Women's Super Fours

[HolmeKnight]

I went to Leeds yesterday to watch the Valkyrie. Very disappointing.

This was arguably the strongest team they've put out all season. It was great to see Savannah, Lisa and especially Tara back. Tara played in the halves. Understandably she was a bit tentative in open play, the sidestep isn't really back yet but her kicking game still looked pretty good.

The Valks were competitive for 45-50 minutes at 10-10. It looked as though it could have gone either way, so it was worrying that Leeds got ahead and never looked back. At the end they looked as though they could score at will (and often did).

York finished above Leeds last year. They have made a lot of progress while we seem to have gone backwards. I'm expecting another battering next week at Wigan. I think our only hope of points is against an ageing St Helens but even that might be a step too far.

[StrennyKnight]

1 hour ago, HolmeKnight said:

I went to Leeds yesterday to watch the Valkyrie. Very disappointing.

This was arguably the strongest team they've put out all season. It was great to see Savannah, Lisa and especially Tara back. Tara played in the halves. Understandably she was a bit tentative in open play, the sidestep isn't really back yet but her kicking game still looked pretty good.

The Valks were competitive for 45-50 minutes at 10-10. It looked as though it could have gone either way, so it was worrying that Leeds got ahead and never looked back. At the end they looked as though they could score at will (and often did).

York finished above Leeds last year. They have made a lot of progress while we seem to have gone backwards. I'm expecting another battering next week at Wigan. I think our only hope of points is against an ageing St Helens but even that might be a step too far.

I was there too and can't disagree with anything you've said. Defensively Leeds looked pretty solid for the whole 80mins but we really did fall away quite badly in the end - our right side particularly looked all over the place against the pace of the winger, Stead. The effort was there from York but just lacking in pace and quality with ball in hand. Could be a tough few weeks for the Valks. Good to see Andrade back though and especially Tara after doubting if we would ever see her run out for the team again. She got through the full game and her positive kicking out of the hands has been sorely missed.

[HaxbyKnight]

Disappointing result. Good to have TJS and Savannah back, but where is Carrie Roberts, she hasn't even been in any squad yet? 

[HolmeKnight]

2 minutes ago, HaxbyKnight said:

Disappointing result. Good to have TJS and Savannah back, but where is Carrie Roberts, she hasn't even been in any squad yet? 

She played about 10 minutes in one of the early cup games and hasn't been seen since. Army commitments? Another notable absentee yesterday was Rhiannion Marshall who can be a game changer. 

[cookesp]

Can’t see anyone beating Wigan which really takes the edge off things. The women’s game this year has been really odd. Not sure if the format is working (from a fan point of view). As for the Valks, hopefully we can have a competitive team again soon.

[Nearenough]

the call from the new coach at the start of the season was that the valks need to chance the way they play. thats happened but not in a good way. the other 3 big teams have all progressed and we have gone backwards. lots of lost ground to make up to get back to where we were...problem is that even where we were wont be good enough anymore

[HolmeKnight]

I wasn't able to go to Wigan. I was hoping to go if only to see the new set-up at Orrell but as a York City season ticket holder I couldn't miss the first league match of the season (which turned out to be rather good!).

The scoreline was probably not unexpected but the reports I've read are quite negative: easy line breaks by Wigan, York never looking like scoring, poor discipline, etc.

I've really enjoyed watching the Valks over the last few years  -  tries through the middle from the big powerful forwards but also expansive moves leading to lots of tries for the wide players.  This season, the wingers have scored very few, replaced by a lot of aimless trundling.

The players don't seem happy with the way they're asked to play, so you have to question the coaching set-up. I'm hoping they can give a much better account of themselves against Leeds next week (unlikely) with back to back games against Saints to follow.

[Pixiedust]

13 hours ago, HolmeKnight said:

I wasn't able to go to Wigan. I was hoping to go if only to see the new set-up at Orrell but as a York City season ticket holder I couldn't miss the first league match of the season (which turned out to be rather good!).

The scoreline was probably not unexpected but the reports I've read are quite negative: easy line breaks by Wigan, York never looking like scoring, poor discipline, etc.

I've really enjoyed watching the Valks over the last few years  -  tries through the middle from the big powerful forwards but also expansive moves leading to lots of tries for the wide players.  This season, the wingers have scored very few, replaced by a lot of aimless trundling.

The players don't seem happy with the way they're asked to play, so you have to question the coaching set-up. I'm hoping they can give a much better account of themselves against Leeds next week (unlikely) with back to back games against Saints to follow.

The way Leon carries on with the girls is diabolical, her screams and swears at them, aims it at certain girls too. Just need to sit near him when they play. 

[rich f]

48 minutes ago, Pixiedust said:

The way Leon carries on with the girls is diabolical, her screams and swears at them, aims it at certain girls too. Just need to sit near him when they play. 

It's very worrying. I was a bit sceptical and surprised when he was appointed as he didn't fit the usual criteria of people the club seem to go for. Hes the complete opposite of Lindsay and had no experience of the womens game, but I was willing to give him a go and see how it went.

I have followed the Valks pretty closely over the last 5 years and really enjoyed their games and success, but the decline this season is shocking. They still have a lot of experienced quality players with some good youngsters coming through, but they are a long way off not only Wigan, but saints and Leeds now. It doesn't look a happy camp. The players look confused and some seem to be playing out of position most weeks. A lot of players have left under mysterious circumstances going to other clubs and some that are supposedly still here have disappeared without a trace. What is going on? 

It needed freshening up a bit when Lindsay left but I'm pretty sure shouting and swearing at them is not the way to go about it.

Its quite sad to see the decline and if it continues they won't even be in the top 4 next season and it will be very hard to get back there.

[cookesp]

Sadly, the season will soon be over. Complete review needed and probably a new coach. Maybe try and get Lindsey Anfield back and work alongside a younger, ideally female coach, if there are any.

[stevo56]

On a different tack the women's game really needs more teams to have a chance of winning the competitions and to catch the big four up.

Same four teams every year,with any of the others having virtually no chance of beating them makes for a pretty dull competition year after year.

Also makes a lot of  the early round fixtures irrelevant. 

Probably means there aren't enough players of the top level and needs some of the big Super Leagues to put out women's sides or put more money onto development. 

From the previous comments in the thread it could become a top three if the Valkyrie don't pull their finger out soon.

Cheers !!

 

 

 

 

[HaxbyKnight]

I noticed Tara Moxon played for Huddersfield this weekend. Has she left now?

[Nearenough]

the match report in the LExpress said something along the lines of 'york are in a rebuilding process'.....eh why? what needed rebuilding before this season started? nowt.

now it does... big time.... or our brief period as one the big teams in womens rugby league will be history if we dont get a new set up in charge quickly

this season has been a car crash

[HolmeKnight]

Well, that was more like it. At last a disciplined committed performance and a first win of the season against one of the top three. And the magic ingredient: the TJS factor.

Tara was superb for the first twenty minutes. A wonderful line break set up Tamzin for the first try, and then the famous side step was back to bamboozle four or five defenders for the second.

Subsequently, she needed extra strapping on her injured leg and although staying on the field for the remainder of the match, seemed to play more within herself. I hope it's nothing serious; the team needs her.

The Valks are now above Saint Helens on points difference with back to back games to come against them. It would be nice to cement third place to salvage a previously disappointing season but the signs today were all good. I enjoyed the match. At least I could go home after the Knights match and say I saw York beat Leeds!

[HolmeKnight]

St Helens vs York Valkyrie is live on Sky (main channel) tomorrow (Friday) ko 5.15.

I watched the highlights of Saints at Wigan (lost 56-4).  I know Wigan have the Indian sign over them at the moment but Saints' defence looked as bad as anything you'd see from the lower teams.

I just hope Valks can continue the momentum of last week's super win over Leeds.  

[Pixiedust]

Really hoping valks can continue on the back of last week. What a stupid time to play it though, Sat or Sunday would be fine. 

[HaxbyKnight]

51 minutes ago, Pixiedust said:

Really hoping valks can continue on the back of last week. What a stupid time to play it though, Sat or Sunday would be fine. 

It's a double header, Saints v Leeds on after the Valks. 

[RBKnight]

Get in  - great 28-18 win away to Saints, with the return fixture next week.

From what I saw of the match, (an hour over the shoulder of a friend's tablet!) Saints forwards could make absolutely no ground without a helping hand..... looking good for next week, and securing a place against Leeds in the play-offs.

Tara and Sav (naturally) to the fore.

[rich f]

Look a completely different team with Tara back. Very good performance and they look like they can get even better. There are still some sloppy passes but you can see what they are trying to do and when it clicks it will be very good. Im actually amazed how far they've come in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully it can continue and maybe, just maybe, another grand final could be on the cards..  what a transformation!

[HolmeKnight]

I thoroughly enjoyed that performance, although it got a bit scrappy in the second half. Yes, Tara makes a huge difference but remember Valks had been missing Savannah for most of the season. Her finishing today was superb; she has the power of a forward and the speed of a centre (a sort of prototype Eva Hunter!) and is also a non-stop tackler  -  a worthy player of the match.

It would have been great to be able to watch this standard of play throughout the season but at least they're coming good at the right time. A win next week would guarantee a semi-final place. Leeds away = a slight chance. Wigan away in the Grand Final? It would just be nice to get there!

[Nearenough]

Sav and TJS are absolute club legends. an amazing turn around of a season 

[HolmeKnight]

After that brilliant win by the Knights, I'm looking forward to seeing if the Valks can secure their play-off place tomorrow. 

Scary prospect ahead, however. Wigan got 50 against Leeds. When did Leeds ever concede 50?

[HolmeKnight]

Very disappointing today after two excellent performances. Last week we pressurised Saints into lots of errors; today they did the same to us. We must have used up a season's quota of knock-ons and dropped balls.

I don't know why Izzy Brennan gets so few minutes, rarely more than 15 or so.  She makes excellent ground going forward. Today she came on for the last ten minutes and scored a super try but by then it was too late.

So it comes down to next week's matches. Either Saints need to beat Leeds while we (inevitably) lose to Wigan, or if both lose it will be a question of who loses by fewer. At least we have a 40 point "cushion" in points difference but will probably need all of that. It would be a pity if the season ends next Sunday but at least we know that the new owners will be investing heavily in both the Knights and Valkyrie next season.