14 replies to this topic

[duffymoon]

Not at our best today but still a good effort against an established Championship side who were bigger and faster than us.Sheer guts and determination kept us in the game at times as well as a couple of fantastic opportunist tries when we were under the cosh!.Just a shame that when we got close we gifted the initiative back to the visitors with unforced errors.As ever Morts kicking was exemplary although for me he does not possess the attacking prowess of Ritchie Hawkyard especially when he joins the line however absolutely no doubt that he deserves his place in the side.A very impressive performance from Chas Ianson at Stand Off ,that first try was a joy if only we could have converted some of the possession we enjoyed after that first score into points.Special mention of Kenny Penny who despite all the controversy at the start of the season has been excellent and kept us in the game with his try and the moment he forced the Eagles player into touch when it looked all over a try.Dale Cunniffe also had a great game.

Edited by duffymoon, 01 July 2012 - 03:52 PM.

[mark richardson]

Well we made one too many mistakes and we gave away the ball cheaply once too often,but a massive effort from the boys and some great tries from I`Anson and Penny.
Sheffield were just a little bit too strong for us and their hooker a constant menace with his little darts and "flat" distribution from dummy half.
I thought Armstrong had a strong game as did Walker again at loose forward. Morrison ran his blood to water as usual as did Cunniffe who no doubt will have his shortcomings examined in minutiae shortly.
We are nearly but not quite there.
Well done anyway Lions.


We posted at the same time so Ill move my post to here.

[LOYALION]

ONE too many mistakes? We made FAR too many mistakes in my book. Im soooo disappointed that we didn't go on to win this game. We matched up to them in every department at times and all their tries came of lost possession or a penalty. Their 9, who was Henderson, had the distinct advantage of never being onside throughout the match! Ianson had a superb game and was immense in defence for a 6.
Did anyone else think that having Sam Reay on the bench was a bad choice? I'm assuming if we lost a forward he would go to centre, with Ainscough and Ianson shuffling along, but the fact that he didn't get a game meant extra work for the pack!

[Bryce]

Generally agree with the previous comments. Mort's kicking was even better than last week, and he was better in defence, but going forward, Richie offers a lot more IMO. The saving tackle from Kev Penny was awesome. Not for the sheer pace, but for the awareness to make his move early and get to the opposite side of the pitch. That break from Sheffield was also one of the reasons I wouldn't play Martin Ainscough at centre. I'm probably more annoyed at losing this game as most of the Sheffield tries were very soft and mainly came from our general stupidity with the ball. Our completion percentage must have been very low today, the amount of times we offloaded straight into Sheffield hands and threw the ball away in our own half was ridiculous. For me that game was there for the taking, if we'd had more ideas late in the tackle count and if we'd managed complete basic defending.

We missed Higson and Daz Hawkyard, even though Chris Clarke has impressed me in the second row. His pass to Kev Penny today was one of the highlights of the game IMO, along with the break and try from Tom Armstrong. I've said it before, and I have no doubt that I'll say it again, when we get a penalty in the opposition 20, why do we NEVER take the easy 2 points. I don't care if it's 0-0, I don't care if we're 30-0 up, take the 2 points! We've got Ian Mort in our 13, use him to full effect!

Moving swiftly on, the chances of making the top 6 are now fairly slim. We would need to beat at least one of Halifax, Fev and Leigh as well as Dewsbury away and Keighley at the LSV.

Overall, a lot of passion, heaps of entertainment, but only 1 point again.

Also, these rugby league "fans" that keep predicting us to lose 50-0 at home every week to the top CC teams are really annoying me. Please look at previous results...Featherstone, Batley, Halifax and now Sheffield have all tried and failed to put a big score on us. Only leigh have given us a hiding at the LSV and I refuse to see that as a home game. Give us the respect we deserve!

Onto 'Fax in two weeks, come on you Lions!

[duffymoon]

I don't think there's any chance of us making the play offs now,not that I'm complaining.Im more than happy with what I've seen this season,even though results haven't always gone our way every game has been thoroughly entertaining and I look forward to every match.We just need Agecroft for 2013 or at least something positive to top everything off.

[Bryce]

Very true. I don't consider the season a failure if we don't make the play-offs. We've competed week in, week out in our first season at this level for 10 years. Let's not give up all hope though, we can compete with any team in our league as we've already proved. Next season is the big one, on and off the field. We need to retain a lot of this team and pick up a fair few more players. We'll be playing 26 league games next season so we need a bigger playing squad. And as you've said Duffymoon, we need progress at Agecroft.

[hilly]

sam reay on the bench never got on the pitch the lad must wonder what he as done wrong fresh legs near the end when some of our backs where tiring seems a very strange decision not to play him the lad is still at the club after not been selected for weeks gets his chance and the coach wont play him feel sorry for sam he always gives is all when he plays he must be gutted

[PhillH]

Another chapter in the tale "Swinton Lions, Championship Nearly Men 2012". Steve McCormack tinkered with a few things, but unfortunately it didn't change the script of taking no more than a bonus point.

Adam Higson was a big loss today, as his bulk out wide would've been a major asset against the Eagles centres. I was looking forward to seeing him clash with Yere in particular, a pity it never happened as it would've shaken the grandstands.

Sheffield made a very impressive start. But although put onto the back foot, the Lions stayed composed, weathered the storm, then hit back with what was a truly top class try from I'Anson and a touchline conversion just to rub the salt in. Sheffield were visibly deflated and there followed a good spell of Lions pressure; I felt another score at that time might have broken the will of the Eagles, but crucially there was no impact on the scoreboard until a really soft walk-in try at the other let them off the hook. I agree with Bryce that penalties in kickable positions ought to be taken, Ian Mort would hardly have missed from there and the shape of the game would've been different had he landed it. What an exemplary display of goal kicking Ian Mort produced today, literally faultless.

The Eagles always had their noses in front after that and it was "same old, same old" really.

Loads of effort, loads of promise, but peppered with really silly mistakes that gifted the Eagles prime field position which they willingly capitalised on. Dropped ball aplenty in the Lions own half, there cannot be much excuse at this level for twice throwing the ball raggedly from the base of the scrum, 4 tries conceded on the back of penalties, a patchy kicking game, breaking open the Eagles defence but not being clinical a handful of times...... and so it went on. Some of the players appeared to just stop concentrating for patches of the game.

By the way, Bryce; out of fairness to Martin Ainscough - note it was Dale Cunniffe that missed the tackle that would've led to a Sheffield try but for the intervention of Kevin Penny from the other side of the field. Great effort from Penny and nothing gets a crowd on its feet like a pacey winger racing away, even if the pass to him from Clarke was a yard forward (_;o) Its a measure of Penny's performances that the news of Rob Foxen moving to Oldham has not created much comment on here, a sea change from a few months ago.

Did the tinkering work? I'Anson looked more comfortable at 6 and shaded it as my man-of-the-match. I don't think Ritchie Hawkyard at hooker is any major improvement on Ashall, however Ian Mort's goal kicking is much needed and a place needs to be found for him. I've said all along Martin Ainscough has the style of a centre, felt that he did OK and came up with a nice opportunist try at a crucial time to get the Lions back in the game, but on a couple of occasions struggled to contain Yere's physicality when defending.

I too feel sorry for Sam Reay, he hardly put a foot wrong at Huddersfield but the bottom line is that its not a good sign if he cannot get game time even when Higson's injured. Its only going to get harder for Reay to get a chance, as Al Hurst is now recovered from injury and also looking to get back in.

[Bryce]

The tackle was missed by both IMO Phil. Ainscough was too far across, meaning no cover was given. He had a decent game though don't get me wrong. We also need a proper loose forward!

Can't believe Reay didn't get any game time. What was the point of putting him on the bench when he's going to be a spectator anyway?! I agree with you Phil, with Al Hurst back, I can't see Reay getting a look in. Although we are seeing some squad rotation so hopefully all the lads will get game time before the season ends.

[RIGGY]

According to Steve, Adam Higson injured his knee in training on Thursday and Carl Forster was unavailable as he played for St Helens Academy on Friday night against Hull KR scoring two tries.

Lets hope everyone is fit for the Halifax game in two weeks.

[marshy1]

Another chapter in the tale "Swinton Lions, Championship Nearly Men 2012". Steve McCormack tinkered with a few things, but unfortunately it didn't change the script of taking no more than a bonus point.

Adam Higson was a big loss today, as his bulk out wide would've been a major asset against the Eagles centres. I was looking forward to seeing him clash with Yere in particular, a pity it never happened as it would've shaken the grandstands.

Sheffield made a very impressive start. But although put onto the back foot, the Lions stayed composed, weathered the storm, then hit back with what was a truly top class try from I'Anson and a touchline conversion just to rub the salt in. Sheffield were visibly deflated and there followed a good spell of Lions pressure; I felt another score at that time might have broken the will of the Eagles, but crucially there was no impact on the scoreboard until a really soft walk-in try at the other let them off the hook. I agree with Bryce that penalties in kickable positions ought to be taken, Ian Mort would hardly have missed from there and the shape of the game would've been different had he landed it. What an exemplary display of goal kicking Ian Mort produced today, literally faultless.

The Eagles always had their noses in front after that and it was "same old, same old" really.

Loads of effort, loads of promise, but peppered with really silly mistakes that gifted the Eagles prime field position which they willingly capitalised on. Dropped ball aplenty in the Lions own half, there cannot be much excuse at this level for twice throwing the ball raggedly from the base of the scrum, 4 tries conceded on the back of penalties, a patchy kicking game, breaking open the Eagles defence but not being clinical a handful of times...... and so it went on. Some of the players appeared to just stop concentrating for patches of the game.

By the way, Bryce; out of fairness to Martin Ainscough - note it was Dale Cunniffe that missed the tackle that would've led to a Sheffield try but for the intervention of Kevin Penny from the other side of the field. Great effort from Penny and nothing gets a crowd on its feet like a pacey winger racing away, even if the pass to him from Clarke was a yard forward (_;o) Its a measure of Penny's performances that the news of Rob Foxen moving to Oldham has not created much comment on here, a sea change from a few months ago.

Did the tinkering work? I'Anson looked more comfortable at 6 and shaded it as my man-of-the-match. I don't think Ritchie Hawkyard at hooker is any major improvement on Ashall, however Ian Mort's goal kicking is much needed and a place needs to be found for him. I've said all along Martin Ainscough has the style of a centre, felt that he did OK and came up with a nice opportunist try at a crucial time to get the Lions back in the game, but on a couple of occasions struggled to contain Yere's physicality when defending.

I too feel sorry for Sam Reay, he hardly put a foot wrong at Huddersfield but the bottom line is that its not a good sign if he cannot get game time even when Higson's injured. Its only going to get harder for Reay to get a chance, as Al Hurst is now recovered from injury and also looking to get back in.

Higson injured his knee in training i understand so changes were going to happen.I agrre that I'Anson was a better choice for MOM as he had a good all round game.
Mort is for me a must on the team sheet sadly someone will lose out in this instance it looks like Ashall, although I do sometimes think we could involve switching Watto at times, just to freshen things up.
Really disappointed we lost today as that was tey another game there for the taking, the plus of all this is that we should be better prepared fo next season.
On a lighter note nice to see you back and we can now cancel the search party Phil.

[mark richardson]

Higson injured his knee in training i understand so changes were going to happen.I agrre that I'Anson was a better choice for MOM as he had a good all round game.
Mort is for me a must on the team sheet sadly someone will lose out in this instance it looks like Ashall, although I do sometimes think we could involve switching Watto at times, just to freshen things up.
Really disappointed we lost today as that was tey another game there for the taking, the plus of all this is that we should be better prepared fo next season.
On a lighter note nice to see you back and we can now cancel the search party Phil.

Nice to see him back? I had so much more spare time last week I decorated the hall stairs and landing.
Nice to have him back my a#$@.

[marshy1]

So that's where he was Mark.?

[mark richardson]

Yes I switched off the wi .fi or we would still have been sanding down now....

[wayne_r]

In my humble opinion I thought Sheffield moved the ball more fluently than us and had a pack that made more yards with every drive - due to the fact that they ran from deep when taking the ball - whereas our line was generally flat. I would have played Reay at centre from the outset, sorry to say it but Mills doesn't look good enough as an experienced player with his size advantage - he didn't have any impact on the game yesterday especially when compared to Riley who ran the ball in really hard. As good as Armstrong is - he is not in my book playing well as a centre - with Penny on his wing he should be looking feed Penny the ball as often as possible where I think Armstrong too often looks to finish the move off himself - as seen yesterday give Penny the ball often enough and he will score a pan load of tries. I would also consider Morrison at loose forward because he has a good pair of hands but isn't big enouigh for prop.
I thought we were going to win it yesterday when the Sheffiled number 7 went off injured - so much for that thought........I think it is fair to say all Sheffield's tries were scored after silly penalties of mistakes - not due to clever or inventive play...........the next few weeks will be interesting..........