Back to South’s Day

Join the celebrations of Back to South’s Day!

11th September 2010

Forshaw Rugby Park, Sylvania Waters

Come mingle with current players and members and watch the last home game for the season against Eastwood. All former players, officials, sponsors, volunteers and supporters are welcome to join the celebrations of Back to South’s Day!

A spectacular day for the entire family.

For more Information Contact:
Southern Districts Rugby Club
02 9522 5533

Message from the President 1st of September

Well, I have been back in the saddle so to speak for three weeks and they have been yet again very entertaining.

Our effort against Parramatta at Granville was definitely nothing to write home about, but the points are, as they say, on the scoreboard and we will take them. Parra are a gutsy tenacious outfit and will continue to cause problems for teams that aren’t on their games when they travel out west. The goal kicking of Kurt Morath was definitely encouraging and his confidence in general play was impressive. Not hard to see why the Tongan Representative selectors think a lot of him.

In the following match against Easts at home, we did all of the early work extremely well and appeared to have the game comfortably in our control. I am told we need a referee to make sure the laws of the game are adhered to, but when they don’t do that and have an adverse affect on the result of a game, I wonder if it would be a better contest without them. The 3 dubious tries, wrongly as it turned out in the end, awarded to the Beasties were simply too much for our guys to climb over and once we went off the boil, Easts were never going to take their foot off our throat. As the saying goes it is only a loss if you don’t learn something from finishing up behind on the scoreboard. I believe our guys certainly learnt from that encounter and Easts should hold any fears for us in the finals series if and when we meet them again.

Warringah had everything to play for, such as the last spot in the semis and a home ground which they love playing at. Why our blokes choose to play rugby in their own half is definitely intriguing, but then on top of that, when the opposition finds it hard to penetrate, our enthusiastic and strong defence, the game became a fairly boring. None can say that Radike Samo plays a mundane game. His behind the back pass for the after the bell try to gain a draw for the Rebels was worth the price of entry to the game alone (If a Rebels fan that is). The last gasp try could be considered an injustice, given the territory and possession the Rats had, but our defence had to be seen to be believed. To have that part of their game under control, at the pointy end of the season, is encouraging as it will be seriously tested by the high scoring Manly, Easts, Eastwood and Sydney Uni outfits, in the major series games.

There were many anxious Rebels supporters in the crowd when down 26-13 last Saturday at Fort Forshaw, but the boys stayed composed and stuck with their game plan of holding North’s for the first 60 minutes, then turning it on in the final 20 minutes, when the opposition was expected to tire, which in fact they did. Several of the forwards are returning to the same form they displayed early on in the year with Sita and Tetra resuming from injuries and ITA now having assistance in the taking up the ball department.

Wasn’t it great to see two more youngsters (both of whom are still eligible to turn out with our colts) making their debuts with the Rebels. Dewet at half back was impressive with some incisive darts around the ruck area when things got a bit loose and Rohan at full back that was exciting with the ball and rock like in defence. What a future they both have and won’t they be keen to be back in the top grade when the opportunity next arises (maybe next week against West’s even). Thanks guys for repaying the club for investing in the future.

I really do like watching our seconds play Rugby but sometimes they can be a bit too rash. The finals are just around the corner and no team should be content with giving their opponents 14 points even if well ahead on the scoreboard. There is no reason for giving the opposition a break. Grand Final Winners are in the main ruthless, something this team needs to learn and quickly.

Fourths are in the semis and have the players to win that competition. All that is needed now is a concerted effort and some reasoned application for the few weeks and a handful of games left in the season. I am sure with Steve Peters’ urging and leadership of the former senior players in the group a premiership is a definite possibility.
Three teams in the semis....who’d have thought it a couple of seasons ago. Well done everyone!

It wouldn’t be a message from the President without a comment about the irrational management of Rugby. So here goes. How could the NSWRU allocate final series games to four of the six teams expected to play in those games yet not allocate one of the games to Forshaw Field. Manly did not apply for a game due to their grounds commitment to Cricket. But the 4 finals games leading up to the SFS Grand Final are to be held at Coogee, Woollahra, Sydney University No. 1 and T.G. Milner. SDRC were allocated two colts games this year as a consolation prize. Coogee was allocated a game even after Randwick refused to hold a colt’s semi final there last year, which we held at Forshaw at short notice.
I sometimes wonder at just what a great game we would have if ever it was managed by sensible logical people with a genuine interest in the game rather than a vested interest in certain clubs.

On a much more pleasant note the Southern Districts Juniors had 7 teams make it through to Grand Finals Congratulations to Oatley under 13s, Burraneer under 16(B) and Oatley under 16(A) who were winners of their respective competitions while Burraneer (under 10 Gold), Sylvania under 11(B) and Burraneer under 11(plate) had draws and were determined joint premiers. Sylvania under 14(C) were gallant in defeat.

Well done to all the players, coaches, managers, parents and supporters, you have done yourselves and the District extremely proud. What a future we have in front of us provided we retain and nurture these youngsters properly.

Just a final note of thanks for your best wishes in relation to the passing of my Mum, Lillian. To all of you who remembered her from those days down at the Carss Park and the Forshaw canteens, she would have treasured your comments. There would be few still around who knew she was a close schoolgirl friend of St George Hon. Life Member Toddie Hately. Thanks again, she will be missed. She just loved being part of the larger rugby family.

Would you all please note down Friday the 17th September in your diaries, which is when we will be holding a semi finals luncheon down at the Sylvania Waters Clubhouse, generously sponsored by the Tulla Group, McLeish Wines and OCEAN MONARCH SEAFOOD’S. It will give us an opportunity to raise funds to be able to purchase the trophies that we anticipate we will need for our prize giving night after we win the three Grand Finals.

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