Relegation from championship : Tue Jul 05, 2016 9:46 am  

Here we are celebrating our club securing its place in the Middle Eights. Quite rightly as we have had a good season.
Look down the league table and you see the sad sight of the two Cumbrian teams languishing in the bottom two positions.
Now I am not a fan of either teams. They both seem to have a chip on their shoulders. Both believe that London have sucked the life blood out of Cumbrian Rugby League by taking all the money from the RFL, which could have been used to transform the game in Cumbria. I know, what money?
Certainly I cannot see Workington surviving at the end of the Bottom Eights, they are just not good enough. Whitehaven could escape but really need to start getting results, their current form is awful. Although Sheffield are also very poor so survival for Haven is possible.
I would not like to see all three Cumbrian teams in the third tier of the sport, it cannot be good for the game.

Re: Relegation from championship : Tue Jul 05, 2016 5:29 pm  

Sadly the game in Cumbria despite its pedigree from years gone by has struggled to keep going going it is a real shame but have to say the state of the game as a whole is a bit odd, we can only manage 2 or 300 toulouse had 1250 ish last week
But someone has to go down

Re: Relegation from championship : Tue Jul 05, 2016 5:57 pm  

Unfortunately the rugby league scene in Cumbria is facing all sorts of issues. Whilst some are certainly self inflicted and others are geographic the fact is the current professional RL set up is placing them at serious risk. I dread to think how little money Barrow took on Sunday (home v Oxford, an absolute home banker with a serious shellacking almost inevitable.) Pretty much season ticket holders only I suspect. I fear both Whitehaven and Workington would struggle financially if relegated. The state of the third tier is becoming a serious issue and tough decisions need to be made.

One thing that often passes by down south is how how good the National Conference sides are. Wath Brow v Egremont will get a bigger gate than Broncos typically do and be far better value for money than watching one of the Cumbrian pro teams making it a tough sell for them.

Re: Relegation from championship : Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:52 am  

Perhaps relegation would be the wake up call that is needed. Come what may, they need to do something.

Re: Relegation from championship : Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:58 am  

Having watched Wath brow in the challenge cup last year when they played at Aldershot, I would not say they would be better value for money than broncos, even at 20£ a pop at ealing.
Obviously the geography plays a massive part in what happens in Cumbria, but they do have a heritage up in that part of the world and will keep going I doubt they would fold. Look at the teams down in the 3rd tier and how they have managed. Being in the 3rd tier is not the death knell York, Rochdale seem to cope.
I do worry for Hemel more than worky and haven, they have been dire this season and despite the best efforts of the staff there the development teams as in kids is in a shocking state with regards to numbers and results.
We shall see

Re: Relegation from championship : Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:23 pm  

Barrow got in 857 on Sunday, rather more than we manage without visiting support. They have an advantage in that the town's major industry (making nuclear subs for the Navy) is chugging along at the moment.

Re: Relegation from championship : Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:36 pm  

mickyb1234 wrote:

Having watched Wath brow in the challenge cup last year when they played at Aldershot, I would not say they would be better value for money than broncos, even at 20£ a pop at ealing.
Obviously the geography plays a massive part in what happens in Cumbria, but they do have a heritage up in that part of the world and will keep going I doubt they would fold. Look at the teams down in the 3rd tier and how they have managed. Being in the 3rd tier is not the death knell York, Rochdale seem to cope.
I do worry for Hemel more than worky and haven, they have been dire this season and despite the best efforts of the staff there the development teams as in kids is in a shocking state with regards to numbers and results.
We shall see

To be fair to Wath Brow that Challenge Cup game was played out of their season, it showed as it took them a while to click but when they did they ran away with it. We'll have to disagree about the value for money bit. Best value RL for me this season, £2.50 to watch Siddal v Wath Brow. Both sides would do well in Championship One where admission is usually upwards of £12.

Unfortunately I think the northern teams are suffering in Championship One. Speaking to both fans and officials they dread the home games v the weaker southern games as the financial take is usually very poor. (Credit to Skolars for dragging themselves out of that group.) Rochdale have openly stated they need to get out of the division, I think York have too.

Sadly your comments re Hemel are true. Their crowds seem to be down as well judging from my visits this season. Oxford are also causing concern. Another very poor team on the pitch, poor crowds, and their second team conceded a game this weekend due to a lack of players. We've been spoilt having so many southern teams to choose from in recent seasons. Not sure how long that will last sadly.

Re: Relegation from championship : Wed Jul 06, 2016 6:03 pm  

To be fair to the army afainst wath brow in that challenge cup game wath b were playing against a team that play together maybe 6 or 7 times a season so can't agree with you about that performance from them, out of there season or not they were up against a squad that had probably trained together at most 3 days since September the year before !
Agree that York and Rochdale need to get out if that division, however is that not the intention of every club? Can't remember is it one up one down? If so then it's toulouse this year and let's be honest next year if the rumours come to fruition then Toronto will be too strong for any of the teams in that league so next year it will be them.
Still can't agree with yr value for money thing though but hey that's a personal thing

Re: Relegation from championship : Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:09 pm  

Our inept performance today has done nothing for the Cumbrian teams. They are falling further away at the bottom of the league. Okay the Middle 8s give them hope, but they looking very poor at the moment.
Looks like our long trips to Whitehaven and Workington might not be on the cards for next season.
France does look to be on the menu though. Either Catalan or Toulouse. Whatever. A trip to France will be nice.

[brian2]

Re: Relegation from championship : Mon Jul 11, 2016 6:00 am  

France good, would prefer Perpignan, 20mins away!