National 1 Latest Scores - Week 3 - 21st September

Rich13 wrote: Storty wrote: What's the story with Rotherham? Have they kept a lot of last season's squad or did they make some big signings/using dual reg? Seriously impressive to start life in Nat 1 with 3 bonus points wins. Keeping the coach was the most significant move IMO, the improvement in the team was very impressive throughout last season and they’ve gone up a notch this season too with a full pre-season and some smart additions in important positions. All based around the basics, big pack with a strong set piece, good decisions at half back, consistent goal-kicker, very fit with good options off the bench. Bigger tests to come though, esp up front I suspect.

Not just a big pack, a very mobile one too. All three teams we have played so far have not just been pushed back, they have disintegrated and overwhelmed. The unsung heroes.
The very satisfying thing is that we are not a one trick pony either. Our win at Darlington on a big wide pitch enabled the backs to shine too.

One final point about today was that we left a good number of points out there too, and frankly, with all respect to Esher, we literally gave them two of their tries through our errors and it was hard to comprehend at 26-19 that the game was not safe and the worry was that we might get pegged back.
However, the strength & fitness told and in the end secured what turned out to be a very comfortable win.
Since we beat Leeds in March we have looked stronger and stronger and it has the potential to be a very good season. Bigger challenges lie ahead against some very good teams, but the start made, considering injuries, is very satisfying indeed.


Edited by Rothman2 - 14 hours 49 minutes ago at 20:44

Sedge

Regarding your comment about Dings Crusaders.

6 of the 8 Bristol players who played against Plymouth last week, played this week.
Last week 3 of the 8 who played scored 4 of the 7 tries between them and this week both their tries were scored by Bristol players (Gwilliam & Kenzie Jenkins)
The Bristol connection is clearly working for them and, I would imagine, ultimately for Bristol too.

We play them in our next home game in 2 weeks so should be interesting to see how they measure up.



Edited by Rothman2 - 8 hours 56 minutes ago at 02:37

I agree with 4 being the maximum. In the football league it's 4. Otherwise you'd just have what you get in rugby which is effectively 2nd teams playing lower down the pyramid.

There are rumours of a premiership "A" league restarting, if that happens then the players loaned out, certainly those perhaps in the Championship, will be needed by the parent club and availability will change. Lions saw in recent years that players who were dual registered, actually went off to play for championship sides to further their progress and actually didn't play for the Lions much at all. An example Charlie Myall hasn't played for the Lions, neither has Malelili Satala, both have played for the Tigers this season, yet are both technically Lions DR's