2024 Club Update – Semi Final

Dobroho Ranku Cobbers,

For one last time this season I grab a coffee and sit before a blank page to gather my thoughts, to wit but to ponder, reflect and perchance offer a few words regarding the clubs offering on Saturday 24 August 2024, wherein the DDR opened its arms and hosted the Sydney Suburban Rugby Division 1 Semi-Finals for week 1 at the citadel of Red Rugby, Drummoyne Oval on the shores of Canada Bay.

Besides the two mobs of on-field contestants who flew the DDR colours with pride, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the mountain of work put in by all sorts of others across the day (and across the season to be fair) to make it the success it was. I’ll refrain from naming too many, as by doing so I’ll neglect a few and so fail to recognise all. But some that wandered across my gaze and certainly typified the work of the day were Zwartys ground set-up work, Haywood’s scoreboard manipulations, ‘Donkey’ Wilso carting cartons of ale back & forth, the usual Rat-Alley gang (Swanno, Wicked, Sandy, Gary et al) complimented by the D-Day Gang who invaded the unfamiliar AFL Bar and the X-Roads BBQ to sate the savage hordes all day, the newly formed Rawlings Transport & Logistics Pty Ltd who uber’d the afternoon away, plus the veritable army of other folk who manned bars, fetched ice and serviced the never-ending conveyor of beers & snags. And of-course, those dimly sensed in the twilight and otherwise unseen spaces who helped pack everything up again. All deserve a nod for doing what had to be done.

But to the matter at hand, on such a day when the four finest teams of each grade of Division 1 gathered for the fray, we had but two horses in the traces that carried our hopes in such an auspicious year: the Red Thirsties & the Red Barbourians. And amongst the otherwise overwhelming visuals of the blue & gold of Waverley and the raucous tones of our mountains cousins the Blue Goats, our two bands of red marauders did close their visors, level their lances and spur their steeds at our seemingly-annual semi-finals nemesis – the Colleagues of Woollahra.

Whiddon Cup (3rds) – Lost 21-19
And so it was that for the 2nd year in a row our red & black Whiddon Warriors did clash with the Jolly Blue Giants of Colleagues come semi-final time. Last year it had been in the Elimination Final wherein the red men had fallen a point short against the best of Rose Bay, whereas this year it was the Minor semi-final contested on Taplin Oval that was the chosen expanse for the joust. And it must be noted that Colleagues came into this contest the favourite, being 3rd placed on ladder curtesy of a season tally that read 9 wins from 14 starts for 43pts, compared to the Red Thirsties 4th placed finish with 7 wins and 1 draw from 14 starts for 37pts. But that said, on closer examination, the sides were more closely matched than obvious at first glance, given the April Rd1 meeting saw a Red victory by 24-20 and the July meeting falling to Blue by 19-12. Thus, with such encounters setting the scene, all knew this meeting would be charged with all sorts of emotion & ferocity. And it did not disappoint. But ultimately, the result did not go the right (red) way.

As to the match itself, with a stiffening breeze from the east, Colleagues registered first score to their no12, sauced by their no10, before Cal Boland levelled the sheet with a pie & sauce of his own. However not long after, another pie & sauce to Blue was only countered by a pie sans sauce to James O’Ryan. And so it was this 2pt conversion gap that proved the difference on the day, as a later pie and sauce to the Blue was matched by a pie to Ryan McDermott so-sauced by Cal Boland again. Thus on such fine margins did hearts and hopes rise and fall.

Comments from Supercoach Scully in the aftermath were initially reflective rather than overly emotive, with his opening comment being “We’ve no excuses, Jimmy. The effort areas from every single player were above expectations.” But when pushed for something more substantive, Supercoach did concede the Blue tries were ‘soft’ on reflection, and more allowed by Red rather than being the result of any inescapable pressure or creative play from Blue. And that ‘softness’ on our part was not helped by what were referred to as ‘the ever-reliable Refereeing discrepancies’ that stifled Red momentum at critical moments (this is how we explain the inexplicable yet again, with this year being when Officialdom allowed 16 blue players on-field to go unremarked – but I guess that’s better than last years GBH effort). That said, Supercoach felt many of the Red Thirsties played their best game of the year, ably urged on by a very strong and vocal sideline supporter base, ever-eager to assist the officiators & opponents alike with insightful and completely unbiased commentary. In closing, Supercoach was keen to thank all club officials, volunteers and supporters who always contribute so much. And he was equally keen to stress the importance now to maintain the nucleus of the side together and to push on for a “Revive in 25” Whiddon Cup challenge next year.

Barbour Cup (Colts) – Lost 34-19
With the breeze hardening into a proper wind by the time of the Colts Minor Semi-Final kick-off on Taplin, again the stage was set for a Drummoyne versus Colleagues set-to. And the Colties situation was remarkably similar to the Thirsties, with Colleagues being the slight favourites curtesy of finishing 3rd on the table with 7wins from 14 starts for 32pts compared to the Reds being 4th on table with 6 wins from 14 starts, to finish also on 32pts (placing decided by win/loss ratio). And to add to that, with results throughout the season again being one game a-piece, this match was shaping to be a cracker, likely one of the match-ups of the day, and so of-course there was more than just a few supporters ringside for the spectacle as the teams charged forth from their respective dressing rooms. However, for the Red BaaBaa’s, that was about where the good news ended.

In terms of the flow of the match, three pies, two sauces and a penalty sauce all to the Blue were only made worse by a cheese served to Red, before the Red Barbourians registered their first score of the day, that being a pie to Owen Lenord duly sauced by Nick Long. That said, following a return cheese to Blue, the Red BaaBaa’s pulled back another pie to Charlie Kelso, again sauced by Nick Long. However, two more pies and a sauce to Blue saw them skip away and put the issue beyond reach, despite a late un-sauced pie to Red no9 Harry DG.

Comments from Supercoach Rowdy afterwards focussed on the disappointing start to the match in allowing the opposition to “get out to a 22 point lead before we kicked into gear and responded with a few points of our own”. That said, Supercoach was reflective about how our lads had let few attacking opportunities “go begging”, but then was affable in recognising that “the boys stuck to it until the final whistle”. In the hours afterwards, both Supercoach Rowdy and Anvil were generous in offering the Colties Crew a big congratulations on a solid year, commenting that “the boys show great heart whenever they take the field and fight to the end regardless of the score.” And indeed, the coaching staff is looking forward to building on a solid element of this season’s BaaBaa’s forming the foundation of what will be the Class of 2025.

Summation
And so it goes. Thus did another season for the Red, Black & Yellow end, this year with losses to our two sides contesting the first week of post-season. Before continuing, congratulations should be offered to our opponents on the day, as again Colleagues served as a demonstration of how to win when it counts. And indeed, congratulations are owed to all winners on the day, just as commiserations are extended to those who were left to cry into their cups.

For me, sitting in my garage on Sunday afternoon and enjoying a whiskey (or six… or more) after allowing the raucous clatter of the whipper-snipper and lawn-mower to drown out my opinions of coaches, selectors and all those who may have (imagined or otherwise) done me dastardly or foul this year (go on – be honest, we all have a vent occasionally), my thoughts did turn to an assessment of the season overall. Thus, while lost in contemplation to such seductive and velvet tones as Jimmy Barnes “Aint no second prize”, I confronted myself and asked if I felt disappointed or proud in our 150th year? Was I angry or calm? Unfulfilled or sated?

And I must confess that large parts of me were (are) unsettled. It would likely surprise few that know me to hear that I have some ‘issues’ from this season to work through. And so giving-in to the temptation of reminiscence and a bit more whiskey, I pulled out my two 50 litre plastic tubs of jerseys, the accumulated flotsam of a lifetime of rugby in all manner of places, and let my memories wander as my fingers voyaged through the fabrics and visions of seasons past. This was my 25th season associated with this club. And in framing that 25yrs, my formative years in red could be summed up in one word – dominant. Thus, when reflecting on this year, I recognise that I had hoped, nay prayed, for a return to those glory days of the early 2000’s when we seemingly swept all before us in a veritable red tsunami of success and premierships across the club.

But that was then. This is now. And things are different now. These days we play a significantly different game, in a massively changed social & sporting landscape, with a very different type of player compared to back then. I’m not saying it’s better or worse. But I’m recognising it’s different. So, to compare now to then is unfair. And to that end, in such a season as this, with so much being different and with so much else going on, to finish with Firsts coming 5th, Ressies 5th, Colties 4th, Thirsties 4th, Juddo’s 5th and a part-time Brekky Club finishing in 6th, and so with the Club likewise finishing 5th in the 1st Division Club Championships overall, our accomplishments are by no measure mean or poor, particularly when viewed against the near relegation of very recent seasons. Could we have done better? Maybe. But did we deserve to? I don’t know. The answer to that question lies scattered in the hearts, minds and motivations of the 200-odd individuals who pulled on our jersey this year. But such are the questions I ask myself after every season when, in cups, I reflect on what may have been.

But what I do know is this: regardless of whether I, or indeed any one of us, return again next year, this year we flew our flag and wore our jerseys with pride. We took on the mantle, the opportunity, but also the weight of obligations inherent to a legacy such as ours, and we bore them well. We played hard, we ran straight, we tackled brave, and in doing-so I think we not only added stitches to the fabric of this club worthy of those who went before us, but more-importantly, worthy of those who will come after us – long after our individual names and deeds are forgotten.

So, am I happy with how the season went? No. Why? Because we did not win premierships. And I would have loved to have done that, especially this year. But perhaps I asked the wrong question. Rather, am I proud of how the season went? To that I answer ‘Yes’. Why? Because we honoured our legacy, our stitches were worthy, and so the fabric of our jersey is richer for our efforts. And that’s what counts.

Boire le vin.

Nutta.

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