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gogledd

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Posts posted by gogledd

  1. So far, a convincing win for Keighley and an expected win for Workington - although it wasn't as big a difference as I was expecting.

    First home game of the season for the North Wales Cru...we had a bye in Round 1, won away at Cornwall last weekend... a great first half but intensity dropped second half. Midlands are up and running with a big score against Newcastle, so it will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes have developed since last season. The games between the 'Canes (or the Coventry Bears) and us have always been close with us losing out on a couple of occasions. I think it could be a close game - but North Wales Crusaders will win.

    I just went onto the OurLeague app and the Championship and League 1 tables are still set at the finish of the season 2023 - pretty disappointing considering its an RFL backed enterprise. Do they really care about games outside the Super League?

     

    Oldham will beat Hornets handsomely. 

  2. Just go back in from the Cornwall game. Travelled down on Saturday. Overnight on Saturday and Sunday night in Truro - so luckily the ground swap/ time cahnge didn't effect the fans that travelled down to support the Crusaders. 

    What was a shock was we played on a 4G pitch in a college - no seating, standing area behind the goals, no food, no drink...I'm sure that when North Wales Crusaders applies last year (18th June) to have a game at Eirias Park on the second pitch, we were turned down - even though we still had the same changing rooms, access to hospitality a bar and food.... the RFL seem to have been very lenient with Cornwall allowing the game to go ahead with severely limited facilities. ....That said,  I'm glad it wen ahead as it would have been a long trip to find out it was postponed! 

    First half, we were clinical with very few errors and hardly a penalty. We seemed to drop our concentration second half and Cornwall upped their game scoring some nice tries - although the final one was well after the hooter should have gone! 

    Looking forward to next weeks game at Eirias Park - only a 92 mile round trip for this one!

  3. 6 hours ago, Indigogo said:

    Cornwall were OK but I think it was fair to say they were beat after 20 minutes when the score was 22-0. I don't think they ever gave in though and this was only their second hit out after their defeat to York Acorn in the CC, so there might be more to come. I think the pitch was a leveller in some respects, and on another Keighley could have posted 80 points.

    Cornwall suffered an injury to their half back that required surgery and 15 stitches so I don't think he will be available for a while. They also had another play sin binned for dissent, not sure if that would warrant a ban or not but either way he'd be available this week.

    I'd expect Crusaders to beat Cornwall comfortably.

    I'm hoping we don't go there expecting to win...that happened at Rhyl last season and Cornwall racked up a winning score in the first half! Although we came back and made it close it was a salutary lesson that kick-started our winning streak

  4. I've been watching some of the Carcassonne games via their YouTube presence. Look like a very competent side. If, as is suspected, they do come into League 1, how do you think they would get on?

    1 hour ago, audois said:

    Carcassonne got the first place even if Albi have a two games. More likely the other 4 could gain - Limoux have only one game at Toulouse while FCL has TO at home with St Esteve away - unlikey. Pia coming on the railings having Avignon away and home with Albi.

     

  5. I still remember 2014 when North Wales Crusaders got booted out of the Champions ship when FIVE were demoted to League 1 in one season. I'm glad at least they're not repeating that scenario for the current Championship crop of teams. 

    The whole promotion system between Ch and L1 seems very skewed to favouring Championship teams who are generally better funded and have larger and more experienced squads. I'm not saying L1 teams can't get promoted but it now seems harder....theres only one guaranteed promotion spot for the L1 winners, the playoff winners now have to beat Championship opposition after battling through the end of season rounds of the playoffs. 

    At least I suppose we all know what hurdles us L1 teams face.

    • Like 5
  6. The team I follow week in week out.... North Wales Crusaders, since their formation in 2011. Previously  i followed Crusaders RL in Super League - but on their demise decided Catalans Dragons could do with my support whenever I get a chance to watch them (in the UK and France)

    The teams I managed for ten years until recently...North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair Rugby League and Wales Wheelchair Rugby League

    The teams I play for....Chester Gladiators Masters RL are my club team...and I'm very proud to play for Wales Masters RL when selected (6 caps so far).... and since their formation in Wales, the Armed Forces Associates Masters RL. I'm also looking forward to playing in the Wales Masters Origin Series this season (as one of the exiles - although I live in Wales I'm classed as an exile because I play for Chester).

    • Like 5
  7. Well played Swinton, a well deserved win. Ill discipline cost us we has a spell of 11 v 13 plus at least 60 minutes of 12 v 13; given that 12 - 40 was about the best we could hope for. A decent second half from Crusaders in very blustery conditions.

    I'll probably go along to the Swinton v Widnes game next weekend to see how the two Championship sides do against each other.

  8. Midlands Hurricanes didn't play inside the Alexander Stadium last season, but on the training pitch you can see outside the stadium on the aerial shots. I think they're moving inside this season. Stadium CSM (Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay) has a lot more going for it than a few scruffy hedges!

  9. 1 hour ago, glossop saint said:

    I suppose with something like this they require 'investment' and sponsorship to make it happen. They can't go relying on away fans even if they make the SL.

     

    What makes you think they don't have decent support already? I went to an Elite 1 game in Stad Albert Domec vs Lezignan and there was a decent crowd there - I'd guess around 1500 to 2000. They could grow that with the attraction of visiting UK rugby league teams.

     

    Nobody should make a plan for a rugby league side which relies on away fans! Away fans are a bonus on top of all the other season tickets, home ticket sales, sponsorship, planing, sales and merchandise.

    • Like 10
  10. Back to the topic of Carcassonne....I'm in two minds; I love to see more teams in League 1 and I'd love a trip to Carcassone again - I've been on a couple of occasions and seen the Canaries play there against their close rivals. I follow them on their YouTube Channel and they look a skillful, well drilled team and potentially better than most in League 1, but I'm sure there will be people saying if they join they start at the bottom and work up.

    The other tack is to think will it weaken the current French leagues if one of the better teams leaves their system?

    But if they don't leave Elite 1 they have nowhere else to go , if they have ambition they'll want to progress to the Championship and eventually Super League.

    I like the  idea of the top Elite 2 teams playing a series with top League 1 sides and the same for Elite 1 vs Championship - it could be done at the end of 2025 to give IMG/RFL some idea if the leagues are comparable/ compatable and end up with a great UK/French club contest at the season end.

    • Like 5
  11. 18 hours ago, EggFace said:

    So Truo is like like Carlisle and Wrexham in regards to Sporting code.

    Wrexham FC are getting regular 10.000 crowds at home games and probably have the best away support in their league too....on the flip side they priced out North Wales Crusaders in 2015 and unfortunately theres no way the Racecourse stadium will be shared with a RL team .....so no, Truro isn't anything like Wrexham

    • Like 5
  12. From a League 1 and North Wales Crusaders perspective its was an incredible season. Crusaders wer 0 wins from 7in the first half of the season. We played all but two of our home games 'on the road' (at Widnes, Llanrwst, Rhyl and Chester) and cme back from the dead to finish sixth. An incredible set of exciting play-off games saw us playing in the final for a place in the Championship!! Not to be; in the end Doncaster were the better team in the final. Congratulations to Donny and of course to Dewsbury who sprinted away from the rest of us.

    Significant that we lost West Wales Raiders andLondon Skolars and Newcastle Thunder are looking to their supporters for a resurrection. League 1 needs help...and quickly. 

    • Like 1
  13. 14 hours ago, WelshpoolMarauder said:

    How many full time staff do the Netherlands have? I doubt it's many, if any, yet they seem to be developing.

    It's not all about people being paid to develop the game, you need people with passion willing to give their own time to do things first. 

    The name that springs to mind for me in Wales is Ian Golden, who lives and breathes the game and has done an incredible amount for rugby league in Wales. What a difference another dozen like him could make.

    Wales don't ave any full time staff as far as I know.

    I know Ian very well and agree he is passionate about Rugby League in Wales and as a journalist has raised the profile of all variations of the game. But I know Ian will be the first to say, hes not a player, coach or manager, he's not a development officer and although he works his sock off, he's limited in his influence outside the press box.

    We do have some passionate and dedicated people in Wales Rugby League such as Mark Jones the current CEO, Steve Jones the Wales Wheelchair Development Officer - but they're working within severe financial constraints; the WRL really doesn't have any money and needs help from the RFL and others to ensure Wales remains a viable competitive RL nation.

    • Like 3
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