Again, feel sorry for UNSW who weren't able to compete

Don't know what your obsession is with talking in person, we all see the unfairness for what it is without needing a personal conversation with a rugby tragic about the inadequacies of your club

 

[Never Was Been]

I think this proves my only point? 4 1st graders in a team that isn't 1st grade. Again, feel sorry for UNSW who weren't able to compete

Don't know what your obsession is with talking in person, we all see the unfairness for what it is without needing a personal conversation with a rugby tragic about the inadequacies of your club

Come on Softie, you're complaining about 4 of last years 1st graders playing 2nd grade this year? From memory Epping's 1st grade didn't fair too well last year anyway. The season's nearly over and you're still whinging about it. Get. Over. It.

 

[TheBigArvo]

I think this proves my only point? 4 1st graders in a team that isn't 1st grade. Again, feel sorry for UNSW who weren't able to compete

Don't know what your obsession is with talking in person, we all see the unfairness for what it is without needing a personal conversation with a rugby tragic about the inadequacies of your club

Heavy D mentions above that St Pats have 4 1st Graders playing in there Stockdale side in the finals… You’d be hard pressed finding side in the finals that don’t have guys playing down

 

[Never Was Been]

Heavy D mentions above that St Pats have 4 1st Graders playing in there Stockdale side in the finals… You’d be hard pressed finding side in the finals that don’t have guys playing down

100%

 

[Prodigy]

I think this proves my only point? 4 1st graders in a team that isn't 1st grade. Again, feel sorry for UNSW who weren't able to compete

Don't know what your obsession is with talking in person, we all see the unfairness for what it is without needing a personal conversation with a rugby tragic about the inadequacies of your club

My obsession?
You've taken a few shots at my club, hiding behind a pseudonym.

Anyway, hope all the tears you are shedding about the injustice are lubricating whatever bitter pill you are having to swallow.

 

[SubbiesSoftie]

Heavy D mentions above that St Pats have 4 1st Graders playing in there Stockdale side in the finals… You’d be hard pressed finding side in the finals that don’t have guys playing down

I agree, you'd be hard pressed finding a club in finals that don't have players playing down, the only club I can think of is Epping, because it's impossible for anyone in 2s to be playing down....

4 1st graders that somehow qualified for 2nd grade finals? Don't sound like 1st graders to me

Like I said, I don't really have any stake in this fight, they won't be in any division of my concern in 2 weeks. Feeling for UNSW after their hard fought road to the finals, but they'll be there next year and will have a fair fight on their hands

 

[Never Was Been]

I agree, you'd be hard pressed finding a club in finals that don't have players playing down, the only club I can think of is Epping, because it's impossible for anyone in 2s to be playing down....

4 1st graders that somehow qualified for 2nd grade finals? Don't sound like 1st graders to me

Like I said, I don't really have any stake in this fight, they won't be in any division of my concern in 2 weeks. Feeling for UNSW after their hard fought road to the finals, but they'll be there next year and will have a fair fight on their hands

4 former 1st graders who played 2nd grade all year, and finished 4th. I also have no affiliation to any of these clubs, but don’t understand how you get so worked up about.

 

[TheBigArvo]

On to the important stuff Div 5!
I wonder if Oately are rueing the decision not to play those 2 catch up games that could of given them a shot at 2nd as they go out the back door.
Ripper of a high scoring game in the Meldrum Minor with the Sea Lice sneaking home. Though a double yellow flag there 6 could hurt them in the preliminary

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Division 3 Semi Final Weekend Previews:

Clark Cup - 1st Grade:

Congrats to Knox on taking out the Division 3 Club Championship. Many saw the place they were in after clinging on Div 1 too long and wrote them off so it's nice to see them recover slightly in a lower division. Tough for Irish and Merrylands who absolutely would have challenged if they had a colts outfit, something to consider for all 3 clubs in which division they line up in next year.

Sydney Irish (1) vs. Merrylands (2): The top two sides all year, couldn't play more different styles if they tried. Irish got them week 1 on the road, Merrylands got them on the return road trip. Merrylands off the back of a shellacking at Knox don't have the form behind them like Irish do, but they will get their head coach back from two weeks off and some key players returning. This is a tough one to call, but I'll give the edge to Merrylands... just. Merrylands by 5.

Sydney Harbour (3) vs. Knox (4): Like the major semi, Oysters and Knox both won the away legs of their clashes this year. Lots of this will come down to the health of the Oysters dynamic 10/15, as their run home form has been shaky without those 2, as well as their leader at #2. Knox on the other hand has been flying, upsetting the #1 ranked Merrylands at home to close out the regular season. I think Knox can win the physical battle and end Oysters' season earlier than its ever been ended before (i.e. without winning it all lol). You never really know in finals footy though. Knox by 10.

Farrant Cup - Second Grade:

Sydney Irish (1) vs. Merrylands (2): Just copy and paste the above as the story is exactly the same here... though Irish has looked comparatively stronger in second grade all year than even the mighty Merrylands, so I'll take them here. Irish by 14.

Knox (3) vs. Hawkesbury Valley (4): This one could go either way, depends on the strength and depth of both clubs lower grade. Given Valley has known for a few weeks that their first grade wouldnt be making it, I suspect they'll name a slightly stronger side than when these last two met. Which coincidentally was a 16-16 draw. Valley by 7.

Nicholson Cup - Colts:

Knox (1) vs. LCOI (2): 66-0 across the two games these sides have played this year, Knox will likely finish their season off undefeated, though the pressure of finals can do strange things... in any case: Knox by 20.

Sydney Harbour (Easts) (3) vs. Hawkesbury Valley (4): Tough one, but I'll take Valley on the principle of never rooting for Shute Shield clubs in Subbies. Give 'em hell boys! Valley by 5.

Yours in still not knowing why next rounds games are at Holroyd...
PFE

Well.. 2/6, someone call my wife and tell her I lost the house...

Shouldn't have written off that Harbour outfit, they put on a defensive clinic and countered very well. Bounce of the ball didn't go Knox's way but Harbour were deserved winners and have earned the right to go play Merrylands at Holroyd? next week, a very very tough road trip. Not all bad news for Knox though winning in 2nd grade and earning the same road trip as Harbour, whilst their colts cleaned up the major semi 47-0.

Irish goes 2/2 into the GF, great day for them - they'll be favourites in both of those finals I suspect.. Valley goes 0/2 and are all out for the year, tough.

Easts 4ths colts hang around and will play LCOI next week.

 

[Post Match Boat Race]

Big day for subbies yesterday.

Great to drive past Hassell park and see plenty of action on the old home of rugby with DIV 3 finals

Out at Rothwell a try on the bell denied the Breakers the win in what was a brutal physical contest. They will use that disappointment, dust themselves off and go again at Concord against Hills.

2nds were in control for long periods but didn’t get the big calls and will regroup to take on Epping, a team they’ve beaten twice this season.

Colts led at halftime but were out enthused by a very good St Pats outfit in the 2nd half. Some silly errors cost them big time and they’ll no doubt work on that this week.

3s and 4s into the GF.

Chatting to some Briars and St Pats boys there was plenty of talk re Epping. I’m not buying into it, they have played all season and the end result will be what it will be.

Clubs with all grades in finals are always up against it coming up against clubs with only a few grades who can run fresh 8 man bench’s. St Pats were able to run 3 or 4 from last week’s Barraclough in 2s which helped with their depth.

A big week of recovery before the boys go again. Great that there will be 5 clubs represented out at Concord. Maybe we will hear more passionate west is best chants?

On a side note, I’d like subbies to provide guidance on how fields are selected for finals series going forward. Newport would have loved to have had the opportunity to host the Majors.

Good news story from the Barraclough game was Tim Ansty, lock Breakers, turning up to play just before kick off after rushing from the airport from the Deaf Wallabies tour (Captain too??) to South Afica. Played alright too. Hats off to Briars, making the GF after 20 odd years.

 

[footy_footy]

Hills Barraclough team have been real quiet achievers in 2024. I don't think many had them tipped to knock off an in form UNSW. Despite the challenges have had this year with playing numbers and no colts, their 1st Grade team have been great.

It's hard to see anything other than a Briars v Newport GF but Hills continue to show up and get the results.

Do clubs (Newport for instance) get Cowboy Cup points in finals? Seems like Hunters Hill and Waverley are coming home with a wet sail. Haven't done the numbers but will be a tight finish.

 

[Pfitzy]

I wonder if Oately are rueing the decision not to play those 2 catch up games that could of given them a shot at 2nd as they go out the back door.

They didn't look flush with players. No reserves on the sheet and I'm pretty sure one of the wingers actually plays lock...

 

[Pfitzy]

DIVISION 4 FINALS @ Mittigar Reserve

McLean Cup - 3:30PM
Hornsby (1) v Raptors (2)
Renegades (3) v Wakehurst (4)

Grose Cup - 2:00PM
Canterbury (1) v Raptors (2)
Hornsby (3) v Renegades (4)

3 out of 4.

McLEAN CUP
Hornsby v Raptors - keen to see what happened here as Hornsby were missing a couple of key personnel so I thought it might be the difference. Minor Premiers fell behind but finished strong to get to the GF despite a couple of flat performances over the last month.

Renegades v Wakehurst - very tense game for our boys who failed to adapt to the ref early at ruck time, and had limited training together. Wakehurst had a couple of personnel we hadn't seen before and they played hard, simple footy.


GROSE CUP
Canterbury v Raptors - a lot closer than I expected. Not many on the bench for Berries, but they opened up an 18-5 lead at halftime then didn't see the ball for 20 minutes. Raptors came back but

Hornsby v Renegades - Hornsby were missing a few blokes and had very short bench - a mix of injuries and availability (wedding I think) on the day. Of course being finals everyone dropped out of the sky for us, to the point where a fair few didn't get on the field. Was a competitive game until the last few minutes where we opened up a lead and scored a nice try to seal it.

 

[21mm]

Joy Johnson Cup - Semi Finals Predictions (Mittigar Reserve)

Major Semi
Hornsby (1) v Sydney Irish (2)
How good have Hornsby been! They have come down from the CC comp with a side of Steely Veterans who show like they have played a lot of footy together. Sydney Irish also have shown they are well coached and have the class to go all the way on their day. Hornsby i feel are just too good defensively, they have only given up 36 points all year in the 10's format. The Irish Girls will be up for it, and will score early but i feel the Hornsby girls will run away with it thereafter. Hornsby 13+

Minor Semi
Lindfield (3) v Hunters Hill (4)
These two sides have shared the points this year, and there is no love lost. Both have won their home fixtures against each other in tight contests. This is going to be an old fashioned bar fight! Hunters Hill have some great strike weapons that can really hurt you if they get front foot ball. if they get a roll on early, the momentum will be tough to turn around. Lindfield however have been extremely consistent and can lean on their set piece to disrupt HH's ball and get them on the back foot from ensuing quick taps. Looking forward to this one. Lindfield 1-13

2/2

Hornsby too good. 67 0 in a Major Semi Final. they are going to take some beating.

Lindfield 14 7. Will play an Irish side looking for answers after a deflating way to start their finals campaign. Hunters Hill went down 14 nil in the first half and couldn't manage to cross until too late.

Hoping for a Lindfield win this weekend to make the final interesting as i cant see a 67 point swing to Irish to topple the undefeated Hornsby.