Re: HIGH BALLS !!!!! : Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:39 am  

THE BOARD wrote:

Well if you can read then my point is there to be read !
To put it into simple terms for you IMO its clear to see we have the three afor mentioned players who are all obviously cack under the high ball.
Although only one of the three played against Wigan I just thought Wigan concentrated on the high ball against us instead of the low grubber.
Just a thought but it got me thinking teams are maybe going to target us in this area knowing we struggle under the bomb as both tries showed the other night.
Like I said its just a thought and maybe I will be wrong. I was merley asking if they practiced these kind of things in training and if not why not !

Its not just Wigan who put the high kick up just about every team does" it if it come off" it come off ..I like to bet we do it more on the last tackle

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:02 am  

ash4hullfc wrote:

Richards is one of, if not the best, taker of the high ball in the league, especially in attack. Smith's kick to him was also pinpoint. Not much Calderwood could have done about it in all honesty, you just have to sit back and admire.

I have to agree with you there, after seeing the try again on TV it was just one of those 'spot on' plays.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:37 am  

ash4hullfc wrote:

Richards is one of, if not the best, taker of the high ball in the league, especially in attack. Smith's kick to him was also pinpoint. Not much Calderwood could have done about it in all honesty, you just have to sit back and admire.

SPOT ON!
End of Story!

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:39 am  

It's not a case of not being able to catch a ball, they all can with feet firmly on the ground, it's the inability to jump and catch were the problem lies.

Re: HIGH BALLS !!!!! : Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:06 am  

THE BOARD wrote:

Did anyone notice that both Wigan tries the other night came from high kicks to the corner

Nowt gets past you mate! You tactical genius you.

Unfortunately there isn't a great deal more we can do, other than asking the centres to offer more protection and the wingers to jump higher.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:07 am  

Doesn;t help the players when no pressure is put on the kicker. Smith had an age to set up the Richards try and also an age to kick when Calderwood tackled Richards to stop a try.
If no pressure is put on the kick it makes their accuracy so much better and the job of the defender is increased tenfold.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:09 am  

Yeamo wrote:

I thought Raynor was pretty solid under the high ball?

He is! He's just not very tall so he often gets out jumped by taller players. Recently he's started leaving some bombs to the attacker and then tackling them as soon as they hit the floor, a good tactic for a smaller winger.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:22 am  

I am not aware of any player, let alone any winger who can jump from a standing start (due to the accuracy of the kick they are defending) to win the ball from an on rushing attacker the majority of the time.

This is a weakness for every team and the reason the high kick is so successful for all teams.

I wouldn't be overtly worried, its just one of those things.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:31 am  

Mild mannered Janitor wrote:

I wouldn't be overtly worried, its just one of those things.

Its always a bit of a lottery when a kick goes to the corner, which is why its a good tactic, even if you don't score you can often get another set of 6.

Its every teams problem and not just ours.

Re: HIGH BALLS !!!!! : Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:45 am  

The Kings of Hull wrote:

Given the fact that only 1 of the 3 players you mention played on Friday I really don't see your point.

thats what i thought!