42 replies to this topic

[maccca-6-]

Based on the fact that someone more than likely will win?

My point is he's not seen Hunslet or prob swinton play so how can he predict a swinton win??

[mark richardson]

Personal differences there then macca? Have you two fallen out?
Im in lanzarote sweating like a pig. I predict a swinton win.

[maccca-6-]

No mate I've not fallen out with him. I just don't see how he can say we'll get beat without watching us play.

Wish I was in lanzarote. As usual it's cold here haha

[mark richardson]

Strangely I wish I was in Leeds...whats wrong with me?!

[blackhawk]

Based on what evidence???

injuries loss of form .

[mark richardson]

Great win lions. Putting my sun lotion soiled phone away now..

[marshy1]

We played well today Mark. Enjoy your hols.

[mark richardson]

Cheers Alan. Its about 40 degrees here.
Glad the boys did well.

[blackhawk]

No mate I've not fallen out with him. I just don't see how he can say we'll get beat without watching us play.

Wish I was in lanzarote. As usual it's cold here haha

macca u dont have to watch a game to make a prediction, by the way how did the 2 guys go ,or even did they play?

[Bryce]

Based on what evidence? Form, injuries, available playing squad.

We should have at least had 28 up by HT and we didn't even play that well! The two bombed chances would have made it a quality half and we would have put 50 on the board.

Laughton was his usual self. He asked the linesman to referee the majority of the 2nd half. And again, we come away from a game we've won wondering what Ronnie was on about.

On the actual game, Doddy was brlliant IMO, he was good in defence and finished 3 tries really well. 5 out of 7 kicks as well. Watson with two perfect kicks for Ainscough to move onto 11 tries for the season.

We go to Keighley full of confidence and I'm sure we'll put in a good effort against a solid team.

[PhillH]

So after all the doubts expressed on here came the convincing win I was always confident of, ha ha (_8o)

A much more complete performance than against York. Only poor finishing kept another 3 tries from being scored.

Not an easy pitch for them to get much space, but the centres are looking better every week.

Much better kicking game from Ian Watson today.

Well done Gavin Dodd on his hat-trick, should've been 4 mind you!

A win on Thursday night by more than 12 points would take the Lions ahead of Keighley in the league and signal this Lions side is a serious competitor in this league. Not impossible, but it will be a LOT tougher opposition than today.

[mark richardson]

Sit down Phil you almost praised dodd!

[PhillH]

Sit down Phil you almost praised dodd!

I'll irritate you further then and say the touch judges did a good job today as well, as they were called on numerous times when Mr Laughton seemed to lose track of what was going on.As I've always maintained - Dodd is not a bad player if you only judge him on what he does with the ball in hand. His weaknesses are in defence, which is why at this level you cannot get away with playing him at centre and if he is in the side it needs to be on the wing. Today his defence was never tested as Hunslet lacked the quality to put any pressure on the Swinton defence in wide areas (or indeed put much pressure on any aspect of the Swinton defence). It is likely to be a different story on Thursday, but we'll see.

[duffymoon]

Keighley had no game this weekend which will make the task on Thursday even more difficult.

[RIGGY]

And well done to Gavin for passing the 1000 career points mark with his second try of the match and congratulations also to Martin Ainscough as his first try was his 100th of his career.

Keep it up Lions

[mark richardson]

I'll irritate you further then and say the touch judges did a good job today as well, as they were called on numerous times when Mr Laughton seemed to lose track of what was going on.As I've always maintained - Dodd is not a bad player if you only judge him on what he does with the ball in hand. His weaknesses are in defence, which is why at this level you cannot get away with playing him at centre and if he is in the side it needs to be on the wing. Today his defence was never tested as Hunslet lacked the quality to put any pressure on the Swinton defence in wide areas (or indeed put much pressure on any aspect of the Swinton defence). It is likely to be a different story on Thursday, but we'll see.

Praising the touch judges last time must rate as the most bizarre post youve ever written!
I like dodd,hes unpredictable and in the modern game thats rare.
Ill irritate you a little now for the umpteenth time,i think ainscough is proving you very wrong with your centre made stand off comments of a few weeks ago.

[PhillH]

Well the linesmen definitely got Mr Laughton out of a hole or two yesterday. I'm not sure what he routinely focusses on as the game goes on around him, but he missed quite a few things. It almost got embarrasing in the second half with several long pauses when he was clearly consulting and unsure what to do, even having to reverse his initial (wrong) decision on a couple of occasions.

The point about Ainscough was not related to his level of ability nor effectiveness par se, more a reflection of the type of player I believe he is - from the point of view of achieving that all important balance to the team. Stand offs come in many different shapes / sizes / with different qualities. Some are quasi scrum halves, others could just as easily play loose forward, others are more like centres. I still put Ainscough in the latter category.

So why is this important? Well Ainscough isn't a natural when it comes to tactical kicking and he isn't blessed with top drawer pace. Plus he isn't the type to make play in the middle of the pitch and direct the forwards around. This has meant a big reliance on Ian Watson for aspects of kicking and making the play, which has made the side very one dimensional at times and meant that Watson having an off day takes the effectiveness of the whole side down a notch. Given Ainscough isn't really the answer to giving a second option in these aspects, the growing emphasis is upon Chaz I'Anson doing more, which has been a big factor in the uplift in form recently.

The other aspect is that the Watson - Ainscough combination leaves a lack of a natural support runner from the half backs, someone pacey to be on the shoulder when a forward makes a half break and turn it into a try scoring opportunity. This was a big problem earlier in the season when chances were being created but not taken. Its improving steadily through other players becoming more aware of the need to attack in numbers, but still a bit of a way to go on that element I'd say.

So I don't believe Martin Ainscough is proving me wrong at all - I never said he was a bad player! Its just a question of getting the right chemistry in key positions.

[lions4eva]

Well the linesmen definitely got Mr Laughton out of a hole or two yesterday. I'm not sure what he routinely focusses on as the game goes on around him, but he missed quite a few things. It almost got embarrasing in the second half with several long pauses when he was clearly consulting and unsure what to do, even having to reverse his initial (wrong) decision on a couple of occasions.

The point about Ainscough was not related to his level of ability nor effectiveness par se, more a reflection of the type of player I believe he is - from the point of view of achieving that all important balance to the team. Stand offs come in many different shapes / sizes / with different qualities. Some are quasi scrum halves, others could just as easily play loose forward, others are more like centres. I still put Ainscough in the latter category.

So why is this important? Well Ainscough isn't a natural when it comes to tactical kicking and he isn't blessed with top drawer pace. Plus he isn't the type to make play in the middle of the pitch and direct the forwards around. This has meant a big reliance on Ian Watson for aspects of kicking and making the play, which has made the side very one dimensional at times and meant that Watson having an off day takes the effectiveness of the whole side down a notch. Given Ainscough isn't really the answer to giving a second option in these aspects, the growing emphasis is upon Chaz I'Anson doing more, which has been a big factor in the uplift in form recently.

The other aspect is that the Watson - Ainscough combination leaves a lack of a natural support runner from the half backs, someone pacey to be on the shoulder when a forward makes a half break and turn it into a try scoring opportunity. This was a big problem earlier in the season when chances were being created but not taken. Its improving steadily through other players becoming more aware of the need to attack in numbers, but still a bit of a way to go on that element I'd say.

So I don't believe Martin Ainscough is proving me wrong at all - I never said he was a bad player! Its just a question of getting the right chemistry in key positions.

"isn't blessed with top drawer pace" goes completely against your own points being made, as centres in this league tend to be fairly rapid.

[PhillH]

"isn't blessed with top drawer pace" goes completely against your own points being made, as centres in this league tend to be fairly rapid.

Ha Ha, Adam Higson's an excellent centre. Do you think his main attribute is speed?


Point is you cannot put Martin Ainscough in the "nippy runner" category of halfback. Mark Riley he aint. Totally different type of player altogether.


You're splitting hairs.

Edited by PhillH, 14 May 2012 - 10:37 AM.

[Bryce]

He's far more creative than a centre. And he does have a fair bit of pace on him, he makes the majority of our attacking breaks through the opposition defence.
I'd never play him in the centre. Especially seeing as Higson and Armstrong are playing well in the centres and we currently have three wingers fighting for the two positions in Mort, Dodd and Penny.

Ainscough at Stand-off is our leading try scorer and arguably our most consistent performer, and long may that continue!