London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:32 pm  

I know it's early in the week for this, but it's the biggest game of the season for me. Must win. Lose this and we won't make the top 2. London are flying at the moment having only narrowly lost to both us and Leigh all year. Hope the last 2 wins give the players a bit of confidence. But we need to perform much much better as this is a good London side.
We seem to struggle going down there, add to the fact they play on the iptich, it's going to be tough. Although i think we have a fast team so a fast track should suit us. Just got to have the confidence to throw the ball out wide more! I'm expecting Gaskell back and hopefully Sidlow.

Think Diskin has a selection headache. I'd like to see Clare at FB and Thomas at 7. Think Clare is the better all round FB and Thomas is much quicker and accurate at passing than Addy and i think seeing him at HB will see us get the ball out much quicker which is where i think we can exploit London with our pace.

Not confident of victory but will be there cheering them on!

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:38 pm  

Agreed this is the game of the year for us. Top two pretty much depends on it.

We can score when the mood takes us, but only really against already beaten sides. London's position is built on the back of their defence. Whether we can crack a tough nut under current circumstances remains to be seen.

In two minds about going but the more I think of it the more I don't see how I can avoid it.

[Bullseye]

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 1:13 pm  

We beat London quite easily at Odsal without needing a vintage performance. They seem to have improved since then and we’ve since got worse, hit rock bottom and then seem to be improving again. It could be close but with most back fit there we should be strong favourites on paper at least.

We could really do with Sidlow and Gaskell back for it. If they’re both out it’ll be tough.

I’m not a big Danny Addy fan but I’d definitely keep him at scrum half with Gaskell (hopefully) for this one. I’d give Thomas a vote of confidence and play him at fullback. I’d move Purtell back into the centres with Welham and move Clare back to the wing. Williams drops out this week. For me Addy played well yesterday and is more of a leader than Thomas. London know all about him so putting him in at scrum half might be a bit much for a confidence player. He did well at fullback so he stays there for now IMO.

In the pack I’d drop Fleming for Sidlow – possibly harsh or I may keep him in and drop Mellor. I’d then use Sidlow and Clough as starting front rowers with a bench of Crossley, Clark, Fleming and Ferguson so we can stay on the front foot up the middle. Clark could do longer minutes if necessary in the backrow.

We could and should win this.

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 1:37 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

In the pack I’d drop Fleming for Sidlow – possibly harsh or I may keep him in and drop Mellor. I’d then use Sidlow and Clough as starting front rowers with a bench of Crossley, Clark, Fleming and Ferguson so we can stay on the front foot up the middle. Clark could do longer minutes if necessary in the backrow.

We could and should win this.

Not harsh at all. Fleming was our worst player yesterday imo, and the fact he was subbed after 12 1/2 minutes was significant. His form over the last few weeks was like a man needing a contract for next year, and his form yesterday was that of a man who has signed his contract for next year. (cynical, moi?)

Anyway, dependent on fitness, Fleming & Crossley out, Sidlow & Kavanagh in. Otherwise, as above. That pack should be able to lay a platform.

[Bulliac]

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:18 pm  

Utterly baffled why folk think a game, played at pretty much the halfway point in the season, is going to decide where we finish??

It'll be a difficult game, to be fair; London seem to have found some form and are a fully pro side on their own midden - it's definitely not a gimme. We seem to be getting some bodies back in contention, which is a good sign, from our pov, though our current sketchy form [over a few weeks] isn't the most promising.

I guess much will depend on the day, though one thing is for sure for me, whatever the result, one game, at this point, won't define our season - not in any way, shape or form. Looking forward to the trip down and another new ground to play on!

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:32 pm  

If London win this weekend the gap between us and them is 6 points, and with Leigh it's 7 with the Blackpool game on the horizon.

It's not definitively third, but it's still impotartant to win if we're going to rely on ourselves rather than others.

edit: I can't add up.

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:41 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

Utterly baffled why folk think a game, played at pretty much the halfway point in the season, is going to decide where we finish??

It'll be a difficult game, to be fair; London seem to have found some form and are a fully pro side on their own midden - it's definitely not a gimme. We seem to be getting some bodies back in contention, which is a good sign, from our pov, though our current sketchy form [over a few weeks] isn't the most promising.

I guess much will depend on the day, though one thing is for sure for me, whatever the result, one game, at this point, won't define our season - not in any way, shape or form. Looking forward to the trip down and another new ground to play on!

If we lose then we will be 6 points behind London and 7 behind Leigh (if they beat Batley at home)

For us to get second we would need London to lose at least 3 of their remaining 11 games. That would depend on us winning all our remaining matches. Bare in mind we have to play Leigh twice, one of them at LSV. London have an easier extra game against Sheffield at the summerbash.

So yes I think it will define where we finish in the table as we will have too much ground to make up.

Re: London (A) : Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:54 pm  

Purtell 7. Gaskell 6. Clare 1. Addy 13.

[Bulliac]

Re: London (A) : Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:43 pm  

Clearly there's little point in bothering for the rest of the season - We're doomed!

Re: London (A) : Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:56 pm  

Good point, well made.