I thought today's performance at Halifax was the best of the season. The organisation, spirit and commitmrent was great. Ok, just switched off slightly a couple of times for two of their tries. But this gives real confidence that Cougars will pick up a fair few wins this year - starting with Swinton on Saturday. With just a bit more luck at Halifax today it could have been the biggest shock win of the season so far in this league. Congratulations to Marchy and the players. Nice to see ex Halifax players get the tries. Whitey just starting to hint at what he could do for Cougars this season when the grounds dry up a bit. Not many will get a bonus point loss at Halifax this year, never mind a win.

Agree with WS, thought it was a good afternoon work.

Up the cougars.

Must admit I put post up in frustration was good and poor in parts today let's beat swinton now up the Cougars well in lads

I couldn't get to todays game due to family commitments , but , credit where it is due.
Sounds like a 100% better game than previous ones this season thus far.

Well done cougars and Paul March, lets give Swinton a good hammering next week and try
to get the season back on trask.

I have never been to a game we have lost before and been so pleased with out performance. Not a bad player in our team. Worth a mention were White and March but bloody hell, Barnett had his best game yet. His defence was 200 % . Massive credit and also Danny J did ok as Full back.

Second that Micky,well done Marchy on another improvement from last week.As said,100% given by all the lads.Mom for me was Gav Duffy,what an example he is for never giving up a lost cause,keep it up Gav.Roll on Saturday,we can do Swinton

I thought the team played ok. The second try was a cracker. We gave them 3 tries through extremely lazy tackling technique. Barnett played really well, made some excellent reads in defence that broke up promising Fax moves. Personally I think Danny Jones looks a bit lost at full back defensively although in attack it gave the team more play making options and the opportunity to have an extra prop in at 13.

My concern is our No7. He dosnt have a strong enough boot to turn defenders and put them on the back foot. Most of his kicks go to hand or just meaningless grubbers into touch. On Sunday we were turned often and on a few occasions forced to drop out.

Not sure if we were watching the same game but I seem to remember him getting a 40-20 and putting some bombs up as well as some grabbers into touch. Personaly I'd say leatherbarrows kicking and is his strongest point from what I've seen this season. We also scored off a Danny jones kick, so we have options with the boot too.

Your right about the 40/20 and a few bombs, but 1 40/20 and a few bombs in a game will certainly not win it for you. You need to force drop outs, make the opposition start there tackle count from in there 10 meters. With better kick chaces and forcing errors off these kicks will win you games. Also he needs to draw a man more to take defenders out of the game instead of just been a pair of hands in the line.

I think leatherbarrow is showing some great skill on the pitch tbh, at Batley he forced several drop outs and he nearly always varies his kick of which has caught teams off guard forcing the errors.

He is a talent and we will be extremely lucky not to lose him to a promising championship club with the possibility of promotion or to a superleague club with a view to improving his talents further to take over from an old hand.

I definitely don't see the need to fret over his play in any way, if I was to pass comment at all it would be that he could do with drawing the man a little closer to the ball before offloading but that may be called nitpicking

I think leatherbarrow is showing some great skill on the pitch tbh, at Batley he forced several drop outs and he nearly always varies his kick of which has caught teams off guard forcing the errors.

He is a talent and we will be extremely lucky not to lose him to a promising championship club with the possibility of promotion or to a superleague club with a view to improving his talents further to take over from an old hand.

I definitely don't see the need to fret over his play in any way, if I was to pass comment at all it would be that he could do with drawing the man a little closer to the ball before offloading but that may be called nitpicking

Agree in a way, but it's the old saying that a kick is only as good as the chase. It's evident our weakest link thus far is the defensive effort.

The kicking game (including the chase) is indeed crucial to success.

Based on matches so far this season, I'd say a priority for next few games is to play the game in their half. So, I'd keep on with both Leatherbarrow at scrum half and Danny Jones at full back as it gives the most kicking options.

Long kicking game - don't be afraid to kick early in the tackle count if there's a good chance to pin them back on their own line.

Re short kicking game if we are in their third of the field; always aim for the corner flag with grubber kicks when aiming for a scoring opportunity or to pin them in-goal - this gives chance for attackers along the line to go for the ball. (If short kicks are too deep towards the posts they often go harmlessly dead). The other option is to put up as high a bomb as possible targetted to drop onto the crossbar - causes chaos with a 50/50 chance of scoring or pinning them in-goal.

Final thing. Personally I would always take 2 points if a penalty is awarded in reasonably easy kicking range.

Of what I've seen of him Leatherbarrow looks a very good prospect. Good goalkicker, his high kicking game is superb, he has the rare quality of not putting the ball too deep so that chaser can pressure the opposition full back and challenge for the ball or force the error. So many half backs put too much distance on the ball when using the bomb. Darren Locker made Sam Tomkins look silly with them in the last 4 nations final.

In short kick situations, tactically i'd advocate diagonal kicks along the ground, it gives more players more time to make a play for the ball.