Quote: Smithers99 "I'd say the Broncos are a "general on the pitch" away from winning a game like today. Would the chap now at Barrow have filled that role?
A few observations.
Thomas looked much better today, especially with the ball in hand.
Does Ferreira now the rules? I think he turned it over twice with an infringement after being tackled and looking to make a standard restart. Don't know what they were (knock-ons?) as I don't the rules myself.
Bienek looks a massive threat ball in hand. But again played very limited minutes.
Once again Siti telegraphed a grubber kick 10 yards out resulting in an 80 yard break by Bradford. Just like he did against York.
Dalton Grant looks our best centre, he was sin binned after 60 minutes during which Broncos scored. Not a position of strength mind.
Two Hookers on the pitch. Bradford put in and neither in the scrum. Scrums are about as serious as not allowing a shooter to be defended in Netball!
Forwards look good. Need a play maker in the backs. Ullberg and Walker stand-out in the backs.
20+ minute delay in the first half as a Bradford fan was helped by the medical staff.'"
A good assessment Mr Smithers. We seem unable or unwilling to kick on the last tackle and when we did kick it wasn't brilliant. A lack of creativity in the halves was evident. We didn't seem to have the guile to unlock Bradford. To be honest they weren't great and if you drop Sammutt into that Broncos team I would think we would have won. I've always liked Bienek since I saw him play youth team rugby at Ealing before the main event in his first spell with Broncos. I suspect he would have benefited from staying with us longer and playing that year in super league.
I thought being part time we might fade late in the game but if anything we really started to play as Grant was sin binned in the 65th minute. Didn't that also happen in the York and Barrow games?
Today was my first sight of Broncos since the Toulouse game last year and my first visit to Plough Lane. A nice well appointed stadium. I used to enjoy Ealing and used to switch ends at half time but I guess that ship has sailed. It was a long hike from my part of the world - a couple of hours by train. As others have commented parking doesn't seem brilliant although I did note the road opposite as an option. My wife likes to come, but she has been seriously ill over the winter and because of the risk to her of infections doesn't want to use public transport, so I may have to brave the Dartford crossing and M25 for the Dewsbury game. It was nice to be back and see a spirited if not especially competent performance.