OLD COLLEAGUES NEWS AUGUST 2026
What a month or three weeks since our last newsletter. Some incredible performances by the Kentwell Cup who’s finals aspirations were up for grabs every game. And all the while the lower grades ,Colts and Blue Birds were growing in confidence and winning their ways into finals position.
In fact as I write I suspect the Clubs Halligan Cup 6th grade Blue Giants are feeling a little below par today after big celebrations after winning their comp yesterday. A Grand Final win against Kings Old Boys 2nds 22-3, 4 tries to none.Their third premiership in a row, a credit to the Taylor brothers last years Honour cap winners and sons of Old Colleague Peter Taylor (1980’s) who coach, organise the beers and sometime play. First silverware of the season, and a great start to the finals series.
The final 3 rounds were against Blue Mts at home, Hunters Hill at home and Mosman away, all must win propositions.
Due to over night rain round 12 the top two grades were moved to the synthetic Easts Beasts ground across the creek. The wider field and the harder surface seemed to be enjoyed by both teams and the game was played in a Grand Final spirit. Some great running rugby however the Blue Giants found them selves under the pump late in the game with plenty of points to make up and the season on the line for both teams. However the never say die attitude of he Blue Giants clicked into gear and the tiring big Blue Mts forwards were feeling the pinch. Three tries in 15 minutes final scoreline 32-31 to the good guys. The last try in the dying minute came through a shift on the blind side to the big number 4 the clubs favourite irishman (100 gamer) Evan Culhane who bumped off a few would be tacklers and powered 10 metres to score next the to the posts. UNBELIEVEBLE !!!
The Blue Mountains game has been the turning point for the Blue giant Kentwell Cup season. The following week the Kentwell played another competition heavy weight Hunters and played some confident and determined footy racking up a big score. Hunters were not done with however and in the latter part of the game scored several tries, making the scoreline 50-40 (Giants 6 tries all backline scorers).Taking the foot of the pedal is always dangerous against a quality oppo.
In the final game of the season the Blue Giants crossed the harbour to do battle with the Mosman Whales. Key interest In the Colts game being a contest for the Minor Premiership. It was not to be going down in the final minute 20-18. I am confidant that this loss will spur the Colties on and they will be a team to be reckoned with during the finals.
In the main game Mosman didn’t put up a contest which they are known for at home and even their ladies day wasn’t going to help! Blue Giants scoring a club record 69 points in their 69-24 drubbing of the whales who also lost the Burke 50-0. Talking Burke congrats to those (D. K. coached) Blue Giants who put it together at the tale end of the season winning their last three game and causing a lot of grief to teams higher up the comp ladder.
So the season ends, all bets are off, sudden death all the way, big defence, unbreakable set piece, safe hand, and play tough will do it.
Here is the draw for week one Drummoyne Oval except for the 5ths
(Following two weeks are at Concord)
Sutherland v Waves at Boronia Park
Judd v Waves
Blue Birds v Waves
Whiddon v Drummoyne
Colts v Mosman
Kentwell v Lindfield
Full details on the NSW Subbies web
See you at Drummoyne Oval
Go the Colleagues and a big thank you to Vance Lowry for his contributions this season. certainly lifted to standard of the newsletter!
‘Around the Grounds’: Vance Lowry (Author: Sky Blue Winters)
Many old Colleagues will have some sort of enduring memory of the ‘business end of the season’. For some it will be the ‘sweet taste of success,’ with a medal or inscribed tankard (Premiers)as a memento Others may have to contemplate ‘the one that got away.’ (I could have been a contender or Rocky syndrome.)
As the legendary Tom Petty cynically vocalised ‘I’m a loser at the top of my game’.
One certainty is that no one will remember who got second place! Colleagues have had an impressive record of success so far. Statistics do not lie. Since 1933 Colleagues has won 16 Kentwell Cup Premierships,20 Burke,12 Whiddon,6 Judd, 7 Sutherland, 5 Barbour and 10 Noice/Halligan Cups.
All of these have been contested on a wide and diverse variety of grounds. Some have been of high quality, while earlier in our history, dust bowls and cow paddocks. Poor field marking, lack of basic facilities (showers with freezing cold water or no showers at all, poor seating etc.) This year the semi-finals will be held at Drummoyne Oval (upper field) and Taplin Park (lower field). Drummoyne has been used previously as a grand final venue in the late 50s and early 60s. It was redeveloped in 2012-13 when six fifty-metre-high light towers were constructed. It is a multi-purpose sports field catering for Cricket, Australian Rules and Rugby Union. One essential principle adhered to by Subbies Admin has been that a ‘neutral ground’ (when possible) is allocated for these important games. This year both the preliminary final and grand final will be played at Concord Oval. This field has figured prominently in Colleagues recent history as a successful venue for the club.
In the 1960s it was referred to as ‘the dustbowl’. Thankfully it was redeveloped, first in 1995 ($85 million), and later in 2020 ($51 million). The current stadium is now a wonderful venue for the conclusion of the Suburban season. Older Colleagues may also recall playing grand finals at Chatswood Oval (Gordon rugby) in the early 70s. It too was a dustbowl, with a cement like cricket pitch in the middle. In the late 90s and mid -2000s, the Macquarie University fields in North Ryde were the venue for all elimination semis, prelim finals and grand finals. It a was a well- maintained oval with a ‘Colosseum like spectator pit.’ The Blue Giants strode out like Roman Gladiators, as the Colleagues ruling aristocracy looked down upon their opposing victims, and pontificated over the expected result.
In the early 2000s grand-finals were held at the grey hound dog racing track at Wentworth Park. The oval itself was encircled by the race track. This set the scene for one of the most bizarrely amusing afternoons I have ever experienced. The ground’s man had obviously been ordered to prepare the dog track for a race meeting in the evening following the rugby. As a diligent employee, he sat in the driver’s seat of his tractor, towing specialised tractor equipment which levelled, watered, and packed the sand surface. His ultimate objective was to achieve a safe and uniform surface for the dogs. He was oblivious to the rugby being played only metres away on the oval, and carried on undeterred. This process continued for the majority of the afternoon. In the end, most of spectators were mesmerised watching him go round and round this dog track. The rugby took second place. The crowd gave him three cheers when he completed his task! Many spectators were asking each other what the score was when he finished. It could only happen in subbies! What pity Wentworth Park is being demolished!
The UNSW David Phillips sports field in Daceyville has also served as an important venue. It has hosted semis, finals, and grand finals but, perhaps, was not as centrally located as it could have been. It is nevertheless a high-quality facility. Because of its location, the T.G. Millner was the perfect venue for both spectators and players. It has two well prepared pitches, bar and kiosk, grandstand and good spectator viewing. The only downside was a shortage of parking. The facility is ageing but is still a great venue. It was also the site of Colleagues ‘Grand Slam’ in 2011 giving it a sentimental aura. It is such a pity that its continued existence remains in limbo. The following development was announced originally in 2024 however the whole saga of uncertainty evolved in 2017. The battle between Ryde Council and the NSW State Government has highlighted tensions between housing growth and increasing pressure on sporting fields around Sydney. A $128.9 million plan would see the home of Eastwood being bulldozed to make way for a 106- home housing estate. Eastwood players and supporters see T.G. Millner as their spiritual home Well done to Eastwood rugby club in being a competitive force in the Shute Shield despite this background drama.
We hope you have enjoyed our combined columns.
Best of luck to the Blue Giants teams who make through to the big one in 2026
Vance.