27 replies to this topic

[John Drake]

The 2012 Alitalia European Cup tournament schedule is as follows:

14 Oct Scotland v Ireland (Meggetland, Edinburgh, 2pm)
19 Oct Ireland v England Knights (Belfast Harlequins, 7.30pm)
28 Oct Scotland v England Knights (Meggetland, Edinburgh, 2pm)

Are you looking forward to it? Which games are you planning to attend?

[Johnoco]

I'd like to see one of these games but impossible to do so. Wouldn't mind seeing the Ireland v England one in Belfast.

[Dave T]

Both Scotland games. Looking forward to them - after two of my most recent games being the Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final, it will be nice to be able to jump on a bus and go to a game just a couple of miles from home. Couple of quick pints and back home.

[EdinburghExile]

Even better, I live just along the canal from Meggetland, better than driving to the ###### end of Glasgow for games!

[brooza]

Unfortunately I live way too far out from any of those places so will have to give it a miss

Ce message a été modifié par brooza - 12 octobre 2012 - 09:45 .

[Johnoco]

Heard it finished Ireland 30 Scotland 18. Not much else at the moment. Dave?

[flyingking]

Match report here
http://www.rlef.eu.c...ort?RLE00000436

[EdinburghExile]

Whoever wrote the report forgot that Scotland played Samoa at Tynecastle in 2000.

[Dave T]

Scotland were disappointing for most of the first half tbh. They played one of the most basic gameplans I have seen - maybe understandable with the downpour just before kick off, but once they started to try and move the ball in the second half they troubled Ireland slightly.

Ireland looked the much better team with the ball in hand, and at one point it looked like they may get 50, so credit must go to Scotland for digging in.

I thought Scotland's biggest issue was the lack of go-forward from their back three, meaning that they were starting every set with weak go-forward. Their forwards worked hard, but the lack of talent in the backs really did show.

Whilst it was a very low crowd, the ground was really nice, and it will be good if they can get a few more in for the England Knights game. Nice clubhouse, where you could stand out on the terrace behind the sticks with your pint. I'll certainly be going again in a couple of weeks, and it is a shame that it looks like the Knights will be miles ahead of these teams. Would have been good if Italy had been able to play in this tournament too.

[EdinburghExile]

I was surprised how poor Scotland looked early on too, especially after they made Ireland look pretty poor in last year's fixture. Credit to Ireland for exploiting Scotland's obvious weakness on the left.

I can see England scoring 60 at a canter...

[Griff]

Whoever wrote the report forgot that Scotland played Samoa at Tynecastle in 2000.

And the Northern Union v Australia Test in 1912.

Obviously the first time since last time.

[Honor James]

England Knights coach Kieron Purtill is confident he can keep his 100 per cent record in charge of the side intact when the Knights travel to Belfast to face Ireland in their opening Alitalia European Cup game on Saturday October 20 (6.00pm).

Purtill has led the Knights to consecutive victories over France, Cumbria and Ireland since the team was inaugurated in 2011 and the current Huddersfield Giants assistant coach has been pleased with the squad’s progression ahead of Saturday’s contest.

“Things have been going really well so far and we’ve been building up nicely since first coming together,” said Purtill. “Ireland had a great win last weekend and it’s all set up well for the weekend.

“We beat Ireland comfortably earlier this season but I don’t think that has a bearing this weekend. Their squad is very different from that match and they’re building towards the World Cup now. They have some very good senior pros in their ranks who will certainly be a threat and we need to be on our game to compete.

“We need to be disciplined and make sure we play our game and continue the legacy that the previous players who have played for the Knights have left behind - which is to perform at the highest level and put yourself in Steve McNamara’s shop window.”

The opportunity to impress England coach McNamara has already paid off for several of the players who were involved with the Knights last season, with Lee Mossop, Richie Myler, Liam Farrell, Josh Charnley and Stefan Ratchford all making the step-up to the Elite Training Squad and Purtill believes that highlights the success of England’s development pathway.

“The introduction of the Knights has helped the progression of players among the teams,” he said. “There’s been a great level of transition from Academy through to senior level and it’s shown that if you play well for the Knights you can earn your place in the senior squad.

“Previously, players coming out of the Academy would go for several years without an international game we’ve changed that by creating the Knights and giving the best young English players as many opportunities to compete on the international stage as possible and it has been a success so far.

“Playing these types of games is massive for the player’s development but outside of that, coming into the England camp, interacting with players from other clubs and knowing what it takes to be part of the England set-up is an important aspect of the Knights.

“We’re educating our young players so that the transition to senior level is easier when that time comes and hopefully this group of players will be ready if Steve McNamara calls on them for the Rugby League World Cup 2013.”

England begin their Alitalia European Cup campaign against Ireland in Belfast’s Deramore Park on Saturday October 20 (6.00pm) before taking on Scotland at the Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh, on Sunday October 28 (2.00pm).
-ends-

Nathan Clarke
Media Executive

[The real Mac]

Just out of the Ireland England match. Decent crowd, for rl here. Good match, England not as good as score suggests. Englands forwards very dominant.

[The real Mac]

Just out of the Ireland England match. Decent crowd, for rl here. Good match, England not as good as score suggests. Englands forwards very dominant.

[Johnoco]

Just out of the Ireland England match. Decent crowd, for rl here. Good match, England not as good as score suggests. Englands forwards very dominant.

Were the crowd mostly first time RL'ers?

[winnyason]

What are we talking 2 thousand? I cannot get figure online.

[Griff]

Just out of the Ireland England match. Decent crowd, for rl here. Good match, England not as good as score suggests. Englands forwards very dominant.

England had far more sets than the Irish. They (the Irish) did well for the first twenty minutes of each half then started leaking tries.

Despite the score, the Irish can probably take more from this than the Knights.

[Griff]

What are we talking 2 thousand? I cannot get figure online.

A few hundred. Lots of mums and dads. The Irish people who were there were, I suspect, mostly involved in the game over there in one way or another.

[Honor James]

IRELAND 4 ENGLAND KNIGHTS 56
Deramore Park, Belfast

England Knights proved too strong for the hosts on their entry into the Alitalia European Cup, completing their second success over the Wolfhounds in 2012 after a 62-4 triumph at St Helens in June. Mark Aston’s Irishmen came into the game full of confidence after their win in game one over Scotland but the greater pace and experience of the England aspirants proved to be decisive.

Not that it looked to be the case for a closely fought opening half hour with little between the combatants, the home side earning plaudits for their stoic defensive effort. It took just three minute for the Knights to open the scoring when an attack down the left on the last saw Jodie Broughton cross for an unconverted try. Knights looked to have scored again but the pass was ruled forward and, from the let off, the Wolfhounds gained significant possession and forced an error from Chris Riley which Liam Finn pounced on.

A couple of drives later Ireland found space on the left hand side and a long pass from skipper Finn put Josh Toole in at the corner for his first international try, to level. The sides battled it out in a midfield stalemate until the 23rd minute when Michael Lawrence, in the second row, offloaded to Kieron Dixon who touched down to score his debut international try.

In the next concerted set, St Helens-bound Jordan Turner broke through to cross, Luke Gale converting to make it 14-4. Again Ireland looked to have settled back into the game but an error gave the Knights possession in prime field position and Tom Burgess smashed his way over, Gale landing his second conversion. With half time imminent Turner made a break through the middle and fed his skipper Danny Houghton who touched down to make it 26-4 at the break.

Kieron Purtill’s side kept the pressure on after the break and it paid off 13 minutes into the half when a chip through from Gale found Broughton who beat Tim Bergin to the ball, Gale’s conversion making it 32-4.
Ireland again rallied but a Sean Hesketh knock on gave the Knights back possession and they capitalised through man of the match Gale who also added the extras, his final points tally being 20.

Soon after George Burgess burst through the defensive line and put the impressive Lawrence over for a deserved score.
Ireland were forced to defend back to back sets and their defensive line was again breached by another powerful George Burgess burst which brought up the half century.

With two minutes remaining the troublesome Broughton broke through and fed Tom Burgess who fended off two defenders for his side’s tenth and final try.

Despite the defeat, there were a number of positives for Mark Aston to take from the game, not least strong performances from Joshua Toole, Luke Ambler and Belfast boy Matty Hadden. “We are very disappointed because we know that’s not our best performance,” Aston commented. “We were looking to build on a good win against Scotland last week but the Knights are a more powerful side.”

“This fixture is important for us as we are looking to improve for the World Cup because we have to. In 2013 we won’t be playing just any sides we’ll be facing Australia, the full England outfit and Fiji so we need to be at our best.”

While Ireland look to next year, England Knights go to Edinburgh next week to take on Scotland knowing a win will make them 2012 Alitalia European Cup Champions.

IRELAND
Greg McNally, Tom Bergin, Stuart Littler, Joshua Toole, John O’Donnell, James Mendeika, Liam Finn, Luke Ambler, Carl Sice, Sean Hesketh, Callum Casey, Elliott Cosgrove, Tyrone McCarthy
Substitutes: Colton Roche, Wayne Kerr, Matty Hadden, Sam Wellens
Try: Toole (13)

ENGLAND KNIGHTS:
Chris Riley, Kieran Dixon, Jordan Turner, Rhys Evans, Jodie Broughton, Dan Sarginson, Luke Gale, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, George Burgess, Jack Hughes, Michael Lawrence, Mike Cooper
Substitutes: Tom Burgess, Shaun Lunt, Chris Clarkson, Ben Jones-Bishop
Tries: Broughton (3, 53), Dixon (23), Turner (25), T. Burgess (31, 78), Houghton (38), Gale (59), Lawrence (64), G. Burgess (72)
Goals: Gale 8

Men of the match:
IRELAND – Luke Ambler KNIGHTS – Luke Gale
Referee: Ben Thaler (England)
Half time: 4-26
Attendance: 774

PHIL CAPLAN
RLEF MEDIA OFFICER

[Griff]

8 Hesketh, 10 Ambler 17 Wellings.

Apart from that, not bad.

774 ?