Big shoes to fill & I don't have his grasp of stats.

Saying that someone needs to post an alternative viewpoint to the happy clappers who populate this place.



Well they've decided to dispense with just about everything else a pro sports club provides I suppose.

Bit of a curate's egg for me. Not been to Ealing before and walking in and seeing the ground was a pretty depressing experience. I have no idea how it complies with championship standards.

Stood on the coaches' boxes side in the first half which was a pretty depressing experience. The view was ok, but battling hyperthermia standing in a mud patch watching the same sort of performance as was dished out regularly last year. I was surprised by the lack of talk and encouragement coming from the bench. During that half the state that the club has got into really got to me. I am happy to watch rugby league at any level, but seeing a collapse to sub-Chiswick standards was distressing. I am sure for the few minutes of summer the ground will be pleasant enough, but in any sort of adverse weather it will be a real struggle outside the stands.

In the second half, I moved round to the area outside the bar. The view was not as good, but at least it was out of the wind. Performance was better. I liked the look of Ioane, but hope he isn't another injury prone acquisition. Walker and Williams were also impressive. Swinton were a bigger team than last year although perhaps lacking in pace. However, we should be knocking off teams like that reasonably comfortably if we are going to compete. I don't think much can be read into the Leigh game next week, but Workington away after that should tell us whether this is a more competitive team or just a carbon copy of 2015.

During the second half, I caught up with various folk who it was nice to see again. Although I did not partake I liked the bars. Possibly, however, that was down to meeting people I genuinely like. I worry that this could be yet another year when seeing old friends is the main reason for attending rather than because of anything on the field or put on by the club (although tbf the atmosphere was a bit more welcoming than for a while - need to see whether that is long term or a blip). I thought the post match awards were fine (at least they took place) and was good to see Hendo meeting and greeting. As has often been the case the players did not appear desperate to hang around once the awards had taken place. I do think they could be a bit more proactive.

Other thoughts:

The announcer - I thought he was ok afterwards, but clearly there was an issue with equipment during the game. No one seemed willing to get a grasp of that issue. Did anyone think to pass on that the announcements were gibberish?

The "programme" - Pretty awful. Presume they have to do something to comply with RFL regulations, but it just seemed a waste of time and money. Took about two tube stops to read through it. As I overheard someone say: even for free, we've been overcharged.

Refereeing - about the level we get to enjoy in Championship1

The journey - Despite the lockdown on public transport in Essex, it went as smoothly as it could have done. Left home at 11:45am and returned home at 9:45pm to find it snowing. As I have not wanted to return as yet to being a season ticket holder, it does however mean if either public transport or weather get any worse, I am far more likely to give it a miss.

Good work being done by he LBSA yesterday. Cannot praise the efforts of all involved too highly , especially Steve and Yvonne.

Car Parking was free for us in the ground (just had to show the season ticket card), and stewards only allow folks in the grandstand seats who had passes (they had a named checklist), so that was pretty smooth, but again this was only Swinton so not a great amount of fans.

They need to move the shop from the entrance to the bar though, was difficult getting through at times, but bar was fine, food was very limited, only chips available if your veggie, but seeing the ground not much of a surprise.

Litmus test will be when we get Bradford or Leigh, as crowd will probably get close to 1000 with the amount of traveling fans, that might be a bit of a mare based on what we saw yesterday, but all in all hopefully they will overcome some of the teething issues.

In terms of the performance what can I say, it was a typical London performance, scoreboard did flatter us a little. The game in two weeks is key, we have to win our away games vs the weaker teams to have any chance making the top 4. That game plus the home game vs Fax are really two must win games.

Nice to hear some first hand experiences. I'm actually quite familiar with the ground as I don't live a million miles away and have been to a couple of functions there.

Some have said the 'bounce' on the artificial surface gave us as many problems as them, is that true?

Was it just superior fitness or did we actually play well enough in the second half to deserve the comfy win?

You might have thought with the pre season training the action of the ball when it hits the surface would have been more familiar to the lads.
does not superior fitness lead to better play?

No Micky it does not, I know plenty of super-fit people who are rugger players!

Did anyone else see Tony Rae at the game yesterday? Saw him before kick off and the voice on the dodgy mic makes me think he was the announcer!

Based on the fact the announcers output was largely incoherent and certainly limited in content, I thought he had all the hallmarks of CN ?

Ho, Ho.

Enjoy the death throes of the London Bizarros.

They're like a rugby league club only weirder.

Are you part of a cult where mind altering substances are widely used ? I only ask as your posts become stranger by the day.

Says the bloke who is happy to follow a club with not much of a stadium, precious few toilets, no programmes & Bob/no hope.

Like I said a Bizarro club for the bizarrest fans in rugby league.

Ground was what you might expect from a small Championship union side. Pleasantly surprised not too be charged for parking having waved ST for entry but then again it was an icy mud bath being provided.

Bar was busy and service OK. Wasn't drinking so didn't spot if they had any decent beer.

Seating had decent view and entry seemed well stewarded. Not a lot of space in and around the seat though.

Despite the size of the crowd there was a reasonable atmosphere as everyone was packed in the one stand.

How can we not have a programme?! I've been to football matches where the crowd doesn't even reach triple figures before and they've still managed to produce one.

What's the final straw for me is that people aren't even all that bothered by the sheer amateurism of not issuing a programme.

I used to think that something could be salvaged from the wreckage of the Broncos.

Not any more.