Round 1 Fixtures, Officials, Team & Predictions

The injury to George Davis is subject to a serious citing. I know who player is but will let someone else give v the details.

Suggest you read your posts again, lucky, cheating, incompetent refereeing, not fair that they have prepared better than us, we’ll beat you next time. When playing, coaching and watching I think it best to take defeat in good grace otherwise you just appear to be one eyed especially if you’ve been done by 30+.

Well, Coventry have got the away win monkey off their shoulder for this season, with a cutting performance for 35 minutes (40-0 up), and then a less clinical performance for the back 45. Ampthill, who I am glad to see have made the essential safety upgrades for the Championship made a much better showing in the second half after a Paul Turner tongue lashing during half time. They’ll need to step up a lot to avoid 4th place in this difficult cup group.

islander wrote: Brizzer wrote: Just back from the game at St. Peters. A tight game which I think Jersey deserved more out of. Matched Falcons in every department apart from 2. In the scrum (for most of the 1st half) and the lineout. Both were more even once we shook the front row up a bit. Sir was poor IMHO. He didn't manage the breakdown at all well for either side. Lots of naughty blocks going on which all went unpunished. Jersey had 2 yellows (both justified). the 1st to our loose head who had a horrible 1st half and was penalised time and time again after engagement. The 2nd was to our 9 who lay all over the ball following one of the few Falcons breaks, about 5 or so out from the line. The ref had blown his whistle for the infringement and Newcastle seemed to carry on playing/took a quick one????....it just would have been nice if the 'tap' had have been taken in the same post code to the infringement. It did gift Newcastle 7 points that took the game away from Jersey. 4-1 would have been fairer than 4-0, but I'm not disputing the result. If I were the Falcons, I would be more worried about what an unfit, poor Ealing have done to Bedford away from home. The league games between the two could be really interesting affairs, even when the Internationals come back. Anyway, great to be back watching 'almost' meaningful rugby again, just a shame that we need to wait a few weeks before the next home game. agree with most of this Brizz, although we'd probably need to add 'accuracy' to the list of departments where Falcons were better. I didn't have any major issues with 'Sir' and believe quick penalties should be allowed to be taken. Surprised by some of the comments about the game at Goldington Rd. Sometimes, when you get humped, you just have to take your medicine, although if you can snatch a BP to sweeten the pill, well done... Very early stages, personally I'm not reading too much into any of the results until everyone's had a few outings.

Accuracy...that's the word. Thanks Islander. Massive difference between divisions I think.
Trust me on the 'tap' penalty thing. Yes, the 'advanteged' side should be able to tap and go, but if the ref has blown his whistle (as in this case), they should tap through the mark or as close to it. However, I think that he just let the play go.
The laws are there to let the play flow, but on this occasion 'Sir' got it wrong....just a minor point as I think that Jersey were worthy of a point today, but as you say, accuracy was not a good word from the Reds point of view.

Good perceptive posts from Brizzer & Islander about the match at St Peter. I struggled to see why the starting Jersey Loose Head was being penalised so often but on the positive side I thought Clarey at tight head and Godfrey the replacement Loose Head had excellent games and Van Dam looked really sharp. A loss is always disappointing but I saw enough to retain some optimism that Jersey can beat Falcons this season and perhaps we will save that special day for the league match at Kingston Park in early November. Falcons are a class side with brilliant supporters who will get better and fitter as the season develops but imo they are beatable so lets make them work for the prize this year.

Mickyboy wrote: No 7 what makes you think that a player will be cited. It is up to the Citing officer to look at the incident and make a decision if a citing is to take place.

Each team in a match have the right to cite foul play and to bring it to the attention of the appointed citing officer. I believe this incident will be reported within the 48 hr window period.

Making the claim and providing the initial statement of your teams view of the alleged incident and providing video evidence constitutes 'citing'

The team claiming the incident are not in control of the citation process but can be the intigators.

geralltrugby wrote: Suggest you read your posts again, lucky, cheating, incompetent refereeing, not fair that they have prepared better than us, we’ll beat you next time. When playing, coaching and watching I think it best to take defeat in good grace otherwise you just appear to be one eyed especially if you’ve been done by 30+.

I didn’t say any of the such but when you had the best seat at the stadium to watch the match you can totally understand my comments!

The referee did allow them to slow the breakdown but you play to the referee and if you can get away with it including not standing up on your feet at most rucks etc. you use every advantage you can get until proper action is taken.

As a player, coach and supporter you understand you play the referees interpretation of the laws. This gives some clubs more of an advantage against others in each game depending on their style of plays.

I wasn’t saying it wasn’t fair etc. etc. Each club is approaching the Cup competition differently and have different aims for the season. Ealing with their consistent team (3 new players I think it was) and huge squad (competition for places) clearly want to try and defend their trophy.

They deserved their win but the scoreline from 1 match shouldn’t send shockwaves (2nd beating 3rd last season) across the whole division just yet. I’m sure both clubs would say they have more to work on like all the clubs in the division.

Reds v Falcons highlights, including the much-discussed quick tap for the visitors' opening score. It was a clumsy tap - what do you expect from a prop*? - but the tap itself was only one pace sideways from where the infringement took place, and the ball went backwards, so I maintain my view that there was nothing wrong with it.

CC