With the Suburban Rugby season coming to finals time, there are a few crackers this week.
Div 2 – Barker have taken the Club Championship and will field 4 teams in the finals. Hunters Hill were in with a run at the Club championship being 24 points ahead going into the final week, but failed to gain the points in their clash with Briars in first grade to get the promotion to Division 1 next year.
So lets look at the semi’s for this week
1st Grade – Barraclough Cup
Major semi – BoB’s took out the Minor Premiership and play Briars in the 1st week for a chance to go straight to the GF. Each have won a game away against each other and at neutral territory it could go either way with both having points differentials. BoB’s defence is quite good, but do seem to concede a few tries when they give away silly penalties.
If they can keep this out of their game I think they can win in a tight one.
Minor Semi – King’s Old Boy’s take on Hunters Hill.
Again these teams are quite evenly matched and both games to date have been won by a point, with KoB’s running out winners both times. Both teams have similar records this year and have only really dropped a game here or there against sides outside the top 4. KoB’s have only dropped 1 game in the back end of the season.
Hard to call but think KoB’s by a point
2nd Grade – Stockdale
Major Semi – Hunters Hill took the MP with one less win than their opponents this week St Ives. Whilst St Ives have ground out their wins this season Hunters Hill have been more flamboyant and scored a considerable amount of points and gaining 13 out of a possible 18, 4 try plus bonus points.
However, Bonus points don’t count for anything in the post season and I think the grinding St Ives will get the points in a tight one as they did on both occasions during the season, dropping their last game in round 4.
Minor Semi – UNSW and BoB’s seem to be playing just to make up the numbers here, with the strength really being in the major semi. Whilst UNSW finished below BoB’s on the table their recent form would suggest that they will get the points in this game. Turning a 33 point loss to BoB’s in round 5 into an 18 point win in round 14.
Prediction is UNSW at their home ground.
3rd Grade – Blunt
This was the tightest competition in the division with the final positions coming down to wins in the last round. BoB’s only needed a point to take the Minor Premiership against Oatley. Oatley could have been playing for the Minor Premiership in this game, but by losing a round of points due to disciplinary issues, needed to win with a Bonus point just to make the finals.
Major Semi – Hornsby have had a better attacking record this year and BoB’s the better defensive, so it will be a matter of who does the small things right. But given BoB’s final round loss to Oatley it may be that they are a little flat. Prediction Hornsby by whisker
Minor Semi –KoB’s have been a bit of a bogey side to Oatley in previous years and this year has been no different, winning both games, home and away. Oatley have had an up and down this season in 3rd grade and after losing a round of points, they had struggled to put points on the board (until BoB’s last round). It should be a ripper with both teams keen to go through. Oatley by a try.
4th Grade – Richardson
Waverly have the best team in the comp averaging 35 points for and 3.5 points against. Realistically I do not see any team catching their class.
The team seems to work as a separate entity to the rest of the club. Some would say this is not in the spirit of the game to “stack” a 4th grade side, but I can say from playing them they are there for the right reasons. Ie. To play together as a group of mates. They just happen to be able to play possibly at a solid 1st or 2nd Grade level. But they do make mistakes.
Major Semi – Both teams, Waverly and Newport, have there only grade sides (Excluding Colts) in the finals. Waverly coming last in the CC are looking at relegation to Div 3, so would dearly love to keep their undefeated season alive. Both have good backlines and their respective 1st fives run the game.
However, it will be won here with the Waverly forwards setting the platform, getting clean ball. Whilst Newport are probably the only team I feel can knock of Waverly in the finals, I don’t think this weekend will be it. Maybe in 2 weeks time.
Minor Semi – KoB vs UNSW will be a solid match, but realistically they are playing for 3rd and 4th post season. UNSW have won both of the encounters this year. Realistically UNSW have the better form coming into the semi’s knocking off their opponents and Newport in the last few weeks of the competition. Neither team will stop Waverly, though.
Colts – Robertson Cup
The Colts competition had 2 distinct groups. The top 4 and the rest. Any of the teams could possibly win.
Major Semi – BoB’s deserve their favouritism only dropping 3 games all season, one of which to their opponents Newport. Newport seem to have a solid package, but BoB’s seem to be complete. It will be close either way, but feel that BoB’s have the goods for this game.
Minor Semi – Hornsby Vs Hunters Hill will again be a good game. Both won at home in their games and realistically they are quite evenly match. Hunters Hill have the better defensive record and this should get them over the line in a tight match.
So there’s what’s happening in Suburban Div 2 rugby this weekend.
We’ll see if my predictions come true.
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