Waverley, Barker and Knox are all undefeated with three matches remaining in the CAS first XV season and face the first of three quasi-finals matches this weekend when the competition resumes after the July break. 

Waverley defeated Aloys and Cranbrook before the school holidays but didn’t have things all their own way in those matches. 

Last year’s premiers know they’ll need to improve when they host Barker this weekend. 

“We were definitely challenged in both games earlier this year, that’s for sure,” Waverley coach Lachlan Drew-Morris told Rugby News. 

“They were both weather impacted games and we were on the back foot quite a bit so it was good to come away with two wins. 

“St Aloysius’ and Cranbrook were both really up for it and we identified a number of areas where we needed to improve after those matches.”

Waverley claimed the outright CAS premiership last year on the back of their defence and Drew-Morris said his side will stick to what they know best at the pointy end of this season.

“We talk about defence a lot at Waverley and that won’t change,” the coach said. 

“We focus on our detail in defence because if we do that, we’re reasonably confident that our attack will come quite naturally off the back of that. 

“We’re hoping to get a few dry games over the coming weeks, but regardless of the weather, field position will also be really important and we want to manage the game well from that perspective.”

Barker scored 112 points in their opening two matches against Trinity and Aloys and conceded just 12 points. 

Led by Australian U18s fullback Charlie Poynton, the 2022 premiers can score points in a number of different ways and Drew-Morris said his side will need to work hard to stop them. 

“They’ve been a very strong side for a number of years now and they’ve had good results through the trials and in their first two CAS games. 

“We’ll need to be at our best defensively because they have some talented players in the backline and some big strong forwards up front. They’re dangerous right across the park.”

Saturday marks the start of a three-week sprint that will decide this year’s CAS title with competition front runners Waverley, Barker and Knox all facing one another in the weeks ahead. 

Following Waverley and Barker’s clash at Queens Park this weekend, Waverley travel to face Knox then host Trinity in the final round and need to win all three matches to guarantee back-to-back titles. 

“The way the draw is structured this year, there is three undefeated teams at this stage and all three have three really tough games ahead of them. Then obviously Barker and Knox play each other in the final round,” Drew-Morris said. 

“We’re hoping to keep things in our control by winning our next three games but it’s not going to be easy. 

“The way it’s looking, there could easily be a defeated premier this year and that makes the competition really interesting.”