Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:50 pm  

Southern Reiver wrote:

You mean you missed it?

Alas, the commute would be a bugger....still aiming to be there for the season closer v the Bradford Bills in September though. I generally listen to games, but today I had to resign myself to Twitter feeds and the Superleague website.

I await the avalanche of "better performance/close to getting a win" type posts followed by "how would you know Gutterfax....you weren't there...."
fact is.....I've read match reports on the Sportinglife and BBC as well as the SL site which were penned by those that were there. These contain comments such as

The French side were coasting at 28-4 with 68 minutes on the clock, only to be left clinging on at the end in front of a poor crowd of just 1,002.

The Londoners were showing plenty of grit, but a combination of handling errors and solid Catalan defence were keeping them at bay

To their credit the Broncos did keep on pushing, but their attacking efforts were showing precious little in the way of creativity or guile,

In truth though the Dragons were still bossing the contest

I read from these that we tried hard, but in reality, Catalan bossed the game and we scared them at the end when they thought it was all over with 15 minutes to go.

As I say, I expect those who were there to come back with rose tinted reports.....Next up FC who will be hopefully battered and knackered after their last gasp derby defeat....we need to start that game as we finished this to have a snowballs.

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:55 pm  

positives and negatives from the game for us.
Negatives first I think!
It took a good 45 minutes for the boys to realise you need to complete a set of six to score points.
When we did complete in the second half, last play option execution was poor I think 3 times we kicked the ball allowing the dragons to take the ball on the full in goal and get the quick restart.
We don't seem to have any obvious leadership on the park.
Over excitement when they got anywhere near the Dragons line led to errors and dropped ball.
Couple of first half breaks no support runners.
Poistives!
The game seemed dead at half time, but they did not drop off.
Defence pretty good apart from the 2 easy tries, one through a gaping hole the other poor defence after a penalty.
I think we had 6 goal line drop outs 3 on the trot from which they didn't score.
Penalty count was pretty low

Overall, Dragons are not the same outfit as last year, the basic difference between the squads was down to physicality! Dragons adopted a 1 on 1 defence for nearly the whole game with no sliding defence.
We had to have a sliding defence to be able to put bodies into effect the tackle as they are a big side in comparison and we had to put 3 or 5 into each tackle.
Had Bosc had his same boots on as last weekend the game was ours.
Personally despite some of my suggestions from the touch line the officials had a good game, a couple of 50/50 calls went against us, but a couple went our way as well.
Had we completed a few more sets I think the Dragons would have tired a bit sooner, and the result could have come our was

Think we all agree, actually an entertaining night! 1003 not good but better than a lot of us thought.
Yes another loss and yes we are still pointless but the brasso is still out and that glitter covered turd looks a bit shiner tonight despite the loss.
Nothing to do with rose tinted specs GF, we took our chances. Catalan defence was strong but like in any game fatigue will open up gaps. They did not look like a team that had taken there foot off the gas, they were a team that were getting worn down.

Just watching the 2nd half of the "Ull" derby hopefully they have battered each other enough to give us a chance on Monday

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:05 pm  

Unlike the Cas game top marks for effort.

As long as the team are trying they'll get my backing.

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:11 pm  

The last 10 minutes don't paper over the cracks. London, strange how I can't say we, are a poor side with no leadership but a little honest endeavour. Dragons were missing a few and took their foot of the gas and applied the handbrake.

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:26 pm  

paddock, did the apply the brakes or did they start to show a bit of fatigue?
Agree with you, we have no leadership.
As for them missing a few, you can only play what is in front of you.
Games normally go with teams being in ascendency for 20 min periods, it boils down to what you can do in the 20 you are on top.
When we played basic rugby, competed our sets, we did not look that bad.
Like I said, Catalan are not in the form they had last year, so yep that took a bit of shine, but like I said you play what is in front of you.
optimist will say we started to play
pessimist will say they took there foot off the gas and let us in.

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:31 pm  

Paddock Punter wrote:

strange how I can't say we

Gus has gone now.

Although didn't he promise to come back as a fan?

Re: v Catalans : Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:48 pm  

Cowgirl Nostalgist wrote:

Gus has gone now.

Although didn't he promise to come back as a fan?

Well, he's already lost the lowest ever London SL crowd crown he worked so hard to get

Re: v Catalans : Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:00 am  

It was neither a crucifixion or resurrection but both nearly occurred! A great effort but leadership lacking in attack and all the Cats tries came from close in. Nowhere near a 1,000 there, but any newbies would have enjoyed it. Happy Easter to all. #COYB

Re: v Catalans : Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:01 am  

Did think 1000 was err generous, but who am I to doubt em

Re: v Catalans : Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:01 am  

When we had season tickets you were counted as 'in' whether you were present or not. Now we don't have season tickets I guess someone has realised their mistake and is correcting in by including some like for like 'membership' figure to compensate.