2024 Division 2 Preview
With the competition now finalised, we are excited to preview the upcoming season, including the clubs, grounds and 2023 season summary for the clubs we are going up against next season.
Newport Breakers
Home Ground: Porters Reserve
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts + Womens
Club Championship Standing 2023: 4th
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - Grand Finalists
2nd Grade - 6th
3rd Grade - 5th
Colts - Premiers 🏆
Womens - Premiers 🏆
The Breakers are fired up about an exciting 2024 with a number of players returning as well as a new wave of colts that will be pushing positions in higher grades. The committee is working hard to get "The Portress" secured with huge home game entertainment and exciting rugby on display week in week out.
2. UNSW
Home Ground: David Phillips, Daceyville
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts + Womens
Club Championship Standing 2023: 2nd
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 2 (First Home Game) - 20th April
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - Preliminary Finalists
2nd Grade - Grand Finalists
3rd Grade - Semi Finalists
4th Grade - Grand Finalists
Colts - Preliminary Finalists
Womens - N/A
UNSW will be driven by tough results on Grand Final day in 2023 after going down in Second Grade, and Fourth Grade to a stacked Lindfield club. Club Legend Nic Sykes has expressed his desire to make the most out of an early trip to Porters reserve in 2024, with their 2022 dress up appearance written in the history books as one for the ages. Newport has developed a strong rivalry with Uni over the last few seasons with the tide pushing results both ways in what is always expected to be a close encounter. Going down in the GF in 2022 and losing on the bell in 2023 to Newports top grade, they will be out for revenge in 2024.
3. St Pats
Home Ground: Hudson Park, Strathfield
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts + Womens
Club Championship Standing 2023: 6th in Division 1
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 7 (Away)
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - 9th
2nd Grade - 5th
3rd Grade - 9th
4th Grade - 8th
Colts - Preliminary Finalists
Womens - N/A
St Pats returned to Division 2 reluctantly after being surprisingly dropped after a competitive year in Division 1. They will return ready to prove a point with the rest of the competition on notice. In 2022, The Breakers came up against the boys from Strathfield in a competitive away fixture in lower grades, with 1st Grade proving to be handful with some strong structure. Will be tough to beat!
4. Petersham
Home Ground: Camperdown Park, Camperdown
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts + Womens
Club Championship Standing 2023: 9th in Division 1
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 6 at Porters for Pacific Islander Day
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - 7th
2nd Grade - 8th
3rd Grade - 6th
4th Grade - 9th
Colts - 6th
Womens - N/A
The Shammies are a much welcomed return fixture with excitement around a Inner West pub crawl starting to brew. The Division 1 relegated club is going to also enter Div 2 with a point to prove, expecting some strong performances early in 2024. Petersham has a strong recruitment team with club officials plucking Charlie Gambling as the Super Subbie from his time as a delivery driver, gaining him the much sought after number 7 jersey for the Waratahs after a strong season in Subbies. Excited to see these guys back in the competition.
5. Hills
Home Ground: Yattenden Park, Baulkham Hills
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts
Club Championship Standing 2023: 3rd in Division 2
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 3 at Yattenden
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - 5th
2nd Grade - Preliminary Finalist
3rd Grade - Premiers 🏆
4th Grade -N/A
Colts - 5th
Womens - N/A
Hills continue to threaten the comp in 1s with some big packs and mid field combos leaving top graders in the ice bath on a Sunday. The Hillmen have been on the cusp of something special for a few years now, but struggle to put a string of wins together to put them on the top spot. They firey third grade again took out the premiership against a strong Lindfield at Concord last year. Interesting to see how they develop consistency to push the top clubs.
6. Briars
Home Ground: Rothwell Park, Concord
Expected Grades: 3 Grades + Colts + Womens
Club Championship Standing 2023: 6th
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 4 at Porters (LADIES DAY)
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - 6th
2nd Grade - 5th
3rd Grade - 6th
4th Grade -N/A
Colts - 7th
Womens - Not in Subbies Comp
Briars are showing growth as a club with a competitive 1st Grade pushing some of the bigger clubs last season. They struggle in lower grades and the ladder last season showed this. With numbers driven by a rumoured partnership with West Harbour, the Briars club could be a threat if they can get some strong home game performances together. They travel to Porters on Ladies Day and will be up for a kick on post match up at the best clubhouse in Subbies.
7. Beecroft
Home Ground: Headen Park, Thornleigh
Expected Grades: 3 Grades + Colts
Club Championship Standing 2023: 6th
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 1 AWAY
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - Grand Finalists
2nd Grade - Premiers 🏆
3rd Grade - N/A
4th Grade -N/A
Colts - Preliminary Finalists
The old foe returns. Much has been said about this everlasting rivalry with Beecroft, but the tip is for the spark to be reignited in some heated contests, especially in colts. What to expect from the Crofties in 2024? No idea. They consistently compete in all grades, but whether the club can get numbers together to push for finals spots, we will see. Colts expected to be tough and competitive but first grade set to be their biggest challenge in 2024. Will be a great atmosphere on both sidelines in this upcoming season.
8. Epping
Home Ground: Somerville Park, Epping
Expected Grades: 4 Grades + Colts
Club Championship Standing 2023: 6th
Expected First Meeting v Newport: Round 5 at Porters (Domestic Violence Round)
Results in 2023:
1st Grade - Semi Finalists
2nd Grade - 8th
3rd Grade - Preliminary Finalists
4th Grade -Preliminary Finalists
Colts - Semi Finalists
Epping can be great on their day and can't be forgotten. They have competed across the board outside of second grade in 2023 and will show up against rest of the competition. Will be interested to see if the club can travel and cause some upsets across the board. They love an occasional underdog win against their rivals and will be no different in 2024.
More to come
Col. E. Flower
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