Colleagues Rugby » Grand Finals

Kentwell and Barbour play for the title

With the cancellation of the 2021 season, it feels like a long time between drinks for Colleagues Rugby and Grand Final day at TG Milner. After 14 rounds, two washed out trials, two wet weather weekends, and multiple trainings in the pouring rain, the sun is out for the big dance.

Bring Back Barbourella

Colleagues look to bring Barbourella back to BGS for the 6th time, after victories in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2019. Skipper Charlie Woodhouse, in his 3rd season in sky blue, leads a number of bolts who have been working toward this for years. A minor premiership season and a heart stopping semi final win (with 14 men) sees the lads 70 minutes away from glory.

The two matches between Colleagues and Waverley were split 1-1 with the road team getting the biscuits each time. Both teams come in with improved sides and red hot form, with neither team having lost since that last encounter in June. It’s shaping up as a classic Barbour Cup decider.

Kentwell Cup

In what’s been building since a semi final loss to Drummoyne in August 2020, the Woollahra Colleagues Rugby Club has not seen a hungrier, more determined group of senior players, hell bent on taking out the Kentwell Cup premiership.

Unlike their colts counterparts who will be going for their sixth premiership title in 10 years, these Kentwell Cup players will be out to claim the club’s first title in 11 years or second in 25 years. That’s a long time between drinks.

After season ending injuries to regular starting backs Luke Brown (12) and Connor Size (15), the squad has pulled together a dominant season taking out the Minor Premiership (first since 1984) with a commanding points differential over next best Waverley.

Whilst there are many great players and characters in the Kentwell squad, it is hard not to mention Dan Kelly as he looks to finish his playing career with a much deserved win. The boys don’t need much to get them up for this game, but the chance to send DK out with a Kentwell premiership will be a real motivator.

Colleagues Rugby Pathway Alive and Well

The Colleagues rugby pathway is alive and well, and the proof is in Kentwell Grand Final pudding with 14 players in tomorrow match day squad hailing from the Blue Giants colts program. In fact, eight of the starting Kentwell Cup side have won three separate Barbour Cup premierships between them, and they couldn’t be further apart.

The most recent was in 2019 (pictured) with Jock McGregor, Charlie Crawford, Jack Lamph, Ralph Mitchell, Scott Miller and Stu McLean beating Mosman for the colts title. Four years prior to that, in 2015, now halfback Joe Sangster played on the wing to beat the Whales again. You then have to go back to a time before Facebook and Instagram, when Dan Kelly kicked his Barbour Cup side to the 2003 premiership over Old Iggies. In fact, when Dan Kelly was drinking Crown Lagers out of the Barbour Cup trophy in 2003, tomorrow’s Barbour Cup Grand Final fullback Sam Bragg was just a 12 week old foetus!

Such is the strength of the Colleagues colts, four of them will be sitting on the bench for the Kentwell Cup team tomorrow. Loosehead prop Will Smith, flanker Oscar Cheal, utility half Matt Wilkinson and pacy winger Campbell Duff will be backing after, hopefully, after only a few premiership tinnies following their colts Grand Final just before midday.

Thank you linesman. Thank you ball balls. Thank you Dan Kelly

Announced as his last game for Colleagues in a decorated club and subbies representative rugby career across 20 years, Dan Kelly will play in his last game tomorrow, a Grand Final – no less, 19 years after his first.

After finishing high school on the NSW north coast in the mid 1960s 😉, it took DK a few years to get down to the glitz and glamour of Sydney’s eastern suburbs for a trot with the Colleagues Colts in 2002. The following year, Dan’s leadership as captain, direction around the park and superior kicking game took the Blue Giants young guns to victory in the 2003 Grand Final against then powerhouses Old Ignatians.

In his over 200 games for Colleagues Dan has appeared in three Kentwell Cup Grand Finals; going down to Drummoyne in 2004, capping off the incredible “5 from 5” Colleagues Premierships in 2011 and then falling agonizingly short in 2016 against Mosman in the last play of the game. In 2014, DK won the Kentwell Medal, awarded by the referees as the best player in the first grade competition. From 2011 – 2017 Dan played 14 games for the NSW Suburban Rugby Rep side, captaining the side for five years.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the flyhalf, however. DK has overcome multiple setbacks including a fractured cheekbone, multiple hamstring tears and in 2019 what appeared to be a career ending ruptured Achilles tendon. Testament to the man, his determination and resilience, the then 37 year old bounced back from this crippling injury to finish the 2020 season in Burke Cup. He then returned to the Kentwell team in 2021 and continued this form into 2022, where he will again run out tomorrow and represent Colleagues as the Kentwell #10 in what will be his 4th Grand final for the club across a decorated career spanning two decades. Congratulations on an outstanding career DK, go well, and thanks for the memories.

Grand Final Kick Off Times

TG Milner Sportsground Vimiera Rd, Marsfield