Steven's 12 Reasons to be Cheerful
By Steven Ward
October 26 2005
OK so we have set a new record of consecutive losses. We are doing badly, worse than ever before it would seem. In 8 matches we have scored 9 tries and conceded 32 - that's a 4 -1 average against us. Hardly going to win on that basis are we?
The problems are well debated on the message board, but interestingly there doesn't appear to be a consensus about what is wrong or what should be done … maybe the answer isn't that simple? Whilst some of the best rugby brains around try to work it out, here are 12 Tykes reasons to be cheerful:
1. A home game!
Yes indeed, it's been a while since we had to endure those 3 homes games in a row, but now the Tykes are back at "Fortress Headingley" (oh the irony) and there should be more than 30 ardent fans there to cheer them on, to lift the team when their heads go down ...
2. A Friday Night home game!
I seem to remember various people in the hierarchy at the club describing Friday nights as "special" last season. Well, let's hope that this Friday is very special and produces the first Tykes win, hey maybe it could even be so special the try score could be 4-1 in our favour ...
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Nurse! Get Steven’s pills! Quickly!]
.... sorry got carried away there. Let's just have a fun, any old win, any old style will do me, as long as we are one point or more in front at the final whistle.
But then what is the thinking behind this fixture being on a Friday? It's the end of half term, so any kids that have been on kids camps this week will probably already be tucked up in bed, meaning the quick win in crowd terms is lost..
DOH!
Will there be "more than 30 ardent fans", given the opposition, the timing and Tykes recent performance? Only you can make the difference ...
3. A Friday Night home game in the European Cup!
We are, by rights, in the European Cup, competing with the best in Europe. This is where we want to be, not playing (with no disrespect intended to a lovely bunch of people) VRAC of Spain. We are (or were) good enough to get here, let's make the most of it!
4. The Italians Are Next Up
Do Italians travel well in the cup? I think not. Our home results against Italian opposition read thus:
Season 01/02 Overmach Parma W 58-16
Season 02/03 Petrarca Padova W 52-13
Season 04/05 Petrarca Padova W 29-13
Surely a right royal Italian pasting is on the cards then? Or at least a win? Please? Tykes have never lost to Italians at Headingley, let's keep up that (not very) proud record. Yes, we lost our unbeaten home record against Leicester 2nds, but …
5. It's Calvisano
... yes they are in the European Cup like us, but they're Italian. They're hardly Wasps or Leicester (even Leicester 2nds) are they? Surely this must count as one of the easier fixtures we have had this season? Bring on that win! Give them enough respect, but no more than that.
6. We won a half last week!
By all accounts, we nullified Cardiff in the first half last week, is the tactical nous returning? Winning a half is an improvement on recent week's performances, so let's focus on that and forget the second half (as the team appeared to do ...)
7. Return to Form
By all accounts “Samson” Parks' super powers began to return last week. Hurrah! With Crane coming on a treat, if we can sort another back rower out this week and continue to improve in the line out, we should at least win some ball. Then all we have to do is do something with it.
8. Return from Injury
Somebody good must be coming back from injury this week, please? Pretty Please?
9. Kees Lensing is coming!
Lensing is coming!
Could the Blues(?) loss in the Currie Cup be the turning point in Tykes season?
10. The international weekends are coming!
And on current form, there aren't many Tykes likely to be missing! In fact its just the one.
Small mercies, eh?
It was good enough for Quins to win a few matches last year and if we can beat Calvisano and then pick up some confidence boosting wins through the international weekends, who knows what is possible?
11. Message board
The performances this season seem to have brought some new faces and names to the message board - welcome to one and all. It seems busier than before and that can only be a good thing. Imagine if we won a game ...
12. Law of averages
According to Phil Davies, the law of averages says we must win something soon. Hmm. Maybe, maybe not. If you toss a coin 10 times and get 10 heads, despite what your brain tells you, it is still 50/50 on the 11th throw. But hey, lets cling to anything we can! It's our turn!
So there you go, there are reasons for hope! Get your rears down to Headingley on Friday and do your bit to lift the Tykes to their first win. Anyone is welcome to join me and my Cumbrian friend in the still blindingly optimistic section of the South Stand!
Come on yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew Tykes!