Videos & Review: Sydney GPS Comp 2010

Here’s a summary of the 2010 Sydney GPS Schoolboys competition. It was made by Nanai in the G&GR forum and seems to be getting the thumbs up as a pretty balanced overview. I’ve also put a few highlight videos at the bottom of the post from JoeysRiverRocks

Newington College – Ended up being a terrifically rounded team with real ticker. Hanging on while down to come back and beat Kings will undoubtedly be a highlight in all of those boys’ careers forever. Hugh Roach, Joel Luani and Apolosi Latunipulu will be seen again for sure. Mark Bannon’s pass improved staggeringly from the first time I watched him to the last, and I think he proved he was worthy of his #2 selection in CGPS and has the chops to be a top flight scrumhalf. Their 7, Baldwin, seems to have fallen into the unlucky camp as far as GPS selections go.

The King’s School – While their two losses were narrow ones, I expected this team to do better. The quality of their forwards on paper is something we’ll laugh at in a few years time when these boys litter the First Grade rosters around Sydney – probably even higher. Guy Millar and Boyd Killingworth have been the pick of the lot all season. Despite the rampant criticism of him on this board, Tom Connor continued to impress me with his workrate and mobility and I’m sure he’ll pop up again. In the backs, Wylie, McCormack and Ingate are all sure-fire 1sts Colts next year – wherever they may be.

Saint Ignatius’ College – High achievers considering where I’d estimated them to be, they put together a convincing win over Scots in Round 2 that was likely the highlight of their season. Wells and Donlan have been honored as Australian Schoolboys, and their outside centre, Barry, deserves an honorable mention.

Saint Joseph’s College – Fall into the “Did better than I thought they would” category, these boys by all accounts played with some serious heart after a thorough loss to Scots in Round 1 and the career-ending injurings of two of their key players (Teggart being hands down their best back, in my opinion, and would’ve been a surefire Australian Schoolboy). Inconsistency was probably their biggest enemy. Toppling SIC and TKS are both mammoth achievements for a talented side. The captain and second rower-come blindside flanker, Williams, will be seen again – as will their wizard backline duo of 10 Walford and 12 Ashby, and powerful 11 Hulme.

The Shore School – A team I seldom saw, but their draw against Scots and thumping of Joeys seem like season-defining games on their scorecard. Their forwards were ruthless in the trials, and likely continued that form. 9 Jock Merriman is due for a massive season next year considering his achievements this year, and I will be watching closely. 11 Streeter is a CGPS unfortunate.

The Scots College – Along with Joeys, inconsistency killed them. They put together sterling displays against Newington and Shore in the trials, and the games against Joeys and Kings were at opposite ends of their spectrum, I feel. Offensively, probably the most talent-studded team behind Newington, and they put together brief sections of giant-killing play against Kings in the last game, but ultimately fell flat. 13 Stewart and 8 Miller are players to watch next year. 2 Moore, 12 Atkinson and 10 Dunbar are players we’re sure to hear of again across the codes.

Sydney Grammar School – I only saw them once in their trial clash with SBHS. There were high hopes about this Grammar team with some very talented boys, but they ultimately suffer as they always do, from a lack of depth. 7 Graham was unlucky to have been picked as low as the GPS 3s and of all the boys, probably has the best prospects of a serious rugby career. 9 Jeong was a lively halfback, and 11 Attard was a real weapon, who, sadly, may suffer from a lack of size as his career progresses.