19 replies to this topic

[duffymoon]

Doesnt seem to be any enthusiasm for the game tomorrow on our forum or the Workington forum.I have a feeling the attendance could be very poor with nothing riding on the outcome of the game and United featuring on SKY.I think for us its imperative we get a good performance to take some form into the opening league game at Sheffield.No disrespect to Ian Mort but I hope that Ritchie Hawkyard retains the full back jersey after two excellent performances against York and Barrow.

[PhillH]

Doesnt seem to be any enthusiasm for the game tomorrow on our forum or the Workington forum.I have a feeling the attendance could be very poor with nothing riding on the outcome of the game and United featuring on SKY.I think for us its imperative we get a good performance to take some form into the opening league game at Sheffield.No disrespect to Ian Mort but I hope that Ritchie Hawkyard retains the full back jersey after two excellent performances against York and Barrow.

Its not totally impossible for Workington to qualify for the knock out phase, but unlikely as both Barrow and Hunslet would have to lose.

I fear the gate might even dip below 400.

A repeat of the "performance" of the first half at Craven Park will mean Workington win - they will be very confident coming off a great result against Haven last week and they did well against the Lions last season. The forwards need to show 10 times more commitment, particularly to stop Jamie Thackeray.

If effort and commitment means anything, R Hawkyard has to stay in the side. Mort ought to take over from Dodd on the wing in my opinion. I'd also give Ian Watson a rest, perhaps controversially(?).

R Hawkyard, Penny, Armstrong, Higson, Mort, Ainscough, Ashall, Meekin, Smith, Wingfield, D Hawkyard, Foxen, L'Anson

[Blakemore]

Am i missing something, but people saying hawkyard should keep full back as hes made no errors, have we forgotten that mort has made no errors in defence that i can remember, mort to replace dodd i cant agree with as mort organises the players in front of him and is one player that has given 100%, i fear mort is too lightweight to play on the wing as last season when played on the wing he dived out his position (similar to dodd) to try and intercept but resulted in knock ons, also he gets dragged into touch easy, my opinion but still has to be mort for me! Also give foxen a chance on the wing!!

Mort, foxen, higson, armstrong, penny, ainscough, watson, mills, smith, Wingfield, D.Hawkyard, Gorski, I'Anson SUBS: R.Hawkyard, Hurst, Meekin, Ashall

[LOYALION]

Too right! Wasn't Mort player of the year? How can you drop him to wing? Find another berth for Richie I say!

[LOYALION]

Too right! Wasn't Mort player of the year? How can you drop him to wing? Find another berth for Richie I say!

[duffymoon]

I am not saying Mort should be dropped from the team! I am saying that after two very impressive performances Hawkyard deserves to keep his place.

[Blakemore]

But mort has had a season full of impressive performances so surely he deserves to keep his place. Yes in any team without mort then he should keep his place but mort has to be looked at number 1 full back

[PhillH]

Am i missing something, but people saying hawkyard should keep full back as hes made no errors

Too right! Wasn't Mort player of the year? How can you drop him to wing? Find another berth for Richie I say!

Your thoughts on today's performance, gents?

[Blakemore]

Hawkyard had a great game but whos saying mort wouldnt have?

[duffymoon]

Ritchie Hawkyard has been na revelation in the games ive seen this season.Ian Morts kicking alone warrants his selection in the starting thirteeen but as the saying goes "you are only as good as your last game" Hawkyard at full back for me with Mort on the wing......for now!

[Bryce]

Ritchie Hawkyard was awesome. Reputation doesn't really mean much here. Ritchie played better than I've seen Morty at FB in the first few games of the season. Mort on the wing for pure pace, good defence and perfect goal-kicking, he's just what we need there isn't he?!

But then again, I though Doddy was pretty damn good today as well, and we finally got to see Rob Foxen on the wing!

It was nice to see us moving the ball out wide, obviously concentrating on the left side attack. Good movement from Aincough with Ritchie joining the line, constantly gave Workington problems. Although Workington weren't anything special at all, I was expecting a much tougher test after our (and their) recent results.

Attendance was announced as 503 but it was showed on the big screen as 440, no idea what's going on there. Ah well, league action next week!

[PhillH]

Hawkyard had a great game but whos saying mort wouldnt have?

Absolutely, that's what competition for places is all about.

There's very few bigger Ian Mort fans than yours truly, but the key point is that if the man with the shirt plays well he has to stay in the team. That's the only fair way to do things. No player should be guaranteed a place, no matter what he has done in the past. Last season was last season - Ritchie Hawkyard was injured for most of it and when he came back wasn't fully fit. Now he's over the hamstring problem properly the difference is obvious.

Both players are capable of moving into other positions. There are several other players who they could feasibly oust who don't offer as much to the team in my view. Both of them lose a little if they don't play at fullback though. So its a juggling act for Steve McCormack.

A good problem to have as they say.

[PhillH]

But then again, I though Doddy was pretty damn good today as well

At Barrow he was simply awful! Very very lucky to be given another chance today after that horror show.

[Bryce]

I think you could probably say that of about half of the team that played at Barrow. An "off" day, we live and learn. But yes Phil, a good problem to have, 2 quality players!

Looking at the rest of the team, Darren Hawkyard was brilliant...again. But it doesn't get old saying that! Mills looked probably the best I've seen him in a Swinton shirt, but Neil Holland and Lee Wingfield were better imo. Karl Ashall was also very good when he came on, another player who needs more time on the pitch. It's also good to have Andy Gorski back, he made some good breaks today and defended pretty well. Good tries for Armstrong, Ainscough and Dodd. I'm not too sure how much to read into the performance, the game was effectively a friendly, nothing riding on it whatsoever. It's good to get a win under our belts though, now for Sheffield who have 100% record so far...

[PhillH]

Sheffield are looking the real deal this season. Their three quarters are a scarey bunch. Its going to be a very big ask indeed to get anything over there.

[Blue Monkey]

I'd like to propose that the full back spot goes back to Ian Mort with Richie Hawkyard given the scrum half berth where his added pace would benefit the team's performance. The basic thing is, we need Mort's superb goalkicking skills in almost every match.

Centres Armstrong and Higson are really starting to impress. Dodd looked dangerous in the number 2 jersey and Foxen at 5 should reap some benefit from Armstrong's classy service as his centre.

In the forwards, Holland, Smith and Hawkyard D. continue to show real promise. Big Dave Mills even showed flashes of forward power at times today and maybe things can only get better. Karl Ashall gets my vote too. He's got that bit of real pace which can make all the difference in a match.

Well done to Steve and the boys - keep it up!

[LOYALION]

Your thoughts on today's performance, gents?

What can I say? Richie had an outstanding game and did well at fullback. We missed 3 kicks which Morty may have converted and also which may have cost us the game on another day! I would also like to see Richie given a run at no. 7 now he appears to be fit again. It's a great problem to have. I also thought Chaz and Gorski's lines were beautifully run today and with a little more composure we could have scored well into the 40's.

[Furryenzo]

Sounds like we played really well for the first time this year. If you remember Hawkyward originally came to us as a half-back and converted to full-back after a couple season. IMO we still need watson on the pitch as a general and mort really seems wasted on the wing. I have no idea what we should do...

Edited by Furryenzo, 05 March 2012 - 01:33 AM.

[Barnie]

I imagine hawkyard will be on the bench due to the fact he can play 1,2,5,6,7 and 9, and at a push i suppose 13.

[Paul Davidson]

I imagine hawkyard will be on the bench due to the fact he can play 1,2,5,6,7 and 9, and at a push i suppose 13.

A lot of numbers there Barnie. Can I use them on the Euromillions next week!
TBH the commitment with which RH ran the ball in he could play any of 1 to 13 !!
Well done to Steve Mac and the lads yesterday. Let's hope that can be used as a platform to build on for next week.
...and a few bouts of singing there yesterday. A good performance always cheers up the fans!
505 must be the right figure. The 440 figure went up on the scoreboard at ten to two as well...before kick off.