We're going to miss out of promotion if we play like that unless this move to promote us automatically happens. Even then I fear it could paper over the cracks somewhat because if we played like that against any championship side we'd get well beaten.

There's still no cohesion in attack (albeit a new halfback partnership needs time to gel). Our forwards don't play with enough intensity and our line speed is far too slow. Our support play is sadly lacking at times too, players seem to be taken utterly by surprise if an offload is attempted. Only McNally seems to bother to back up but must wonder why he bothers sometimes.

Peerhaps people expected too much from these players. There's a reason why they are playing third tier rugby.

About 30 different players used this season. Lots loaned in and some binned off from the squad assembled at the start of the season by Chalmers. Given the rumours about incoming players I'd say Kear also has his doubts about many of our players.

One of the biggest factors for me is the lack of experience. Whenever we've come up against a more experienced side we get schooled.

Yes it's clear to me that in this division we didn't need a Chisholm. We needed to spend his wage on 2 or 3 grizzled blokes who've got the nous and experience to nullify the tactics of workington and to steady the ship in a horror show first half against York. I suspect Kear may have been delighted at the long-term benefits of our young squad, but would have dearly liked a few more old stagers to grab them by the scruff of the neck.

I totally get why there are question marks over the squad but going back to previous points, you can only beat what is in front of you.

I can forgive the York loss as they are a side filled with some very good, well drilled players. They equally have as many full time players as ourselves despite what anyone says. Whilst we could have started off a hundred times better, a loss for me was no disgrace.

Workington was a different story. We had the wrong team selection, we were out-muscled, outsmarted and on the wrong end of some quite frankly appalling refereeing decisions.

For me we have the guts of a good championship squad. Its going to need some fresh faces but its the first year and Kear did say this was not a quick fix. We have some young talent that need blooding and that will do us good in the long run.

If rumours are true next year, I'll be quite happy with the back line. Forwards need buliking up and improving though. A fair starting line up could look like...

1. Pickersgill (McNally not recovered well enough from his injuries and not worth his spot IMO)
2. Hitchcox
3. Webster
4. Egodo
5. Ryan
6. Keyes
7. Lilley
8. Crossley
9. Wildie
10. New Prop
11. Minchella
12. Laithwaite
13. New Loose Forward

14. Bustin
15. Peltier
16. New Back Rower
17. Flanagan

Most of the top 8 sides in this division are more experienced than us.
The combination that does us in is: more experienced squad generally, some decent (league 1) quality individuals (or some decent SL quality loanees) and an inexperienced ref. That's caused us 3 losses.

Steve spent a good 2minutes yesterday talking to the ref to understand his decisions. Just move on, stop dropping the sodding ball, stay squeaky clean with regards to the ref so he can't penalise you and play in the right part of the pitch.

The main problem in my view with our attack from 20-30 metres out is the lack of depth. Players receiving the ball too flat and consequently the defence is on them before they can put anything on. The move used by most teams, two dummy runners with two players out back is never used or never comes off when we try it because of the lack of depth. This was shown yesterday when Keyes and Lilley both put in bad passes in scoring positions due to the lack of timing.

I agree. We don’t give ourselves a chance to execute simple catch and pass because we’re too flat. It’s also not helped at all by the painfully slow PTB and the defending side being well offside but that’s par for the course. We should be taking that into account by standing deeper. I remember we butcherd a try in the corner vs Workington by being too flat and overrunning the ball carrier.
I was taught that in attack if you can’t clearly read the number on the back of the player inside you then you’re stood too flat. Sometimes we’re so flat as to look like we’re defending. It’s not as if we’re offloading in the tackle so there’s no benefit for being so flat.

Spot on, and something I hope is sorted for 2019 whatever division we’re in.

There were some very bizarre decisions yesterday but I agree about “moving on”. Having a debate with the ref isn’t going to change his mind. In fact, getting on his good side is a far better policy. Yes sir no sir three bags full sir etc. I’ve never met a ref that reacted well to being moaned at.

Assuming we don't get automatic promotion I fear for our chances. The other four teams that will be in the play-offs will surely have learned from the defeats we have had inflicted upon us, whereas we seem to fall for the same thing time and again.

I'm sure now that automatic promotion has gone.

We seem to be wilting just when we ought to be coming into some form. On yesterday's performance I can see losing at Oldham in the league. I fear big wins versus West Wales and Hemel will not be what we need to sharpen up before the play offs.

In the play offs we'd be home vs Oldham before - if we win - probably playing Workington at home. Anyone feel confident about those games? I know I don't.

This is crazy because we comfortably beat Oldham earlier this season yet we seem, if anything, less cohesive now than we were back then.

I worry that Workington would do us over.

The amount of dropped ball yesterday was just a joke

Take flanigan and Ryan out of that team and ask yourself where we get our tries from

Keyes is always good for a break or 2.
Minichella & McNally/Pickersgill for the support plays.
Our experienced centres (Smith & Gibson) have always seemed to be good, defensively minded centres. Egodo though, he has acceleration & balance and is much more of a handful. Should improve week on week whilst he is training with us.

Well Egodo scored a hat-trick yesterday and the Minchella/Keyes link seemed to work as did Keyes scoring himself. At least yesterday we weren't just kicking for Ethan in the corner as has been for a few games.

I agree with the broader point about our attacking not being as slick as it might be.