Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:20 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

so I'm going for a 3 to 4 score win.

Was I right? I wasn't wrong!

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:01 pm  

Wow this is gonna be a tightly-run thing eh. I think our points diff could end up being a factor and it is significantly better than those around us.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:26 pm  

Indeed it is VERY tight. Batlley have capitulated and if York squeeze a victory at Bradford next week, the bullies could miss out. All quite exciting and the game against Toulouse is another must win which should get the crowd going.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 8:07 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

Indeed it is VERY tight. Batlley have capitulated and if York squeeze a victory at Bradford next week, the bullies could miss out. All quite exciting and the game against Toulouse is another must win which should get the crowd going.

The last three games are all must wins but to be in this situation is just embarrassing with the squad we have got. If we make the top six owt could happen though. Up The Fax!

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 8:53 pm  

First time I’ve visited the Whitehaven ground and I quite liked it . Tis a long day though and had a few near misses on the motorway. First half was a continuation of all the poor aspects of our game , I think the penalty count was 9-1 against us which is ridiculous. 2nd half we started to turn the tables with some strong running and expansive plays . All in all a good day out and just about gives us a squeak of making the playoffs.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Sun Sep 03, 2023 9:32 pm  

First 40 saw plenty of effort from both sides but was constantly disrupted by loads of penalties and poor completion rate, we spent too much time in our own half because of it but the goal line D was much better.

Second 40 was a much better display, probably close to the best this year, tackled and ran a lot harder and for once it was the opposition that was getting rolled with some good performances from a number of players today which needs to be carried into the next few games.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Mon Sep 04, 2023 7:33 am  

Tony Fax wrote:

Was I right? I wasn't wrong!

You were,and he picked the exact side I suggested,which is why we won..

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Mon Sep 04, 2023 8:29 am  

Joe Keyes didn’t finish the game and Tom went to 7 in the closing stages, it was on the other side of the pitch from us and didn’t see him pull up but did see him just sat on the bench, just hope it was tactical rather than medical.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:10 pm  

I thought we did well to go in at halftime in front considering the penalty count and six again we conceded, then once we cleaned that up in the second half there was only one winner. Performance wise Crooks in recent weeks as impressed me even for there last score he was covering across to try and stop it, Sutcliffe who i gave a bit of stick after last week looked a lot better playing right side back row off the bench, and both McComb and Kavanagh had good games. One thing that having Keyes back does even if he himself is not firing on all cylinders is free up woodburn hall and Louis which we saw the benefits of yesterday with there running threat. There fullback did look very handy in attack and if we was not so well off in that position i would say try and sign him. It is a long drive there and back in the same day but some of the scenery is has good as you will see on your travels.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Tue Sep 05, 2023 10:06 am  

Results not really going our way on Sunday but still a lot of interesting permatations now for the league placings.

3rd is really unlikely because of the remaining fixtures between other teams but we can finish on 31 points which would be enough to make the playoffs. Its not impossible that Bradford only win one of their final 3 games so in winning 3 we would finish above them as out points difference would be superior. Sheffield should account for Keighley which would put them on 30 points but again they could lose their 2 remaining fixtures after that allowing us to creep above them. London with 3 home games remaining could easily win all 3 which would probably be enough for 3rd spot and I think they are the least likely team for us to finish above.

Winning 3 is probably going to put us in 4th/5th spot. Worst case is we have to win 2 games to have a shot at the last spot, Widnes have the toughest run in and they will have done brilliantly if they can win more than 1 game from their final 3 so 2/3 for us has us above them. Batley have the easiest run in but are in awful form but even allowing for that their toughest game is a trip to York so they should go at least 2/3 which would leave us struggling to get in if no one team above us dominates the fixtures and wins are spread out.

It just shows how big this Saturdays game is, if we can win this we give ourselves a great shot of rescuing the season and we already know that we will be the team outside of Fev that nobody really wants to play.