Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:20 pm  

The Dons community coach Adam Lloyd has previewed a few local fixtures for the weekend ahead. Let us know what you think of the feature please.

Moorends Marauders v Morley Borough, Moorends Recreation Ground, 2:00pm kick-off

Moorends will be hoping to bounce back from losing in the Yorkshire Cup quarter final away at Thornhill Trojans of Dewsbury.

The Marauders will be looking at consolidating their position in the top half of the table but will be without superstar full back Mark Roach (hand) and powerful prop Gaz Everton (broken arm).

Skipper Dean Armstrong will again be looking to his players to put in the kind of performance that has seen Moorends elevated to promotion favourites this season.

Lloydy's prediction: Moorends to win by 20

Doncaster Derby: Bentley Good Companions v Doncaster Toll Bar, Wheatley Hills RUFC, 2:00pm kick-off

Bentley will be looking to secure the double over Toll Bar with home advantage this Saturday after an impressive 34-6 win over Brotherton last weekend.

Bentley are relishing the return of former Dons star Scott Smith this season and with his leadership on the pitch Bentley look set to continue in the form that sees them sitting second in the Yorkshire ARL first division.

Toll Bar will be looking to show Bentley who's the boss after losing 24-20 at home to Bentley earlier in the season. Toll Bar will be looking towards play maker Shane Southgate to pull the strings from half back and to Gaz Carey and young star Aaron Rodwell to provide the tries.

Toll Bar come in to the game off the back of a good win over Castleford Lock Lane at the weekend.

Lloydy's prediction: Bentley to win by 8

Illingworth Reserves v Moorends Marauders Reserves, Illingworth Sports and Social Club, 2:00pm kick-off

Moorends Marauders reserves travel to Illingworth (Halifax) for a friendly fixture. Moorends head coach Martin Rowlands said: "This will be a great opportunity for the young lads in the squad to get a game under their belts and show that they can cope well in adult open age rugby."

The first team fringe players will also be looking to prove to the management team and coaching staff that they should be wearing a first team jersey next week.

The team will have to play well against a very strong Illingworth team that sit just one league lower than the Marauders own first team.

Lloydy's prediction: Marauders to win by 10

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:24 pm  

I think it's an excellent, informative and fun initiative.
Something has happened on Planet Dons ... something good.
Friendly aliens have landed.
Or someone has woken up to the possibilities this forum offers.
Keep it up please.

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:31 am  

Thought BCG were playing Fryston this W/E ?

[Wanderer]

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sat Nov 26, 2011 12:50 pm  

EDIT: Bentley did indeed play Fryston for whom Mark Castle played (along with Craig Jones and Andy Speake).

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:44 pm  

Wanderer wrote:

EDIT: Bentley did indeed play Fryston for whom Mark Castle played (along with Craig Jones and Andy Speake).

Any results from the games. Still wobbling from a cruise in the Canaries. Bad time to go on one.

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:44 am  

Not a good start for Adam.

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sun Nov 27, 2011 11:29 am  

To be fair to Adam Bentley's re-arranged game with Fryston was a last minute thing after Toll Bar called off the original fixture. The write up was done before anyone found out this was the case.
Moorends had two victorys, pennine team won 44 16 and their 2nd team won their friendly 14 10

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:51 pm  

Bentley 0-50 Fryston
Take absolutely no notice of the report on the Yorkshire League website, he must have been at a different match from the rest of us.
Ok, so they've got some very, very good forwards, but to say they laid the foundations and Jones got MOM is just to appease their sponsors. If anything their forwards were met head on by Bentleys pack lead by 'Big Red' Chris Hemmings, Sean Richards, Danny Royle, Scott Smith, Lyndon Staley and Micky Rogerson. They just had a bit too much in the back line lead by that horrible little g£t Speake, both their opening tries coming from long range in their own half. Speake was a thorn in everyones side all afternoon as he whinged his way through the game and virtually reffed it. Waste of talent IMHO. He picked off gaps in the back line and the 2 flying young wingers had a field day chasing his kicks through behind Bentleys line.
Only in the latter stages did the Fryston forwards break the line up the middle as some Bentley heads went down, but they started showboating which cost them points and even the ref had had enough when one of them tried to backheel a conversion, and he blew time.
The question needs to be asked, particularly of the Yorkshire League, why are they in it? Without them its a competitive AMATEUR league where anyone can beat anyone else on their day, but as it stands the rest are playing for 2nd place to a squad of Ex. future and current pros (Castle re-signed for The Dons on friday). They come across as a bunch of bullies who like to be the big fish in a little pond, as Queens, Hunslet Old Boys and Warriors and Sharlston etc might be a bit too tough for them.
They really have shot themselves in the foot, as already 3 teams have cried off against them and its certain many more will before the end of the season.
Any thoughts ?

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:41 am  

Sour grapes

Re: Lloydy's Local League Predictions : Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:13 pm  

weighman wrote:

Sour grapes

No, not at all, they are the best side in the league by a country mile, their p!55 taking showboating left a sour taste, and I and many others wonder what they get out of thrashing everyone week in, week out.
Without them the division is competative, have a look at some of the results.
I dont understand their mentality (saying that the way some of them were on Saturday it doesn't appear that there's much going on upstairs anyway).