North Wales, Mar 15th?

I didn't go for a few reasons, it's a long way, a ground were I've had too many bad experiences, I didn't think we'd win and so forth so can't comment on the performance. Remaining scoreless for the 2nd half is a worry, when I'd have said attacking wouldn't be our problem. As for being out the cup, I'm not bothered, just would have rather gone out in better circumstances

Mr Hossacks version of events - Free Press. https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sp ... nd-1888421

Mr Hossacks version of events - Free Press. https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sp ... nd-1888421

The only comfort I can take is that it was obviously a much needed hit out before next Sundays vital game.

A deflater I'd call it!

Well what can I say ………. after a long drive up to Workington I was expecting to see us put down a marker for the season ahead and prove our awful performance against Thornhill was nothing more than a pre season blip.

How wrong was I .

The game starts and we look in control defensively , after five minutes a well worked move to our left sees Tali crash over the line and we looked to be cruising.
A couple of sets later Spiers, yet again shoots the line looking for a big hit and ends up giving Workington a penalty ten meters out from our line ( as he did at Thornhill in the previous round) and finding himself despatched to the bin for the next ten minutes,...……. an act which puts us on the back foot and sees us defend our line for the next twenty minutes.
We struggle to make ground and only relieving kicks from Matty B provide us with any respite from Workington's attack.

A try on half time puts us 12- 6 up, but what followed in the second half was very much Thornhillesk , poor ball retention, numerous penalties and a lack of movement with the ball.
I know the conditions were poor and very soft underfoot but with two games in , it shows we can be out played by far less skillfull sides on a poor surface.

Peltier made ground when he was introduces and Douglas put on some good solid hits , but our halves lacked invention and our other forwards struggled to make yards in the heavy conditions.

The acid test comes next week when we entertain the promotion favourites on what should be as good a playing surface as you will find this time of year.
A win or at least a good performance and the loss to Workington will be forgotten , but a loss and a poor showing will see questions asked about the long season ahead and our promotion aspirations.

Thanks for the observations on the game , I didn't go so will no comment further.

I did go to the Thornhill game & wasn't that impressed .

I hope we can turn things round . Still think we lack a middle .

Are you getting sponsored to say the word 'Middle' this season?

Could say prop , still the same observation . Do you agree Jemmo, not that it matters .

May I say thank you to KLD for that excellent match report.
The sort of thing that I really enjoyed reading.
Details and not platitudes.
It goes without saying that the lads tried their best, of course they did.
What matters is what happened and if possible why it happened.
Why are we struggling in attack?
Why did we fade so badly last year?
These are the issues ... not trotting out lame cliches like coaches do.
What have players like Smeaton and Ricketts and Carter brought to the table?
It would seem very little thus far ...

It seems our decision to sign players of a lighter stature in the forwards is our downfall on these muddy fields.
Other than Peltier, our props would struggle to break wind never mind a solid defence.

Next week for me is do or die for Spiers and Boyle a poor performance from either and I would be into the loan market like a shot.

KLD, thanks for the match report - very much appreciated.

Did anyone listen to the match commentary on BBC Radio Cumbria
the Barrow coach Paul Crarey was the co commentator.
You might still be able to listen to the match on BBC Radio Cumbria Listen Again catch up.