Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Sun Feb 04, 2024 7:16 pm  

Sounding like a costly game with the injuries to Scurr, Doro and Blackmore. The Blackmore injury was exceptionally poor play from the Dewsbury player coming in late and attacking the legs. I hope the disciplinary board take a closer look at that challenge. Hopefully the injuries are not long term as we are now starting to look light in certain positions.

Overall I thought we were ruthless and clinical in the first half and scored some great tries. Souter, Lilley, Scurr and Doro were stands out during the first half of play. Dewsbury only got out of their own half when we dropped the ball from the kick offs, which caused some serious disruption. The second half was a bog standard early season game. Lacking in quality from both sides but fortunately we'd attained enough points to always be in the driving seat and not have to worry about the scoreline.

We march on to the next stage against our rivals down at Cougar Park. Let's hope we actually get off the team bus this time around.

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:43 am  

I found that a difficult game to call in the second. The amount of penalties and errors made it too stop-start.

I need to see the Scurr incident again before fully commenting but when I spoke to Eamon O’Carroll after the game he defended George Flanagan by saying that when he sees foul play taking place and it's missed by the officials it's human nature to defend one of your own.

I thought the main takeaway from the game was the defence and energy levels, especially after a week in which the entire side has been affected by an illness sweeping through the camp at Tong.

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:56 am  

Yep attacking the knees isn’t policed properly.

[Bullseye]

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:49 am  

I'd like to see both incidents again on video. At the time they both looked quite ugly. Dewsbury got a player in the bin for the first but not the second and Flanagan got a yellow card for starting a dust up after it.

Really hope the injuries aren't too bad as we really rely on both players. Was disappointed with the referee who seemed to struggle to keep the teams back 10m or get a tidy PTB.

Performance wise we looked good with the wind at our backs. Less so playing into it. Thought Doro and Souter stood out. Going into the game with only 3 props and then losing Scurr and Blackmore meant we needed Taufua to stand up and he did, probably with his best game for us.

McGowan looked assured at the back with a couple of try savers and a decent try of his own. He's not Tom Holmes but looks defensively strong.

I was less impressed with Flanagan who looks past it to me. The drop in quality when Souter went off was marked.

I notice Peposhi came on as 18th man once Scurr got injured. Was this the first time we've had that happen?

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:01 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I notice Peposhi came on as 18th man once Scurr got injured. Was this the first time we've had that happen?

It's the first time I can remember it happening. Is it not a new rule for this season?

[Bullseye]

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Mon Feb 05, 2024 8:17 pm  

Thought we had concussion 18th man substitutes last year? I could be wrong.

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:35 pm  

Changed it for this year.
Last year was 3x Concussions, 18th man could be activated.
This year is 2x Concussions OR 1 injury (head or otherwise) which ends the game for the player and has come about through foul play, serious enough to warrant a yellow or red card.

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:18 pm  

Just watching the highlights and McGowans try from the scrum, I couldn't help notice the quality of Souters pass from the base of the scrum, fast, accurate and in front of Gaskell and it starts the whole move off. Such a change from seasons gone where we've had slow passes from dummy half, behind the player, which just slows the entire attack down.

Think Souter may end up as an 80 minute hooker as the season progresses and maybe only interchange with Flanagan against "lesser teams"

We do look vulnerable in depth for the spine though. Any of Souter, Gaskell or Lilley get a knock and the drop in quality is significant.

[Bullseye]

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Tue Feb 06, 2024 2:06 pm  

Souter is a class above that's for sure. His reading of the game for his try off Gaskell was great too. An old head on young shoulders.

Re: 1895 Cup: Dewsbury (A) : Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:20 pm  

Interesting to watch the full game back and in particular look at the two incidents which ended up in injuries to Blackmore and Scurr.

Have to say, for me I think the referee got both calls spot on. First was a low shot to legs but wasn't a cannonball tackle by any stretch and I think a yellow sufficed.

The Scurr one was just a case of his leg getting caught underneath him. Really can't see what the defenders could have done differently in that situation.