brearley84 wrote:
then what we all know about broughton being poor in the air and not getting to the high bomb which they got they try from.
Assuming you are referring to the cross field kick from which they scored their final try...
This is a tactic which I feel we ought to employ more. Assuming a decent challenge, these cross field kicks to the line always favour the attacking team. The defender really needs to catch the ball whereas the attacker, already advantaged as he should have a running start on the defender, can try catch it or simply look to palm it to a teammate. If I was attacking I would look to place an arm between the defender's up-reaching arms so he is unable to catch it cleanly and look to palm it backwards if not catch it myself. I would like to see Leory given such opportunities to challenge in this situation next season.
Catalans had 3 on 2 (Oldfield, Pomeroy, Whitehead - all well over 6 feet - versus Broughton and Brough - 5 feet 8 on his tiptoes) where they scored their final try, and Oldfield had both 2 inches height and the advantage of a run up on Broughton. Coupled with the quality of the kick, Broughton was always second favourite there and maybe we shouldn't be too critical of him for that piece of defending, but if criticise we must, let us at least acknowledge his outstanding try-saving tackle on Oldfield in the first minute of the game when he looked certain to score.