Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:01 am  

Once again, Dons community coach Adam Lloyd gives us his thoughts on some local games for the weekend ahead. There's only two games to preview this week as Bentley and Toll Bar play each other.

Bentley Good Companions v Doncaster Toll Bar, Bentley Recreation, 2:00pm kick-off

This Saturday is derby day in Doncaster and fingers crossed the fixture will go ahead this time.

Bentley will have selection problems of the good sort with the return and availability of Shaun Richards, Tom Flounders, Paul Purnell and skipper Chris Hemmings.

Bentley will be looking to take the honours from the north of the town by utilising their big go forward pack and overpower Toll Bar to gain the win.

Companion's head coach Andy Whitfield said: "Hopefully this time round the game will go ahead. Having home advantage in the local derby is obviously a big boost, and we will be ready come 2:00pm on Saturday afternoon."

There's not much news from the Toll Bar camp this week, but they are really confident in turning Bentley over and believe that they have the fire power out wide to run in the scores.

Pacey winger Austin Huntley will be out for the foreseeable future after damaging his leg in last week's fixture. All eyes will be on Gav Millward, Jimmy Hamilton and Matt Brandham to put in big performances in the pack.

For as long as the Toll Bar pack stands its ground, they are more than capable of getting the win this weekend.

Lloydy's prediction: Bentley to win by 10

Dearne Valley Bulldogs v Moorends Marauders, Ings Lane Sports & Social Club, 2:00pm kick-off

The Marauders travel to Rotherham knowing that nothing less than a win will do on Saturday. Dearne Valley are currently bottom of the league but are by no means the worst team in the division and Moorends will not be taking them lightly.

Moorends will be without winger Adam Pickles and prop Ben Hoffman for the second week in a row due to work commitments.

However, they have been boosted with the return of star stand-off Shaun Roberts, who has overcome food poisoning, and full back Mark Roach who has trained this week after having his hand operated on.

Moorends could hand a season debut to former Dons player Wayne Green who has committed himself to the Marauders for the rest of the season.

Marauders head coach Martin Rowlands said: "After last week's disappointing performance the players are eager to get back on the field and put in not only a better performance but also pick up a much needed win."

Lloydy's prediction: Moorends to win by 16

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:47 am  

Bentley v Toll Bar KOs at 12.45pm not 2.00pm as stated. Wheatley Hills also have a home fixture and their pitch is unfit so the matches are being played back to back.

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:55 am  

Thanks for that.

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:48 pm  

Not quiet right on the tollbar Bentley score line

The game was a very close run thing and tollbar played 30mins with 12 men as the referee tried everything he could to help bentley win the game.

However looking on tollbar had the better pack and out mucled the bentley forwards easily.

they managed to get on the frint foot early on and bentley couldnt cross the line even when they had for 20 mins the overlap.

Tollbars defence was outstanding and the half back pushed them round the park like old pro's

And by all accounts the moorends game was also another excellent win

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:49 pm  

jimi_boom wrote:

Not quiet right on the tollbar Bentley score line

The game was a very close run thing and tollbar played 30mins with 12 men as the referee tried everything he could to help bentley win the game.

However looking on tollbar had the better pack and out mucled the bentley forwards easily.

they managed to get on the frint foot early on and bentley couldnt cross the line even when they had for 20 mins the overlap.

Tollbars defence was outstanding and the half back pushed them round the park like old pro's

And by all accounts the moorends game was also another excellent win

I'll transalate that into English where possible.
It finished 6-14 to Toll Bar who were the better side on the day and wanted it more. Dont think anyone could argue with that. Too many of Bentleys players had off days and an early injury to captain Chris Hemmings was a massive blow. The only reason Toll bar had 12 on the pitch for 20 minutes (not 30) was because two of the Toll Bar forwards committed sin binning offences including leading with the elbow, so nothing to do with the ref trying to help Bentley win. As for the line highlighted in red, not a clue what that's supposed to mean.
So well done to Toll Bar (until next season)

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:04 pm  

i go to alot of local games i expected bentley to win but i felt toll bar had better backs on the day that was the difference or thats was my veiw anyway

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:58 pm  

mr-rugby wrote:

i go to alot of local games i expected bentley to win but i felt toll bar had better backs on the day that was the difference or thats was my veiw anyway

Bentley have, IMHO a better squad of players, they just didn't perform on Saturday. Craig gets the best out of the Toll Bar side and thats credit to them although he himself makes a massive difference. I agree, I dont think some of Bentleys backs turned up on Saturday and the half backs were outplayed, as for the forwards being out-muscled well, thats a matter of opinion.
A couple of the Bentley pack were returning after long absences but they were hardly out-muscled, the credit must lie with Toll Bars defence and particularly Rodwell? at full back who is one of only 3 or 4 players who (again IMHO) would get in the Bentley side.
They caught Bentley on a bad day (having cried off twice), the hangover from the trouncing by Fryston and a disappointing defeat to an ordinary Batley side last week still in evidence.
Roll on next season!

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions 3 : Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:03 am  

Gargoyle, Sorry for the rubbish typing earlier on i am using a smart phone and i am not very bright (typical broken down old rugby player )

But IMHO the Tollbar forwards out played the Bentley pack, mainly because they didn’t have the go forward that they normally do. i do agree that big red going down early with injury could have been a key factor and i hope he gets over the rib injury quickly cause he will be a big loss to the side.

And the back line has finally clicked for Tollbar after a slow start to the season and i think after this performance and a close call against Nevison the week before they should hopefully now finish in the playoffs and realise their full potential.

you also pointed out that Bentley had an off day and that the some of the forwards were coming of a layoff, i think that is just sower grapes in IMHO as you could look at the Tollbar squad and see that is was nowhere near its full potential and also had 3-4 first choice players missing

This to me shows that the Tollbar squad are out to play for each other which should worry everyone in the league as at times they had 12 players on the pitch to Bentleys 13 and there was no chance of them crossing the line. And as for the sin binning offences they were a joke apart from the third one which was totally un called for and defiantly should have got a red card for both offences in my opinion as the bald headed Tollbar prop shouldn’t have struck out and the retaliation head but from the Bentley forward shouldn’t have been allowed.

Like I say these are just my opinions so please don’t take offence.

All the best to Bentley however and hopefully the two teams will meet again in the playoffs.