Stage 1 complete. Now all I Ned is a home draw tomorrow evening....

I've only managed to get to the two games at Barnes this season. It is easier to get to than PL for me but I was surprised how run down it is. To my mind we didn't do the basics well for the first 50 minutes. Short drop outs no where near our players, allowing a kick off to bouncr out of play etc etc. We clearly had more pace and power and when we channelled it in the last half hour it was a different game. It struck me our last tackle kicking often resulted in a 20m restart. We would have been better off not kicking and always running on the last to avoid the seven tackle set. But we won and if we get a home draw in the 1895 we have got a chance of Wembley

Having experienced the main stand last time around I thought I’d take a look at the lean to covered area opposite. Genuine xxxx hole. As with the main stand it benefits from an asbestos roof. However due to the many holes in the walls there is adequate ventilation. The seating though was a little special. I can’t really describe it - has to be seen to be believed. Then there was the weeds growing through the walls. They must have spent literally zero minutes sprucing up the place. How it got a health and safety I can only guess. All that to one side I quite enjoyed it though and we won.

I don't have a major problem with RP as a venue. It seems fitting for the standard of rugby we play. Was also there yesterday the women v St Helens. They lost convincingly as expected but put in a good effort and hopefully will have learnt a fair bit.

Not sure I would agree that we were 'gifted' the result tbf. It was a close fought game, against a team unbeaten in 9 and with arguably greater cohesion than ourselves.

Agree that the phase of set restarts really took it out of them, however that came about through some generally improved decision making in that second half, particularly towards the back end. I thought we applied pressure nicely and looked comfortable when we finally got in the groove. We might not be the most clinical outfit currently, but one thing we did look is super-fit in comparison and I think that played its part too.

We seem to be starting games well, particularly our defensive efforts, however our drop off in and around that first quarter of games is concerning and often leaves with work to do to chase back the score. That's compounded by our major issue, which for me are individual errors/poor decision making. Eccles said after the Fev game that at the level we want to be at, it's not about phases of play, it's about making correct decisions at key moments. I would be inclined to agree with him and hopefully he has some ideas on how to improve that side of things.

Well we have the fitness guy as coach. Not sure what else he brings though.

Cake?

Perhaps that's what did for Robert Oakley

What's the betting? https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... me-8381779

What's the betting? https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... me-8381779

Rosslyn Park holds 2,000. When was the last time we put up a "house full" sign?

Think it was the last time we played a home game in a telephone box.

York (A)

Saves me the hassle of traipsing to south london, but it would be good to see the club make an effort to fill a bus north for this game.....

I thought this aswell, would be nice to see the club put something on for the supporters

They’ll open up the Gold Lounge live stream the game £30 a pop with one course meal. Job done!