2021-22 Championship - Week 3 Games

The Blues wrote: If I were Pirates or any other Championship club I would just stream and then if challenged by the RFU  I’d say well the RFU are not providing the minimum standards to promote the league and obtain sponsorship etc.  It is failing its duty.  If the RFU have time to stop clubs from self-promoting it will look very poor in the public eye and a PR disaster.

I understand the motivation behind this but rather than follow a confrontational course it may be better to understand the issue. It may be that streaming may not meet the RFU standards because the home team do not have the necessary lights or internet streaming capacity and for good commercial reasons are unwilling to invest large sums of money to upgrade. Due to family COVID issues I am grounded and unable to travel to away matches and would happily pay double the normal entrance fee to watch even below par streamed matches but most supporters seem unwilling to pay a £10 a match. I suspect the core of this issue is money - clubs are probably unwilling or unable to upgrade infrastructure and many supporters generally want someone else to pay for their viewing enjoyment. The RFU's inability to communicate the reasons for their decisions probably compounds the matter.

Bedford 2 - 5 Doncaster  - Should be a great game . . .  could go either way . .Knights to shade it
Nottingham 1 - 4 Hartpury  - Should really say home advantage but Hartpury looking good.
L Scottish 1 - 4 Ampthill -Again another away win . . . .!!!
Coventry 5 - 0 Richmond - Cov too strong on fast surface
C Pirates 0 - 5 Ealing - Ealing to pull away in second half

Bluesman11 wrote: The Blues wrote: Just looked up Brandon Nansen who’s on a short term loan from Saints and he should add some more weight to the Blues pack at 121kg and 6’6” https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/person/brandon-nansen Not sure he’s a lineout operator though, which sounds like what we needed last week. The sooner Onojaife back the better. No hooker on the bench and losing Heffernan who by all accounts had a great game last week is a big blow too. I fear for the set piece

To be fair Bluesman, your lineout didn't fail last week because of the jumpers. It failed because the ball was generally thrown into the midriff of the jumper, which made it very easy to attack from a defensive point of view. Or when the throw was higher, it was overthrown/over compensated.

That should be an easy one to put right on the training ground and as much as it is frustrating, it is understandable first competitive game of the season.

Good luck tonight. If it stays dry, this should be a cracker and i fancy a solid home display.

Just saw this

Notts (3 tries) 22-3 Pury H/T

Nottingham nearly blow a big lead for the second successive week but hang on to win 22 - 20 v Hartpury. Notts 4 points, Hartpury 1.

Good win for the Blues, we were too negative in the first half for me and then didn’t back ourselves in the last play. Really should’ve gone for the 5 points. At least we got the win, but that is potentially 2 points dropped in the first 2 games.

Bluesman11 wrote: Looks like Jersey might be the only potential challengers to Ealing. Early days but looks like London Scottish will the strugglers with everyone else able to beat anyone on their day If Jersey can sneak a win at Doncaster next week, I reckon the Jersey Ealing game could be a battle of 2 undefeated teams

I love the thought, but very early days yet. There are some seriously good teams in this division who can beat anyone on their day and I mean anyone.
Without an ‘elite’ club, this could be a really open and close fought campaign.

The Blues wrote: Good to be back to normal last night, the atmosphere was great with an attendance of 2825. Although not convinced if the NHS cardholders were counted. It will be a battle with Coventry of who tops the average attendance table.