Cup Hopes Fade
Oisin Heffernan
By Blues Ed
November 20 2022
Blues put up a decent fight at Castle Park but the 29-20 defeat all but ends any Championship Cup hopes.
A depleted squad was in the game throughout. It was 17-17 at the break, and with Oisin Heffernan the outstanding player on the pitch, it could have gone their way for much of the of the second half.
However, it was Doncaster's dangerman John Kelly who had the final say scoring in the last ten minutes with the conversion taking the game out of the Blues reach.
Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Blues Brothers (IP Logged)
Date: 20/11/2022 10:53
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Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Ginger Blueboy (IP Logged)
Date: 24/11/2022 08:36
Good performance full of heart and two cracking tries.
Missed penalties at end cost us at least deserved bonus point, possibly even the win - last penalty miss was very disappointing.
Having been to the previous Donny away game, have to say a shame the MoM went to a back. Sean French had a great game, but I was most impressed by our starting front row (& replacements). The starter props were kept on for 60mins+ - unusual for Rayer to do that. We won more penalties off the scrum than they did, which was a very pleasant surprise. Lineout functioned well for most part too.
Ultimately, Donny won thanks to largely winning the breakdown battle / being able to last a little longer when scramble defence in the 22. As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
We'll see soon if Nottingham should be seen as favourites to finish 4th.
Missed penalties at end cost us at least deserved bonus point, possibly even the win - last penalty miss was very disappointing.
Having been to the previous Donny away game, have to say a shame the MoM went to a back. Sean French had a great game, but I was most impressed by our starting front row (& replacements). The starter props were kept on for 60mins+ - unusual for Rayer to do that. We won more penalties off the scrum than they did, which was a very pleasant surprise. Lineout functioned well for most part too.
Ultimately, Donny won thanks to largely winning the breakdown battle / being able to last a little longer when scramble defence in the 22. As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
We'll see soon if Nottingham should be seen as favourites to finish 4th.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Kimbo (IP Logged)
Date: 03/12/2022 17:26
Quote:That wore well.Ginger Blueboy
As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Ginger Blueboy (IP Logged)
Date: 08/12/2022 22:47
Quote:KimboQuote:That wore well.Ginger Blueboy
As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
Stand by this view, still are the top three I expect over the course of the season, notwithstanding big result last weekend.
Though undoubtedly Cov a prime contender for fourth spot after they boosted their original squad with Worcester/Wasps players. Nottingham also prime contender it's looking like.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Kimbo (IP Logged)
Date: 18/12/2022 23:05
Quote:No Wasps players, thankfully, but yes, a couple of Wuss fringe lads who are doing very well.Ginger BlueboyQuote:KimboQuote:That wore well.Ginger Blueboy
As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
Stand by this view, still are the top three I expect over the course of the season, notwithstanding big result last weekend.
Though undoubtedly Cov a prime contender for fourth spot after they boosted their original squad with Worcester/Wasps players. Nottingham also prime contender it's looking like.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Kimbo (IP Logged)
Date: 08/01/2023 23:26
Quote:Still of that opinion?Ginger BlueboyQuote:KimboQuote:That wore well.Ginger Blueboy
As far as I'm concerned, the trio of Ealing, Jersey and Donny are a cut above everyone else in this league.
Stand by this view, still are the top three I expect over the course of the season, notwithstanding big result last weekend.
Though undoubtedly Cov a prime contender for fourth spot after they boosted their original squad with Worcester/Wasps players. Nottingham also prime contender it's looking like.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Ginger Blueboy (IP Logged)
Date: 17/01/2023 08:34
Hold my hands up and admit Donny have slumped and will struggle to be in top 3 now. By contrast, Cov done better than the poor quality first game of the season suggested (likewise Bedford Blues, though I do wonder if we will eventually fall off our 4th place perch with the very tough run-in we have).
Stand by Ealing and Jersey being a cut above the rest - doesn't mean I don't think they can be beaten by any of the other teams, it just requires big performances and maybe a little fortune.
The surprise team for me have been Hartpury, on a superb run of form atm, seemingly picking up where Nottingham left off.
Enjoyed the Cov vs Jersey live stream on Saturday - an exciting advert for the league and fantastic crowd for a cold January.
Stand by Ealing and Jersey being a cut above the rest - doesn't mean I don't think they can be beaten by any of the other teams, it just requires big performances and maybe a little fortune.
The surprise team for me have been Hartpury, on a superb run of form atm, seemingly picking up where Nottingham left off.
Enjoyed the Cov vs Jersey live stream on Saturday - an exciting advert for the league and fantastic crowd for a cold January.
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: Jonathan Wilcox (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2023 18:58
Ginger and Caldy mate. That’ll be a tough away game for the Blues. We need to play our normal game and not get drawn into a forward dominated game…
Re: Cup Hopes Fade
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 21/01/2023 01:02
The Caldy pitch looks pretty muddy.
We also have an easier 2nd half of the season, home to Ealing, Jersey, Coventry, Knights, Pirates, Richmond
We also have an easier 2nd half of the season, home to Ealing, Jersey, Coventry, Knights, Pirates, Richmond
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