Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Tue Aug 02, 2022 4:02 pm  

Current League Table (Pld, Pts, Pts Difference, Maximum Possible Points):
Keighley: 15, 30, +653, MAX 40
N Wales: 16, 26, +320, MAX 34
Swinton: 15, 24, +352, MAX 34
Dons: 15, 22, +216, MAX 32
Rochdale: 15, 22, +185, MAX 32

All the above have got to play Keighley.

Top Five Clashes:

North Wales have got to play both Rochdale and Swinton so points will be dropped there.
Swinton have only got to play N Wales.
Dons have Sunday's match with Rochdale.
Rochdale play the Dons and N Wales.

What's the best scenario for the Dons?

If we beat Keighley with the other three teams losing to Keighley, we improve relatively speaking by 2 points. Providing we also beat Rochdale on Sunday, the Maximum Points would then look like this:

Keighley: 15, 30, +653, MAX 38
N Wales: 16, 26, +320, MAX 32
Swinton: 15, 24, +352, MAX 32
Dons: 15, 22, +216, MAX 32
Rochdale: 15, 22, +185, MAX 28

If Swinton lost against Keighley and N Wales, (beating Hunslet (H), Oldham (H) and W Wales (A), they'd finish on 30 points.

If N Wales lost to Keighley (A), beat Swinton (H), lost to Rochdale (H) and beat Cornwall (A), they'd have 30 points.

If we win all our remaining games, we'd have 32 points. With a favourable wind, we could finish second. Any defeat means we can't better 30 points.

With our inferior points difference, it's hard to see how we could climb above N Wales or Swinton especially as N Wales have still got to play Cornwall and Swinton have got to play W Wales.

If we win our last five games, we'll certainly be in with a fighting chance regardless of where we finish in the league but a home tie in the final doesn't look on the cards.

The other big game this weekend is Swinton v Keighley. We certainly don't want Swinton to win. If they do, the Dons coming second will be almost impossible.

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:46 am  

But Mr Horne said he was happy with his 62 points.
He said any side would be happy ...well I wasn't.
He talked of the expected drop off time in games...really?
The day was hot...as it was vs Cornwall and Oldham and so very understandable that a good start fizzled out in all 3 games.
But there is your points difference...I don't care that folk post "Jeez give the lads a break!"

I was present at Fev a few seasons ago when we put 102 past West Wales...Liam Harris ran riot.
Now West Wales are a better side than then...but!

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 7:03 am  

Stand-Offish wrote:

But Mr Horne said he was happy with his 62 points.
He said any side would be happy ...well I wasn't.
He talked of the expected drop off time in games...really?
The day was hot...as it was vs Cornwall and Oldham and so very understandable that a good start fizzled out in all 3 games.
But there is your points difference...I don't care that folk post "Jeez give the lads a break!"

I was present at Fev a few seasons ago when we put 102 past West Wales...Liam Harris ran riot.
Now West Wales are a better side than then...but!

For reference: Keighley 86-0; N Wales 84-4; Swinton 82-4; Oldham 100-4; Hunslet 54-6; Midlands 56-12; Dons 62-6. These are W Wales scores in their away matches. In a tight league where points difference matters, we've lost ground on our competitors.

I will read Richard Horne's comments later...

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 10:29 am  

But it is not allowed to comment....
Only allowed to be nice....
Talk of rugby only to focus on the positives....

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 10:46 am  

Stand-Offish wrote:

But it is not allowed to comment....
Only allowed to be nice....
Talk of rugby only to focus on the positives....

Says all your mates on Facebook Fans Say what you want on here SO, but you know that

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 10:53 am  

A game we should win given current form and the competition for playing places means a lot as it stands. I wonder if Thornton will do his targeting our playmakers routine?

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:09 am  

Stand-Offish wrote:

But it is not allowed to comment....
Only allowed to be nice....
Talk of rugby only to focus on the positives....

Sounds like someone has upset you on the Facebook page, Brian?

Richard Horne: “I thought we started really well, stuck to our game plan and got some points on the board before the inevitable drop off came. We’re happy with scoring 60 points, we know how important points difference could be at the back end of the season and any team would take that victory.”

I'm confused. Why the 'inevitable drop off'? If Richard Horne acknowledges how important points difference is, why should there be a drop off? Why should he be happy when other teams did better against North Wales than we did?

I would never criticise the players as I fully respect how they put their necks on the line for our entertainment. They've done a really good job getting us back into the promotion race. Well done to all of them.

I am critical of Richard Horne because as the leader, he ought to be able to motivate the team not to 'drop off' and make sure they press home every point of advantage especially as he says he recognises that points difference matters.

The end result here could well be that we'll be playing away in the play-off final making it harder for us to win and taking away the opportunity to create a party atmosphere in front of our own fans.

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:19 am  

If there is a drop off in this game we will end up losing. Rochdale apart from last Sunday have very good form in the second forty minutes of matches this season. If we turn out and mean it we should win.

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 1:00 pm  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

If there is a drop off in this game we will end up losing. Rochdale apart from last Sunday have very good form in the second forty minutes of matches this season. If we turn out and mean it we should win.

I agree, Wilf.

Rochdale got a leaky defence: in their away games they've conceded 40, 34, 24, 24, 34, 22, 12 (W Wales) and 0 (Cornwall).

They know how to score away though: 52, 50, 56, 42, 50, 32, 14 (Swinton) and 16 (Keighley).

My target would be to limit Rochdale to no more than three tries with us scoring at least four tries. If we score less than 24 points (considering Rochdale's defensive record) we will have under-performed. If we can limit them to less than 20, we will have done well.

Defence is likely to be the key. Limiting them to scoring less than 20 is vital. Our defence has looked half-decent in recent games so there's no reason at all why we can't do it.

I think we need Connor Robinson's kicking game to be good so we can turn over possession near their line and limit their opportunities.

Re: Dons v Rochdale Sunday 7th August 2022 3pm : Wed Aug 03, 2022 3:22 pm  

Double Movement wrote:

I agree, Wilf.

Rochdale got a leaky defence: in their away games they've conceded 40, 34, 24, 24, 34, 22, 12 (W Wales) and 0 (Cornwall).

They know how to score away though: 52, 50, 56, 42, 50, 32, 14 (Swinton) and 16 (Keighley).

My target would be to limit Rochdale to no more than three tries with us scoring at least four tries. If we score less than 24 points (considering Rochdale's defensive record) we will have under-performed. If we can limit them to less than 20, we will have done well.

Defence is likely to be the key. Limiting them to scoring less than 20 is vital. Our defence has looked half-decent in recent games so there's no reason at all why we can't do it.

I think we need Connor Robinson's kicking game to be good so we can turn over possession near their line and limit their opportunities.

On the money DM. Team selection will be interesting, he does appear to have a fully fit squad.