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Top 4 Predictions

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castleparknight View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Top 4 Predictions
    Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 07:31
Originally posted by gerg_861 gerg_861 wrote:

Okay - stealing a few minutes away from work...

1. Ealing - A few big losses (Murphy, Thompson, Millar-Mills) leave me wondering about the pack. Much depends on just how good their South African recruitment really was. Looked strong against Gloucester.
2. Doncaster - Good recruitment, though Bomber gone. Hope to get up to Castle Park.
3. Pirates - Will S4c or Cross Rail get done first? Doesn't matter, going to the Mennaye is tough, and home form will power Pirates to a top 3 finish.
4. Jersey - Jersey or Cov is a toss up for me. I'll go with Jersey because I visited there.
5. Coventry - And Cov because I haven't.
6. Bedford - I think that the big home crowds will lift them this year, and a fair number of nice signings - especially of returning players.
7. Ampthill - A few key contributors off, but they will be on the upper end of the part-timers.
8. Hartpury - Gloucester A will get enough loanees to survive. Tuvs helps too.
9. Richmond - They treated last year like an extended pre-season. No team with Mark Bright will be last.
10. London Scottish - Who knows?
11.  Nottingham - seem to be part time and mostly made up of uni-kids.

5. Coventry - And Cov because I haven't. (I would recommend you do go visit - great stand, great pub just up the road - I will be there on the 18th hopefully watching the Knights get their first away win of the season).
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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Runitback View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Runitback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2021 at 20:44
Don't under estimate Nottingham, especially with their partnership to Leicester.
Run with it
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gerg_861 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2021 at 20:32
Okay - stealing a few minutes away from work...

1. Ealing - A few big losses (Murphy, Thompson, Millar-Mills) leave me wondering about the pack. Much depends on just how good their South African recruitment really was. Looked strong against Gloucester.
2. Doncaster - Good recruitment, though Bomber gone. Hope to get up to Castle Park.
3. Pirates - Will S4c or Cross Rail get done first? Doesn't matter, going to the Mennaye is tough, and home form will power Pirates to a top 3 finish.
4. Jersey - Jersey or Cov is a toss up for me. I'll go with Jersey because I visited there.
5. Coventry - And Cov because I haven't.
6. Bedford - I think that the big home crowds will lift them this year, and a fair number of nice signings - especially of returning players.
7. Ampthill - A few key contributors off, but they will be on the upper end of the part-timers.
8. Hartpury - Gloucester A will get enough loanees to survive. Tuvs helps too.
9. Richmond - They treated last year like an extended pre-season. No team with Mark Bright will be last.
10. London Scottish - Who knows?
11.  Nottingham - seem to be part time and mostly made up of uni-kids.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Donnyknightfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2021 at 23:42
Time to get that (usually wrong) crystal ball out again!.

1. Ealing 
2. Doncaster 
3. Jersey
4. Bedford 
5. Cornish Pirates 
6. Coventry 
7. Ampthill
8. Hartpury 
9. Nottingham 
10. London Scottish 
11. Richmond 

Ealing to take the title but it won’t be an easy ride and I can see Donny staying close until the last 4/5 games. Expect Jersey and Bedford to massively improve from last season having both made some good signings in the summer. Watch out for the Bedford backs in particular, they’ll run in loads of tries. Pirates and Cov will complete the top six. I think the bottom 3 could be quite a way behind the rest. I’ve gone for Richmond to finish last but it could be anyone from 9-11. LS are an unknown quantity with missing last season so it could take them a few games to get going. 



Edited by Donnyknightfan - 07 Sep 2021 at 23:43
Donny Knights - best team in Yorkshire
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Stalwart View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stalwart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2021 at 18:08
All very unpredictable, apart from Ealing being nailed on favourites. For the rest of us, Ealing will face a cup-final when they come to our clubs - but I think they'll be too strong over the season. My guess is Donny will finish second.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dunc999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2021 at 16:12
Hard to predict bar the tier 1 and 2 IMO
Ealing

Quite a big gap

Donny
CP
Cov

Then who knows.  I think Ampthill may struggle to replace Grimoldby's points and territory kicking so may not quite as competitive as before, but they do have a great coaching team.  As for Blues if they can cut out the penalties and improve the scrum, should do well.  I go with Bluesman's view on McCarthy though - he was part of the problem last year!

Lets go 
Jersey
Blues
Hartpury
Ampthill
Richmond
Notts
Scottish

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castleparknight View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2021 at 13:01
An interesting read gerg - it is not a million miles off what most on here are predicting / guessing.
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gerg_861 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2021 at 05:53
Havent had time to write my own yer, but here are Rugby World's thoughts.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote isleonian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 15:38
1. Knights
2. Trailfinders
3. Pirates
4. Reds
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bedfordian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 12:44
[I would agree Bedfordian. Ampthill certainly appear to put the hex on Bedford and have won all but two of our recent encounters (league and friendly). Tommy Turner is a very shrewd coach and Ampthill keep under the radar but acquit themselves very well indeed]

Think its just a simple case of a forward dominated team against a running team and the old adage of "you can't score without the ball".  Bedford's high risk game plan plus what seems an annual problem of conceding a lot more penalties than anyone else means getting it back is an issue!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Member728 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 11:22
Originally posted by Pappashanga Pappashanga wrote:

Two wins on the trot. Mond may be this season’s surprise package.

not sure what game you were watching
LS are unknown at the moment, including to their supporters
It was a feisty local derby  and yes Richmond had a bit more"steel" about them.
They will win more matches than last year but LS just deserved to win 1st half and my prediction is we will not finish bottom



Edited by Member728 - 06 Sep 2021 at 11:23
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Greg View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 11:04
I would agree Bedfordfordian. Ampthill certainly appear to put the hex on Bedford and have won all but two of our recent encounters (league and friendly). Tommy Turner is a very shrewd coach and Ampthill keep under the radar but acquit themselves very well indeed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bedfordian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 07:33
Perhaps they raise their game just vs Bedford, but always look pretty strong to me! 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cherub Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 16:12
Originally posted by Bedfordian Bedfordian wrote:

<span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">Top three pretty nailed on, 4-6 could be in any order, 7-11 will depend on loans/DR performances and ringers (old cricket term) that will undoubtedly turn up and/or disappear game to game as the season progresses.  Injuries / call ups to National teams affect things too.  Difficult to call.</span>
<span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">
<span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">
</span>
<span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">
</span>
1. Ealing</span><div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">2. Doncaster<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">3. Cornish Pirates<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">4. Ampthill<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">5. Coventry<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">6. Jersey<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">7. Bedford<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">8. Nottingham<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">9. Hartpury<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">10. London Scottish<div style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">11. Richmond


You have placed Ampthill 4th! Blimey, I hope you are right...........
Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Blues Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 15:14
This season won't suit the Blues as much, basically being more of a winter season but I am going to be optimistic here and say the rain will stay away allowing for running rugby to allow fast paced games.

1. Ealing

2. Pirates
3. Knights
4. Blues
5. Coventry
6. Jersey

7. Ampthill
8. Hartpury
9. Richmond
10. Nottingham
11. London Scottish
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oneagainstthehead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2021 at 18:28
Originally posted by Pappashanga Pappashanga wrote:

Two wins on the trot. Mond may be this season’s surprise package.
Now that WOULD be a treat!
Speak softly, but carry a big stick.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pappashanga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2021 at 17:08
Two wins on the trot. Mond may be this season’s surprise package.
pappashanga
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Blues Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2021 at 13:42
Originally posted by Bluesman11 Bluesman11 wrote:

Originally posted by islander islander wrote:

Originally posted by Bluesman11 Bluesman11 wrote:


I think if Bedford had a decent front row we’d be able to compete with the tier 2 teams, but it’s so hard to win games when you give away penalties at every scrum and end up with a prop binned most games and nothing in our recruitment or first pre season game makes me think this won’t be the case again. Losing OHD for the season with injury also leaves a massive hole in the centres for us.

What about the recruitment of a seasoned front row operator as your new Fwds Coach? Seems harsh/pessimistic to dismiss that as 'nothing' a couple of days after his arrival...

He can only work what he’s got, he’s not a miracle worker. Not convinced coaches make a great deal of difference to scrummaging ability. Alex Rae was at Jersey when they had the best scrum in the league and at us when we had the worst. It’s also his first stab at coaching and he was at the club last year so I’m assuming if there was something fundamentally wrong with our scrum as captain he would’ve raised it last year…

Bluesman is being extremely negative about the scrum here. Last year we had issues, because we had a lot of injuries to props and were bringing in 18 or 19 year olds and expecting some to play the whole 80 mins.

It won’t be the best, but it may not be the worst or could well be, but they need an opportunity before being written off immediately. Hopefully it will be good enough to hold it long enough for the ball to be played most of the time.

This year we have pretty much a brand new front 5, so they should evolve as a unit. One season Jersey came to us first game of the season and their scrum was unusually a shambles but over the season it became one of the best.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bluesman11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Sep 2021 at 18:09
Originally posted by islander islander wrote:

Originally posted by Bluesman11 Bluesman11 wrote:

Tier 1

1. Ealing 

Tier 2

2. Doncaster
3. Jersey
4. Pirates 
5. Coventry

Tier 3

6. Bedford 
7. Ampthill
8. London Scottish 
9. Richmond 
10. Hartpury 
11. Nottingham 

I think if Bedford had a decent front row we’d be able to compete with the tier 2 teams, but it’s so hard to win games when you give away penalties at every scrum and end up with a prop binned most games and nothing in our recruitment or first pre season game makes me think this won’t be the case again. Losing OHD for the season with injury also leaves a massive hole in the centres for us.

What about the recruitment of a seasoned front row operator as your new Fwds Coach? Seems harsh/pessimistic to dismiss that as 'nothing' a couple of days after his arrival...

He can only work what he’s got, he’s not a miracle worker. Not convinced coaches make a great deal of difference to scrummaging ability. Alex Rae was at Jersey when they had the best scrum in the league and at us when we had the worst. It’s also his first stab at coaching and he was at the club last year so I’m assuming if there was something fundamentally wrong with our scrum as captain he would’ve raised it last year…


Edited by Bluesman11 - 03 Sep 2021 at 18:13
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Runitback View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Runitback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Sep 2021 at 17:06
Ealing - 1st by a long way
Doncaster
Cornish Pirates

then 4 th spot ( hedging my bets!!!)
Jersey/Coventry/Bedford
Run with it
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