Win - but not convincing.

[glemiln]

One would expect Hemel to respond after their 60 points thrashing last week, but it seems that we did not after ours at Keighley?

It's hard enough following matters from afar, so I must sympathise with you local fans as we continue to stutter from game to game.

The reading is all too familiar - scrappy, handling errors, soft tackling and rare moments of fluidity - and that's just today!

Missing a few 'regulars' we might have been, but where was the commitment that gained our fine win at Crusaders?

It worries me that we are not moving forward as we should be, especially following our brief Championship stint, when other teams are progressing.

For starters, watching a video of today's Warrington/Leigh cup tie should help.  We must aspire to the levels that Leigh demonstated in meeting a top SL side.

Fast play the ball/rucks, inventive handling and 100% commitment - otherwise we will stay cemented in League 1.

Certainly, I hope that my worries are cast aside with positive results (and play) for the next two (season defining) away games.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Yep, it certainly wasn't a classic yesterday. We only played in fits and starts and really struggled to raise our game. If I was being unkind I'd say Hemel brought us down to their level. Having said that they stuck to the task well and they never stopped giving it their best shot. Jay Mel Coleman has been around a long time and he leads them around the park pretty well. The atmosphere was really flat both on and off the pitch. It's been generally good on Saturdays but yesterday was a game to forget.

It was good to see John Cookson back in the fold, he always gives 100% effort and he gives the pack some size and go forward. Yates was busy as usual with a mixture of good and bad kicks and a brilliant individual try. I thought we missed Crooky's guile around the pitch although Mc Clurg was always driving us forward with his scoots from the play the ball. I'm still a bit concerned as to the other key positions, out half and loose forward. Without Tony Suffolk we looked short of ideas as to breaking the defensive line.

[mickhornet]

I'm glad it was Hemel, and not Thunder or Oldham. I think the lads are traumatised with the Tony Suffolk affair, death threats and all. We have a week to get their heads right.

It may have scuppered us, we shall soon know.

[Larry Jones]

I noticed the official attendance was 311 even for Hornets that is not good. Oxford on the other hand seem to be building up quite a fan base over 500 yesterday quite impressive I thought. To be fair Hornets are still in the pack of a competitive field. Barrow and Keighley are two pretty big fish in the pond.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

The fixture list has done us no favours at all this time. All those away games, some really tough ones. We then get Hemel at home followed by two more tough away games. Next home match Coventry ! No disrespect to either Hemel or Coventry but they're hardly attractive games to floating fans. I suspect quite a few chose Mayfield versus Leigh Miners or Warrington versus Leigh on the TV instead of turning up at Spotland.

[Hornetto]

One would expect Hemel to respond after their 60 points thrashing last week, but it seems that we did not after ours at Keighley?

It's hard enough following matters from afar, so I must sympathise with you local fans as we continue to stutter from game to game.

The reading is all too familiar - scrappy, handling errors, soft tackling and rare moments of fluidity - and that's just today!

Missing a few 'regulars' we might have been, but where was the commitment that gained our fine win at Crusaders?

It worries me that we are not moving forward as we should be, especially following our brief Championship stint, when other teams are progressing.

For starters, watching a video of today's Warrington/Leigh cup tie should help.  We must aspire to the levels that Leigh demonstated in meeting a top SL side.

Fast play the ball/rucks, inventive handling and 100% commitment - otherwise we will stay cemented in League 1.

Certainly, I hope that my worries are cast aside with positive results (and play) for the next two (season defining) away games.

I'm not entirely sure you can question the commitment. The club and the team do what they can with what they have. Yes, we could be more consistent, but we ask a lot of our players on what are quite modest terms. We have the best side our budget can produce, but I think that our 'brief championship stint' may have raised people's expectations just a little too far.

 

Yes, yesterday's game was a bit flat - and played on the first 'nice Saturday' of the summer which may have had an influence - but the club battles on as best it can. Next week we go to Newcastle (who play on a plastic pitch) - and the've had buckets of cash chucked at them by their new owners: Newcastle Falcons Rugby *nion. (I'd rather be part of something owned by the fans than owned a *nion club).

 

Ultimately, we make what progress we can. We have more engagement with the local community than ever before and lots of people working extremely hard to make sure that we continue to have a team to watch.

[glemiln]

Hornetto - it was a missed opportunity yesterday to improve not just our points difference (I'm sure it will decide the play-offs), but to regain some momentum and consistency into the next two crucial away games and forward into the top five play-offs.  That we got dragged into a "slow motion affair" and were one of "two sides clearly out of ideas" was not expected.  Ian Talbot said (in his post match video interview) that the new playing surface had been watered making handling difficult and preventing Hornets playing the way they had wanted!   If the plastic one at Newcastle is watered next week (and temperatures could be very high) it will prove to be an interesting and steamy spectacle!

We need to replicate the performance that brought our fine win at Crusaders (especially after their 34-10 win over Keighley this afternoon!) - the stakes are high - and hopefully our confidence and approach will be too.

Certainly it's hats off to everyone working hard in the club's interest.

[excolt]

I am not sure comments such as Keighley are a Championship side and Hemel is a potential banana skin help.players start to belive it, let them worry about us.We where the best team against both Newcastle and Oldham, with Crooky Bloomfield and Ratu hopefully back fit 4 points can be had.

[Larry Jones]

In reality Keighley are a championship side. Hornets are doing so much right off the field. Community and player welfare are two big ones! They are market leaders in their division at this. Five years ago it was not on the radar. The club also seem quite stable the coach is being given the loyalty he deserves. Just the crowds that have always been a disappointment, and are not improving fast.

[Anita Bath]

the vast expansion of the lower divisions over recent seasons has watered down the product...look at the division and where all those expansion teams stand. Attendence problems are 90per cent the responsibility of uneccessary and unwarranted expansion.

the footbal league make teams earn their spot in the bottom division so there is no watering down of talent. In RL its an old boys nod nod wink wink approach.

At some of the games there must be more officials and club staff than paying spectators.

[Larry Jones]

I agree to a point Anita, however I believe Coventry and Oxford have got mileage in them. The All Golds and Scorpions are abject failure's and need closing at seasons end.

I do think even closer to home Oldham should be made to leave Whitebank, that was a nod and a wink move. The RFL should also be more active in the farce at York.

We need to look beyond the 62 but not at any cost.