A good win but sheesh!!! : Sun May 17, 2009 4:19 pm  

I found that a really frustrating day out at the park!! A win is a win and the fact mapals Try at the end denied swinton a bonus point was great but we made real heavy weather of it I thoughtGav for me was one of about three acceptions today I think he was man of the match by a mile with ollie and schick as reliable as ever but I was relieved at full time.!! A good team however wins when it seems unlikely so that's a plus, I only hope we can put that one behind us get back to basics and kick on at Blackpool.

: Sun May 17, 2009 5:11 pm  

Please bear in mind Swinton are a good team and to turn it around in 2nd half like we did was great and including Lee Mapals try which showed how quick he is we looked the stronger team as the game went on.

I cannot think of any player having an off day.

Well done boys.

: Sun May 17, 2009 5:15 pm  

I tell you what frustrating having to listen to the bloody wombel song at half time.

: Sun May 17, 2009 5:32 pm  

poor game,defencies on top but we slugged it out for max points

: Sun May 17, 2009 5:53 pm  

I was clearly at a different game.

I thought we showed some invention in the first half, we were running diagonally and passing back, dummying a pass back etc. It was super duper league but in slow motion. Clearly they are learning new moves and the pace will pick up the more they try them out, it was good to see things develop in that way. For two long we have had the one move where we dummy the prop. Yawn. Now we seem to have 3 or 4 moves and we can mix it up. This will really start to rack up points as we approach the second half of the season.

I thought reid was good for a first game with limited time with the lads. He looks fitter than Lowe already and we just need to give him time to get match fit. Perhaps the offload was a case of trying to hard to impress on day one, but I am sure by week 3 or 4 with us, he will be doing that and the other lads will be ready for it.

As others I didn't think anyone had a day off. In particular I thought our defence got right into them in the first half. We were back on our own 40 after their 5th tackle kicks. That meant the bulk of the game was down their end. I imagine we tired a little in the second half and so could not get into them and so kept a strong line whilst they ran at us in the second half.

We didn't respond to any of the thuggery they always try and dish out. Mapals the only one mouthing off and giving us trouble on our own 10 yard line. But at least he only did it once.

Shicks made some good runs through the middle, created largely because for once we seemed to use our props to make 10 quick yards, get up, play the ball and upset their own prep for the next run. Two or three runs through the middle with the prop getting up quick will always catch a team offside and if tehy are not offside then they are 30 yards further back after the third tackle.

Only slightly negative thing for me and indeed it is actually positive in some respects. Presley is clearly good at his job, but, he needs to stick his chest out and convince himself he is good. Too often he just takes a ball and then passes it wide when the player in front is 5-8 yards away, he draws nobody in to him to free up he winger mates and also makes few attemps to run through. Yet, when he does, by god he is through quickly to score a try. John, (the same goes for Cragi F aswel) you are good, get a hurry on and convince yourself so you make those dart throughs more often.

A great win, third in the table, big games against dews and oldham could really set us up nicely, although can't take blackpool or indeed anyone for granted.

Clearly a lot of work has been done in the last two weeks, it was a great game to watch. Thanks

: Sun May 17, 2009 7:04 pm  

I have to say I agree with reborn. I thought we did very well today. It was slightly frustrating at times as it seemed Swinton were intent on dragging us into fighting, like York the previous game, but this time we held our nerve, was much more patient, and then managed to grind out the win. The tries we scored were all very good. I also agree about Presley. I think he is a great player, his try scoring record speaks for itself, but you only have to speak to him in the bar to know that he is a shy lad, who I think, tries to please everyone, and not be too greedy, when sometimes he should do just that and attack the line more.
Looking forward to Blackpool next weekend. Anyone who is going please either PM me or Rach to hear about the £18 deal we have sorted. We need to know definite numbers by Tuesday, so if you are interested please lets us know

: Sun May 17, 2009 8:26 pm  

Good posts lads and lasses, what else to add ?.

It was a much better Swinton side than ive seen in a long time and not just a certain Mr H. Who to be frank, i thought should have done a lot more, but he may be carrying an injury perhaps ?.
Swinton should cut out some of the obvious thuggery it does not help them to actually WIN games just annoys folk and discredits a lot of their positive game play.
Sadly at times we responded in kind and it cost us ground and at least one 6 pointer. It also nearly cost one of their lads an EAR which i believe our Club Doctor dealt with.

Reborn you should write reviews for the Argos, ( Joking ). but theyd not be interested in our supporters appraisal of our own players whom i think you are all about spot on with.
JON is a much better player than he realises or gives himself credit for, if we could graft Malpas to Presley sort of 'Wolverine ' like wed have a Monster Playmaker with attitude .
Seriously he has the ability to take them on and he should do it more often , especially in open play as you say and release the attack when he chooses, not when it seems right which is often too early or inappropiate.
HE has to have the confidence and im sure thats exactly what Baz tells him week in week out.
HE IS VERY GOOD and needs to know it. We need him ripping sides to pieces. Which he has done in spades at times.

You cannot usually single one player or groups of players out and i hate this MOM business its a mockery and often destructive to team morale .
Today i noticed more game play involving Backs linking and inter passing with the Forwards than ive ever seen in this last 3 years at Cougars and what a difference it made down the middle where i also thought BOTH sides defended brilliantly today .
More of it please, it gives us a whole new dimension with Andy , Simon and Scott on the rampage instead of JUST Driving and gaining yards and performing countless useless dummy runs which nobody takes any notice of .
A sometimes worrying and on edge sort of game at times, but i agree we always looked the stronger more inventive team and we have THE Players in numbers not just one or two.
Thought my little Goliath was a bit off the pace today and we missed his real strength at times, his skoots were not as decisive or powerful and he seemed a bit elsewhere at times .
Hope hes not pining for Lowe ' cause he makes Lowe look like a pumpkin.
He certainly doesn't need him.
Reid looks useful and looks like he could be a bit of a leader on the park all in all i have had a marvellous day out apart from the rain.
Roll on Blackpool and Workington and even better performances from Cougs.
Im saying that knowing full well we usually under perform against less capable oppositon but this season i think we may just have that bit of patient ruthlessness .

SO WHERE WERE YOU ALL ?. we should have had 1-1200 supporters out their easily today, rain or no rain, i am beginning to wonder if Keighley deserves its CLUB.
But see you at Blackpool.

: Sun May 17, 2009 10:13 pm  

Good show from the boys, Shicky was awesome ... and the rest of the pack worked hard to back him up and create some good field positions .

I don't know what the game plan was but to my mind we kicked on the sixth, so often ,with what were nothing kicks , when with given the evidence of Pres's try if we'd taken the line on , the four points were there for the taking.

Damian Reed looks to be a decent acquisition , but to me looked to have work a little on his fitness , however Dan P had for me one of his best games in the red white n green , n Mapes n Gav were again a threat on the flanks ...

Bring on the Panthers should be a cracker next Sunday....

: Mon May 18, 2009 11:41 am  

Sadly missed the game due to last minute problems.

Glad to hear the ball was thrown about and that "ruthlessness" was seen.

Doubtful if I will get to Blackpool, but you never know.

There is NO TEAM in this division whom I should think we can't beat, and I would like to believe that the team can get to the end of the season now unbeaten.

I don't think I am being unrealistic providing the players play to their obvious strengths and improve on this excellent result.