OLD COLLEAGUES NEWS JUNE 2025

OLD COLLEAGUES NEWS JUNE 2025

Season so far…….

Round 5 – Club travelled to the inner west to play Drummoyne and what has to be a record of some kind for the club and for subbies for that matter fielded 9 teams plus the Colleagues Convicts. The “light blue hue” was on show from from East lakes to Waitara to Merrylands. A great day’s results for the club with wins in all grades on Drummoyne Oval excepting a draw by the Burke. ( still qualifies as a blue rinse i’m told) Turned the dirty Reds pink I say ! Spiralling them into relegation territory! In the main game the Kentwell just got home with a win ugly tag, knock ons being the entree’ and turnover ball the main course on the menu for the Reds pretend ladies day. Highlights on a chilly day sitting on a cement seat in a grandstand better suited to watching cricket were the DJ pumping out ABBA at half time and sitting with some proud Old Colleague fathers watching their sons going round.

Round 6 Vs Mosman. It was Country round Vs the north shore Whales. Every player nominating their rugby origin revealing an amazing stat. 75% of today’s Blue Giants have bush blood heritage. (Its no wonder the bar needs constant restocking) The big crowd in boots and hats watched an incredible comeback performance by the Kentwell Cup against the competition front runners. Coming from nowhere in a tough contest the Blue Giant scrum took charge resulting in several penalties (one penalty try) to win in the dying minutes 25-24. The big vocal crowd creating a fantastic atmosphere for a memorable win.

Round 7 Vs Newport. I wasn’t tempted by the almost widened (now 7 years construction) Mona Vale Rd to drive to Porter Reserve, instead chose the Tim Booth stand and enjoyed watching at home on laptop through nswrugbytv.com.au. Newport are newly promoted to the Kentwell Cup this season replacing the relegated Forest Rugby. Old Colleagues will remember Newport’s last visit to first division was during the late 80’s and 90’s.(They were Kentwell winners in 1999) In 2023 they opened a nice new club house which is a bigger brother to the 1970’s model refurbed in the 90’s. Round 7 at Porter Reserve was a great day out for the Colleagues winning (rinsing) Newport in all grades. In the Kentwell Cup as can be the case against Newport the Blue Giants were confronted by an un-structured style of Newport play. The game saw both teams swapping tries before finally class showed through with a good away win to those magnificent men.

Round 8 Vs Hunters Hill. Well it was a day that started with some Blue Giant champers rugby from the lower grades and colts and then finished with a hangover with Burkies (hug a Burkie) and the Kentwell suffering disappointing losses. The top two grades have been under pressure recently due to some key player injuries and unavailability(Don’t tell me its the ski season ?) I’m confident the Blue Giants Burke and Kentwell will reset and refocus on the games ahead and be part of the action at the business end of the season. With a weekend off due to the Lion Vs Waratahs game next game is another tough one our local derby away against Waverley

See you on the Balcony

“Go the Colleagues”

Boothie