Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Sun Aug 17, 2014 9:43 pm  

Harry-Al-Hill wrote:

Ross is at Hunslet for the remainder of the season, as is Duffy

In my opinion two players that should be at Cougar Park playing in the first team.

After todays performance there seems to be too many of our squad that think theirr contracts are safe
For next season .....

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:31 am  

As I read the game (I am sure people will put me right) we were beaten by a much underestimated side whose lowly position belies their true ability. As with Halifax the previous week they rattled up a good score before Halifax came back and narrowly won. Having said that we were the manufacturers of our own downfall letting them score 24 points and giving us a Welsh mountain to climb. Shocking errors had us looking at each other and panic spread. After the break and after Marchy had done his stuff we came out a different team and had a good spell for 15 minutes before North Wales got their game together again. With the clock ticking down we started trying risky passes and moves which the conditions did not favour. Massive credit to Danny Jones for that point-saving penalty goal under pressure and in awful kicking conditions. Lets get behind the lads until the last minute of the final game. C'mon Cougars!

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:06 am  

Good post Len!

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:14 am  

Dominance wrote:

We were beaten by a team who wanted it more and considering our experience, they played the conditions far better. We took the field thinking it was 3 points in the bag which says more about our game preparation than anything else. We lost the game through poor play and execution over the 80 mins and had plenty of chances to claw the lead back in the second half but poor execution and mistake after mistake cost us. We need to stop thinking about just doing enough. We should not be relying on others and the what if's. After that performance the players owe a performance to the fans and that can start against the Rams. We are capable of winning the last 2 games but it depends which team takes the field.

Whether we stay up or not I think questions need to asked. We have not progressed from last season, despite investment in the playing squad. We fought relegation then and same again this season.

Agree with some of this, but just to say that last year we finished the season with 33 points and would have been relegated if 5 clubs had gone down. This year we already have 42 points and have a much improved points difference. That sounds to me like improvement - still on low budget. Staying up this year and not going bust again would be major achievement.

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:12 am  

cougartime wrote:

Agree with some of this, but just to say that last year we finished the season with 33 points and would have been relegated if 5 clubs had gone down. This year we already have 42 points and have a much improved points difference. That sounds to me like improvement - still on low budget. Staying up this year and not going bust again would be major achievement.

On paper IMO we have a top 5 squad and we are underachieving. Look at Doncaster, can we say they have a much stronger squad that we do? Or have they been consistent? We have strengthened since last season and I expected us to be doing far better that we have. I think if you asked Marchy and he answered honesty his expectations have not come to fruition. At times we've looked good, but there have been far too many times when we have been very ordinary. I'm not sure I would say staying up is a major achievement as only Swinton, Batley and Haven finished above us last year (from the teams that are now below us) and with the permutations only Swinton are guaranteed to be below us come the end of the season. Is that progression? I take your point on analysis which on face value may show improvement but stats can tell you all sorts of things, for and against. We've also (at the time of writing) picked up 3 bonus points less than last season and have a much better for and against stat. I would also suggest the playing budget is higher than last year which when you overlay that I'm personally not convinced we've progressed as much as I'd like. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect us to be challenging at the top, but a play off spot was achievable.

As for going bust, I don't know the financials, nor do I want to know. I trust the club runs on a even keel and we don't put ourselves in any of the issues experienced in the past.

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:44 pm  

I forgot to add to my post a BIG THANKS to the great North Wales fans and it was a pleasure to have them at Cougar Park. In the bar after the game we had 'Land Of My Fathers', 'Sospan Bach' (sp?)and even 'Ilkley Moor Baht' 'at among others!' Looking forward to meeting them again soon - but not next year!

Re: Keighley 18 - 30 North Wales Crusaders : Mon Aug 18, 2014 5:02 pm  

Lawkholme Len wrote:

I forgot to add to my post a BIG THANKS to the great North Wales fans and it was a pleasure to have them at Cougar Park. In the bar after the game we had 'Land Of My Fathers', 'Sospan Bach' (sp?)and even 'Ilkley Moor Baht' 'at among others!' Looking forward to meeting them again soon - but not next year!

Agreed. Seemed like a decent group of fans who were a credit to their club. They made a fair amount of noise through their singing and chanting which I am sure was appreciated by their players. Showed what Rugby League is about, having a group of away fans singing and chanting next to the home fans with no animosity. Football needs to take note…….