stryker
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,277
Despite your protestations Phantom, that was a first grade football side that we put out yesterday who prepared all week to take on Penrith together.
In the first half they proved that they can keep scoring to a minimum if the correct attitude is applied. The boys scrambled really well and showed desperation in the collision and on the line with Noffa leading the way against To’o and Burton. The score should have been 6-6 at half time and that would have been reward for an excellent effort. Unfortunately the boys clocked off 5 minutes before halftime and let an easy try in. The point was made though and for 35 minutes, this “third tier team” held the 2nd placed team with almost a full strength roster and in “white hot form” to 1 try. They can turn it on when they feel like it.
For the 5mins before halftime and 3/4 of the second half they didn’t apply themselves in the same fashion and found themselves down by another 4 tries. It’s true they fought back to an extent but as has been the case on a dozen losses this year, it was too little, too late.
The damage done when the effort levels drop is too hard to combat with the late comeback. 7 times this year we have scored 4+ tries and lost.
Point being, I disagree with posters claiming that things are looking good for next year. My positives this year are the arrivals of Stef and Laurie and the offloading of dead wood contracts for next year. The negatives are too numerous to list. If we can snare some talent during the off season…we may get close to the finals. At this point in time though, we’re bound for bottom 2.
In the first half they proved that they can keep scoring to a minimum if the correct attitude is applied. The boys scrambled really well and showed desperation in the collision and on the line with Noffa leading the way against To’o and Burton. The score should have been 6-6 at half time and that would have been reward for an excellent effort. Unfortunately the boys clocked off 5 minutes before halftime and let an easy try in. The point was made though and for 35 minutes, this “third tier team” held the 2nd placed team with almost a full strength roster and in “white hot form” to 1 try. They can turn it on when they feel like it.
For the 5mins before halftime and 3/4 of the second half they didn’t apply themselves in the same fashion and found themselves down by another 4 tries. It’s true they fought back to an extent but as has been the case on a dozen losses this year, it was too little, too late.
The damage done when the effort levels drop is too hard to combat with the late comeback. 7 times this year we have scored 4+ tries and lost.
Point being, I disagree with posters claiming that things are looking good for next year. My positives this year are the arrivals of Stef and Laurie and the offloading of dead wood contracts for next year. The negatives are too numerous to list. If we can snare some talent during the off season…we may get close to the finals. At this point in time though, we’re bound for bottom 2.
