Weekly news

Round 2 of the 2016 season sees the Blue Giants heading out to the inner west to take on the Dirty Reds. A formidable club over the years, Drummoyne will no doubt be looking to deliver much of the same for their first home match of the season.

For Colleagues, the top four grades will be looking to continue the solid start they made last week against Knox, with Sutherland and Barbour looking for their first win of the year.

One of the highlights of Saturday’s fixtures at Drummoyne Oval will be the 2015 Whiddon Cup Grand Final re-match between the two sides. TG Milner was the venue of an epic GF last year that saw the bad guys holding on to a 15 – 14 victory. Although tomorrow’s Colleagues side will look fairly different to the side that ran out last season, outside centre Morgan Jones (photo right) is one of the few returners joining the influx of new talent. Jones who put in a Man of the Match performance against Knox last week will be expecting a barrage of attacking players coming down his channel tomorrow.

Kick off Times at Drummoyne Oval

• Kentwell – 3.15pm
• Burke – 2pm
• Barbour – 12:45pm
• Widddon – 11:40am
• Judd – 10:45am
• Sutherland vs Mosman 6th – 9am

Rawson Oval
• Halligan v Mosman 5th – 10:00am
Jon Ryan will be on hand from 11am for any player that has not yet signed a 2016 rego form. All players must complete.

by Carl O’Sullivan

This weekend sees a grand final rematch with the magnificent men of Woollahra Colleagues taking on the old foe the Dirty Reds @ Drummoyne old at 1140.  The 2015 GF was a nail biter with Drummoyne securing a penalty goal in the final few minutes to win 15-14, however the fact remains Colleagues had not beaten the Brumbies…I mean Drummoyne all year with narrow losses at home (15-17) and away (17-10) and in the GF.

2016 sees a new look coaching team with the return of Mark Ratcliff from hiatus for the past couple of seasons and the promotion of Jason Monteath from the Dome to the Throne.  The influx of new players to the club has also seen some new faces in the Whiddon side including promising you talent Tom Lomax and Piri Cockbird joined alongside self-pronounced club legends Darren Thomas, Tony ‘fun time’ Kastelan, Nick Bibby, Stuart Hughes and the aggressive Nick ‘Flowers’ valentine.  This Saturday also witnesses the virgin captaincy Ed Bradley* who’s aggressive and verbal elasticity will surely add to the contest.

All in all this builds to be a momentous clash between two proud and determined clubs looking for early bragging rights in 2016.  Saturday could set the tone for the rest of the year and indeed, life in general.
*unconfirmed, but surely it hasn’t happened before

Man of Match Performances

• Charlie Henley (2) – Kentwell
• Jason Date (12) – Burke
• Morgan Jones (13) – Whiddon
• Tim Allworth (7) – Judd
• Eddy Washer (5) – Sutherland
• Olly Martin (13) – Barbour

Scores

• Kentwell 35 – 17 Knox
• Burke 17 – 8 Kox
• Barbour 0 – 7 Knox
• Widddon – 0 Knox
• Judd 45 – 0 Knox
• Sutherland 7 – 24 Convicts 1st
• Halligan 1st 17 – 0 Convicts 2nd
• Halligan 2nd 0 – 28 Waverly 5th

The 2016 Colleagues Social Calendar is looking bigger and better than ever. Get the wife, girlfriend, Tinder match to lock these dates in early and spread the word.

30th April – Colleagues Player POSH Tour to St Pats

30th April – WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) dinner at the Woollahra Hotel with Cocktail making course. From 4pm.

4th May – Colleagues Long Lunch

7th May – Ladies Day 1 vs Balmain

4th June – Old Colleagues Day v Drummoyne

16th July – Colleagues Black Tie Ball and fundraiser for the Australian Women’s Olympic 7s Team

30th July – Ladies Day 2 v Mosman

The Colleagues Black Tie Ball will be back again this season. Likely date will be mid July. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out last years photos here

Together with the Waratahs and New South Wales Rugby Union, we’ve developed a program to support grassroots rugby and local clubs.

This is an opportunity to earn $$ for your club and we strongly urge you to get this offer to your players and supporters, and your wider club community.

Your members get a discount on their energy bills, and your club earns money. Win-Win!

Summary:
›       Each person that joins the “AGL Waratahs energy plan” will earn their club:
»      $100 donation (electricity)
»      $50 donation (gas)
»      Up to $150 annually
»      Donation paid every year they remain on the plan.
»      Current AGL customers are eligible if they join the “AGL Waratahs energy plan”.
›      16% guaranteed discount off electricity bills.
›      12% guaranteed discount off gas bills.
›      Additional 2% discount if you have both gas and electricity with AGL.

The attachment is very thorough and explains the AGL Rugby Waratahs Program in detail and provides numbers and links for questions.

Sign up online at agl.com.au/rugby or call us on 1300 AGL TAHS (that’s 1300 245 824).

Other than this fully informative newsletter, the best way to stay in touch with Colleagues news and events is on Facebook.

The club has a Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/ColleaguesRugby

and a private player communication group called the Colleague Player Portal www.facebook.com/groups/1505635469691088/

The player portal is the best way to ask around for rides to training or matches, borrow kit, see who’s up for beers, etc.

2015 Kentwell Cup Grand Finalists Knox Old Boys travel to Woollahra Oval No.2 for round 1 this season.

The Blue Giants welcome a stack of new players to the club this year, all split across the grades. Running out in Kentwell for the first time will be second rower Callum Sauer, No.8 James Kennelly, centre James McMahon and wing Guy Stucky Clarke. Young scrumhalf Joe Sangster has also made the jump from last years premiership winning Barbour Cup side to the 1st grade team.

Other new players that have shown real promise this pre-season include Burke Cup flanker Tom Green, halfback Steve James, wing Mikey Mitchell, Whiddon No.8 Even Culhane and second row Will Yeo.

Kick-off times v Knox – Woollahra Oval No. 2

• Kentwell – 3.15pm
• Burke – 2pm
• Barbour – 12:45pm (Woollahra No.3)
• Widddon – 12:55pm
• Judd – 12:00pm
• Sutherland – 11am
• Halligan 1 – 10:00am v Convicts 2
• Halligan 2 – 9:00am v Waverly

All players need to fill in a 2016 rego form. Make sure you see Jon Ryan in the club house before taking the field. Subs and gear can also be sorted in the club house from 10am – 3pm.

The 2016 Colleagues Social Calendar is looking bigger and better than ever. Get the wife, girlfriend, Tinder match to lock these dates in early and spread the word.

30th April – Colleagues Player POSH Tour to St Pats

30th April – WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) lunch at the Woollahra Hotel 1pm.

4th May – Colleagues Long Lunch

7th May – Ladies Day 1 vs Balmain

4th June – Old Colleagues Day v Drummoyne

16th July – Colleagues Black Tie Ball with Australian Women’s Olympic 7s Team

30th July – Ladies Day 2 v Mosman

The Colleagues Black Tie Ball will be back again this season. Likely date will be mid July. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out last years photos here

The Blue Giants will be wearing some of the 100,000 pairs of rainbow laces have been handed out to professionals and amateurs for what is being called ‘the Rainbow Round of Sport’.

Former Colleague and Sydney Convicts President Andrew Purchas is the co-founder of the Pride in Sport Index, and said these kinds of statements must be made more often, because homophobia continues to plague sport in Australia and around the world.

Read more 

Together with the Waratahs and New South Wales Rugby Union, we’ve developed a program to support grassroots rugby and local clubs.

This is an opportunity to earn $$ for your club and we strongly urge you to get this offer to your players and supporters, and your wider club community.

Your members get a discount on their energy bills, and your club earns money. Win-Win!

Summary:
›       Each person that joins the “AGL Waratahs energy plan” will earn their club:
»      $100 donation (electricity)
»      $50 donation (gas)
»      Up to $150 annually
»      Donation paid every year they remain on the plan.
»      Current AGL customers are eligible if they join the “AGL Waratahs energy plan”.
›      16% guaranteed discount off electricity bills.
›      12% guaranteed discount off gas bills.
›      Additional 2% discount if you have both gas and electricity with AGL.

The attachment is very thorough and explains the AGL Rugby Waratahs Program in detail and provides numbers and links for questions.

Sign up online at agl.com.au/rugby or call us on 1300 AGL TAHS (that’s 1300 245 824).

Other than this fully informative newsletter, the best way to stay in touch with Colleagues news and events is on Facebook.

The club has a Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/ColleaguesRugby

and a private player communication group called the Colleague Player Portal www.facebook.com/groups/1505635469691088/

The player portal is the best way to ask around for rides to training or matches, borrow kit, see who’s up for beers, etc.

The Blue Giants had a clinical day out against Old Iggies at home last Saturday, notching up big wins in all senior grades.

Saturday’s wins move the Kentwell Cup boys into 3rd place behind Balmain and Drummoyne, the Barbour Cup team in second place and all other grades in commanding positions on top of the respective ladders.

Results vs Old Ignatians

• Kentwell – Colleagues 43 – 19 Old Ignatians
• Burke – Colleagues 118 – 0 Old Ignatians
• Widdon – Colleagues 53 – 0 Old Ignatians
• Judd – Colleagues 49 – 5 Old Ignatians
• Sutherland – Colleagues 24 – 3 Old Ignatians
• Barbour – Colleagues 26 – 33 Old Ignatians

Drummoyne Oval

4th Grade – 10.45am
3rd Grade – 11.40am
Colts – 12:45pm
2nd Grade – 2.00pm
1st Grade – 3.15pm

PARKING:

Park on Bayswater St, or in the Oval car park off Bayswater St and also on Cometrowe St. Access both off Victoria Rd then Lyons Rd, Drummoyne. Please avoid parking inside the gates to the ground off Cometrowe St, or in the boat ramp car park at the bottom of Bayswater Rd as it’s regularly patrolled by Council.

With a very close blue rinse against Iggies over the weekend, it was good to see the Kentwell boys continue their strong run into the finals. I would also like to thank the Kelly twins for their contribution/ organising of the ball which went off like a cut snake.

It was a great night and I’m sure everyone was hung dog millionaire on Sunday. We have the dirty reds this wknd so it will be a great test for all teams to step up and get those extra points towards the club championship which is certainly attainable!!

Best of luck lads and remember don’t crush to many golden throat Chalmers as we need to get maximum points this wknd against a bunch of dumb dogs(dramoine).

Thanks for everyone for attending the annual Colleagues Black Tie Ball. It was a fantastic night down on the harbour. Big thanks to the John and Mike Kelly, and Charlie Valentine (Flowers wife) for leading the organisation of the ball. You guys did an incredible job!

All the ball photos are free to be downloaded here //drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_xrDvmRAQKgQXJoU0NENTZ4cW8&usp=sharing

With your ball hangover only to have just subsided, Ladies Day #2 is perfectly position next Saturday to get you and your lady back on the horse. The weather is turning, the days are getting longer and the smell of spring and finals footy is in the air.

Let’s make it bigger and better than ever. Spread the word now. $30 on the day ($25 for pre-bookings) ladies can enjoy champagne & wine until the end of first grade with lunch and endless entertainment provided.

For the $25 pre booking special for ladies please visit//www.trybooking.com/149665

Sammy Orders from the infamous dome that is Judd Cup has been quietly running Kembe Clothing with a few mates since the start of the year and they’ve decided it’s time to give back to the club that keeps on giving. For all Colleagues old and new, they are offering 20% off their fashionable sock range both individual pairs and gift boxes.

Head to //www.kembeclothing.com and use promo code: bluerinse at the checkout.

They are the perfect way to show some subtle flair either at work or the Woollahra and better yet, they will be the perfect gift for Father’s day which is just around the corner (Sept 6).

Colleagues picked up its second blue rinse in 3 weeks with a comprehensive weekend of results over Knox Old Boys at Woollahra Oval last Saturday.

The wins across the grades keep Colleagues in commanding positions on their respective ladders, with Kentwell Cup now moving back into the top 4 with their come from behind 34-21 victory against a large and powerful KOB side.

During the week the Blue Giants colts also had a great win over Mosman in a wet weather make-up game under the lights of Rawson Oval.

Results vs Knox Old Boys
• Kentwell – Colleagues 34 – 21 Knox Old Boys
• Burke – Colleagues 97 – 0 Knox Old Boys
• Widdon – Colleagues 31– 14 Knox Old Boys
• Judd – Colleagues 70– 7 Knox Old Boys
• Sutherland – Colleagues 28– 0 Knox Old Boys
• Barbour – Colleagues 25 – 22 Knox Old Boys

• Kentwell – 3.15pm
• Burke – 2pm
• Barbour – 12:45pm (Woollahra No.3)
• Widddon – 12:55pm
• Judd – 12:00pm
• Sutherland – 11am
• Halligan – 11:50am (Woollahra No.3)

Its got to the pointy end of the season and we are taking a hard stance on player fees this year. If you havent paid by the 1st of August you will not be eligable for selection. If you have issues with payments you can see Ding, Prez or DB and we can arrange installments etc.

John ryan has done a remarkable job this season to chase you all up and should be commended for it continual hard work. He will be at the game tomorrow for most of the morning and afternoon so it shouldn’t be an issue to pay.

What a tremendous display of running rugby witnessed last weekend as another Blue Rinse was achieved against Knox. At one stage there I thought I was watching a test match in burkey’s given the significant score line. This weekend is a catch-up game against Old Iggies and I’m sure we can once again get the job done across the grades. With the black tie ball also on sat night which will be a great turnout of tremendous competitors remember don’t crush too many rico gears (Beers) tonight and save up for sat night so we can roll old iggies in tally’ho paper and smoke em tomorrow. Hoo roo, Dingers

The ball is here! With over 100 magnificent Colleague men and women locked in, we’re in for a cracker of a night and a great venue.

For those who can swing it, pre drinks at the club house after the Old Iggies game then on to a water taxi from Rose Bay to Pyrmont. You must pre organise your water taxi.

Daltone House, Darling Island Wharf
Saturday 1st August, 7:30pm

With your ball hangover only just subsiding in time, Ladies Day #2 is perfectly position on Saturday week to get you and your lady back on the horse. The weather is turning, the days are getting longer and the smell of spring and finals footy is in the air.

Let’s make it bigger and better than ever. Spread the word now. $30 on the day ($25 for pre-bookings) ladies can enjoy champagne & wine until the end of first grade with lunch and endless entertainment provided.

For the $25 pre booking special for ladies please visit//www.trybooking.com/149665