: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:04 pm  

I think Child had a good game today. Yes he did make some bizarre decisions but he was consistant and did it for both sides. eg// penalising both sides for not playing the ball correctly.

Barrow however were I thought one of the worst sides we've played for a while. No class whatsoever, never threatened our line (2 long distance interception tries) and all they did was like every other Cumbrian team were be niggly, spoil the game and try and take out our half backs.

The high points for me was Mick Govin's performance and Matt James. So glad to see Govin get a good hours game time under his belt. His pass for Royston in the first half was a peach and was always threatening with ball in hand. He was very solid in defence as well. Matt James was just immense, he may look slight but he is so strong, and remarkably quick as well.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:48 pm  

Tortured Soul wrote:

Barrow showed their intent early by trying to decapitate Blacky twice early on, and this served only to put them on the back foot. They might be a different prospect when they get their overseas players playing, but they sure need to improve their atrocious discipline long before then, because it won't win them any prizes.

all this after one of their directors said in the Shay Suite before the game that last week Roachdale were constantly going in with swinging arms etc...

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:00 pm  

griffax wrote:

all this after one of their directors said in the Shay Suite before the game that last week Roachdale were constantly going in with swinging arms etc...

Maybe it's contageous. Beware Sheffield Eagles

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:40 pm  

Haighy wrote:

I think Child had a good game today. Yes he did make some bizarre decisions but he was consistant and did it for both sides. eg// penalising both sides for not playing the ball correctly.

Barrow however were I thought one of the worst sides we've played for a while. No class whatsoever, never threatened our line (2 long distance interception tries) and all they did was like every other Cumbrian team were be niggly, spoil the game and try and take out our half backs.

The high points for me was Mick Govin's performance and Matt James. So glad to see Govin get a good hours game time under his belt. His pass for Royston in the first half was a peach and was always threatening with ball in hand. He was very solid in defence as well. Matt James was just immense, he may look slight but he is so strong, and remarkably quick as well.

I have to agree with most of this Haighy.
I came away today not feeling very entertained, yet we scored 40 points!
I think the Ref applied the law to the letter and Barrow thought he would give up like most RL Refs normally do, but they did not learn that he was not for turning although have to say we got a couple of lucky calls.
We must stop passing when its not needed, thats 4 times in the friendlies and games played so far where we have given a try away, Penky and Beswick are the main culprits, no need lads.
We are still struggling a bit at stand off imo, we are relying too much on Blacky, somebody needs to grab this position by the scruff of the neck but have we got a player that can???

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:48 pm  

Fax4Life wrote:

We must stop passing when its not needed,

We must also take more care at the play the ball area. Too many careless knock ons there today. Calm down lads and stop panicking.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:10 pm  

dazednconfused wrote:

Blacky looked to have damaged his shoulder and seemed in trouble a couple of times with it.

.

Blacky is nursing a very sore jaw after taking a couple of shots on it. Barrow made their intensions clear from the start by signalling out Black and trying to knock his block off. Just kept getting up though and taking them to pieces. Credit to Barrow though continued this tactic right to the end taking Penky out not once but twice off the ball.
On the whole a pretty poor game but what can you do when the opposition wont let you play rugby, fair play to them though because if they did it would have been 50 or 60.
To play in 2nd gear and be able to rest so many players against what is probably going to be a mid table team and still win comfortably all bodes well for the season.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:20 pm  

Haighy wrote:

Barrow however were I thought one of the worst sides we've played for a while. No class whatsoever, never threatened our line

Must have been watching a different game to me. Barrow IMO were a "nuisance" and had a couple of close chances in the first half ... they bombed a certain try at the end of the first half (knocked on over the line) which would have made it 12-6 and the sin binning of 2 players nackered them for the second half. I thought 18 nil half time was very flattering, but that's not taking anything away from the effort of our players, just that Barrow weren't THAT bad. Overall a rusty performance but a good effort against awkward opponents.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:20 pm  

If the fijians are any good - barrow will be a tough nut to crack

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:43 am  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Blacky is nursing a very sore jaw after taking a couple of shots on it. Barrow made their intensions clear from the start by signalling out Black and trying to knock his block off. Just kept getting up though and taking them to pieces. Credit to Barrow though continued this tactic right to the end taking Penky out not once but twice off the ball.
On the whole a pretty poor game but what can you do when the opposition wont let you play rugby, fair play to them though because if they did it would have been 50 or 60.
To play in 2nd gear and be able to rest so many players against what is probably going to be a mid table team and still win comfortably all bodes well for the season.

Referee?

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:47 am  

jeffvickers wrote:

Referee?

It wasnt the referee that was laying on and coming in as third man. Like ive said before they knew they had to slow us down otherwise we would rip them to shreds. End of the day it was a case of too much power, too much speed, and too much class.
To the Barrow fans expecting big things of their Fijians, lets just say i would expect too much.