[THE RED ROOSTER]

One of the reasons in my opinion Rugby League has not taken off in this country lies in lop sided scorelines that do not reflect the character of the game. This is one such case.
As THE critic of London Skolars on field performances on this forum I have to say Skolars under Joe Mbu are significantly improved as as outfit and if the play anything like the way they did today they will surely win far more than they lose in Championship one this season and hopefully will make one of the four promotion spots on offer.
42-14 was the score in the Broncos favour after a tight first half ending 18-4 following a Craig Gower shimmy and try before the break but 10 minutes later after Kieran Dixon dropped a clanger on the right wing Skolars had brought it back to 18-14 this with Dorn, Witt and Gower still on the field. After this, squad rotation, fitness and conditioning and an immaculate kicking performance, in his own unique style, from Michael Witt (UKBA problem sorted thankfully) saw the Skolars on the end on an unflattering scoreline.
A poor Bronco performance - hard to say really, what can be said is often your opponents play well and don't get the credit they deserve So I am giving credit where credit is due.
The performance of London Skolars on the field is in reality the litmus test for expansion in this country, I will go as far as to state at this moment in time the performance of the Skolars is actaully in grand scheme of things more important than that of the Broncos.
The RFL neds the Broncos as a demonstration that Rugby League is not a game confined to the environs of the M62 professionally.
London Skolars on the other hand are the living embodyment of whether "develolpment" in the south is really expanding the playing base or whether development is simply the "nattering of net nerds" on RL forums. Well they are getting a XIII together at last on today's evidence.
The Skolars have always had the edge in London off the field in terms of proting their club and the game. Friday Night Lights, and the game at the HAC even in community links, going past Southgate college for a Middlesex T20 what do I see but the Skolars advertsing, I buy a ticket for the Trial game and I get a letter from Howard Kramer exolling the virtues of the club wheras my club continues to stumble and bumble along with even today a new thread on TRL opening up almost causing me to smash the keyboard in angst.
Well I am sufficiently enthused to perhaps take in a few games at New River this year almost as enthused in fact as the two city gentlemen in their late 50's passing a rugby ball between them enroute to Old Street tube..

This post has been edited by THE RED ROOSTER: 27 January 2012 - 07:27 PM

[The 4 of Us]

Broncois. Is that a new marketing angle to pull in the exiled Frenchies?

Well done London. Both of them. Supposed to have been there

[THE RED ROOSTER]

The 4 of Us, on 27 January 2012 - 07:04 PM, said:

Broncois. Is that a new marketing angle to pull in the exiled Frenchies?

Sorry, Spelling error (That Comprehensive School Education you know..) but a better name than London Gallicans methinks

[latchford albion]

I am in complete agreement with the OP. Skolars scored the first two tries in the second half to bring the score to 18 - 14 with under 30 minutes to go. It would be easy to put the gap that then developed down to fitness levels, but I thought that Skolars played with intensity to the end and their attacks in the last five minutes could have made the score a more respectable, and deserved, 36 - 20.

I thought that Craig Gower played OK; he appeared to be organising his team well and not just going through the motions, although there were a couple of loose passes. I'm really not a fan of Chad Randall and thought that Rinaldi was much more effective from dummy half.

This post has been edited by latchford albion: 27 January 2012 - 07:33 PM

[IM2]

THE RED ROOSTER, on 27 January 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

One of the reasons in my opinion Rugby League has not taken off in this country lies in lop sided scorelines that do not reflect the character of the game. This is one such case.
As THE critic of London Skolars on field performances on this forum I have to say Skolars under Joe Mbu are significantly improved as as outfit and if the play anything like the way they did today they will surely win far more than they lose in Championship one this season and hopefully will make one of the four promotion spots on offer.
42-14 was the score in the Broncos favour after a tight first half ending 18-4 following a Craig Gower shimmy and try before the break but 10 minutes later after Kieran Dixon dropped a clanger on the right wing Skolars had brought it back to 18-14 this with Dorn, Witt and Gower still on the field. After this, squad rotation, fitness and conditioning and an immaculate kicking performance, in his own unique style, from Michael Witt (UKBA problem sorted thankfully) saw the Skolars on the end on an unflattering scoreline.
A poor Bronco performance - hard to say really, what can be said is often your opponents play well and don't get the credit they deserve So I am giving credit where credit is due.
The performance of London Skolars on the field is in reality the litmus test for expansion in this country, I will go as far as to state at this moment in time the performance of the Skolars is actaully in grand scheme of things more important than that of the Broncos.
The RFL neds the Broncos as a demonstration that Rugby League is not a game confined to the environs of the M62 professionally.
London Skolars on the other hand are the living embodyment of whether "develolpment" in the south is really expanding the playing base or whether development is simply the "nattering of net nerds" on RL forums. Well they are getting a XIII together at last on today's evidence.
The Skolars have always had the edge in London off the field in terms of proting their club and the game. Friday Night Lights, and the game at the HAC even in community links, going past Southgate college for a Middlesex T20 what do I see but the Skolars advertsing, I buy a ticket for the Trial game and I get a letter from Howard Kramer exolling the virtues of the club wheras my club continues to stumble and bumble along with even today a new thread on TRL opening up almost causing me to smash the keyboard in angst.
Well I am sufficiently enthused to perhaps take in a few games at New River this year almost as enthused in fact as the two city gentlemen in their late 50's passing a rugby ball between them enroute to Old Street tube..

I totally agree with this. In fact I find it hard to understand why there is not more dissecting of the Skolars experience to date to help make sure the new C1 clubs get as smooth a passage as possible. I also think between all those involved in RL in London a plan should also be put in place in order to move the club up into Championship as a viable and competitive set up. The interesting and bets thing about the club is its all been organic to date. Too often our sport reacts to putting pins in maps and trusting business men new (and unknown) to the sport.

[snoopy]

Well it seems like a good run out for the Broncos with no major injuries. The two main men Witt and Gower went well and clearly Gower has the leadership qualitie we badly need. My glass is half full any way.

[Cake Tiger]

THE RED ROOSTER, on 27 January 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

"nattering of net nerds" on RL forums

[Northern Eel]

As I understand it, New River Stadium is for sale. How might this impact on Skolars' plans for the future?

[The 4 of Us]

Northern Eel, on 28 January 2012 - 08:25 AM, said:

As I understand it, New River Stadium is for sale. How might this impact on Skolars' plans for the future?

Maybe they already have a new place in mind?

[Northern Eel]

The 4 of Us, on 28 January 2012 - 12:58 PM, said:

Maybe they already have a new place in mind?

I'd imagine they would be at least looking for an alternative, as it's unlikely they could buy NRS themselves and there a no guarantees any new owner would want them playing there. Interesting times.

[Jonty]

Really enjoyed yesterday. An almost cloudless sky, and a great atmosphere in a very unique venue.

The crowd seemed bigger than last year (500+?).

Had a great time, and visited some fantastic pubs post-match before eventually rolling in at 4.30am...

[keighley]

Given the very recent precedent set in Bradford, perhaps the RFL will step in and buy the ground to prevent Skolars from being destroyed by predatory buyers of the New River. A large sports complex in London would be as much an assest to their Property Portfolio as Odsal. Won t happen though. Double standards anyone.

[dkw]

keighley, on 29 January 2012 - 03:42 AM, said:

Given the very recent precedent set in Bradford, perhaps the RFL will step in and buy the ground to prevent Skolars from being destroyed by predatory buyers of the New River. A large sports complex in London would be as much an assest to their Property Portfolio as Odsal. Won t happen though. Double standards anyone.

I`m presuming your a Keighley fan, so didn`t the RFL help out your lot with the ground also?

[deluded pom?]

keighley, on 29 January 2012 - 03:42 AM, said:

Given the very recent precedent set in Bradford, perhaps the RFL will step in and buy the ground to prevent Skolars from being destroyed by predatory buyers of the New River. A large sports complex in London would be as much an assest to their Property Portfolio as Odsal. Won t happen though. Double standards anyone.

In the ideal world the RFL would buy any ground where the incumbent team were struggling financially. Unfortunately we don't live there so it's not going to happen every time. IMHO the RFL should have bought the Racecourse ground but that's another thread. Without trawling through all of the posts has there been a valuation on what the RFL have paid for the privilege of owning Odsal?

[Lobbygobbler]

keighley, on 29 January 2012 - 03:42 AM, said:

Given the very recent precedent set in Bradford, perhaps the RFL will step in and buy the ground to prevent Skolars from being destroyed by predatory buyers of the New River. A large sports complex in London would be as much an assest to their Property Portfolio as Odsal. Won t happen though. Double standards anyone.

I would guess that the land for the New River Stadium would cost a lot more than Odsal even though it is in a deprived area which is not too near tubes/trains. Would be interesting though because there is a fair bit of land there to completely renovate the ground

[keighley]

Help us with our ground !!!!. They should have built us a brand spanking new one after what they did to the club by denying them a place in SUPER LEAGUE 1. Anyhow we are on our way back from that almost oblivion. I hope we have a good season and consolidate in the Championshipbefore launching a new push fro SL, according to the chairman anyway.

[dkw]

keighley, on 30 January 2012 - 03:52 AM, said:

Help us with our ground !!!!. They should have built us a brand spanking new one after what they did to the club by denying them a place in SUPER LEAGUE 1. Anyhow we are on our way back from that almost oblivion. I hope we have a good season and consolidate in the Championshipbefore launching a new push fro SL, according to the chairman anyway.

So they did help you out with the ground? Slight hypocrisy over the Odsal thing then.

[dogthebountyhunter]

keighley, on 30 January 2012 - 03:52 AM, said:

Help us with our ground !!!!. They should have built us a brand spanking new one after what they did to the club by denying them a place in SUPER LEAGUE 1. Anyhow we are on our way back from that almost oblivion. I hope we have a good season and consolidate in the Championshipbefore launching a new push fro SL, according to the chairman anyway.

and to Dewsbury and Hunslet, Swinton and Oldham too...... in fact just about any club that ever owned a ground. Many a final was played at Station Road

Life moves on......

[Northern Eel]

.....and many a pound was 'spent' by Keighley that they didn't have.

Next....

[Jeffles]

Back to The Red Rooster's original post, you're right. With the ten metre rule and more substitutes, the modern incarnation of rugby league is a sport whose rules expose big gaps between the full timers and the rest. So Skolars can bust a gut for a big part of the game and then get blown away like here. I think that's why we see fewer upsets in the Cup than we do in soccer.