Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: roversdude on February 14, 2025, 12:56:28 pm
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Wow what a score for the Super League opener
Wigan 0 Leigh 1 - had to look several times at that score.
Golden point drop goal sealed it
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I don't think I have ever seen that score before.
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29 seasons of Super League until the first ever 0 0 draw turns up
Then Leigh drop a goal in the sudden death period for a 0 - 1 win. Fantastic
Better yet the mighty Wigan had a Try disallowed by equivalent of VAR
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As if the game couldn't be any more boring, 0-1 in rugby! Jeez.
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So there are no draws in Super League? Does that apply to the rest of the Rugby League? Because there certainly were draws when I used to watch the Dons.
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Will be more razz a mattaz.. Not sure I've ever written that before only said it
But in.Sport these days they are wanting a result no matter how contrived it is. They can't see that 2 2 at Football in a game like Spurs v Man U IS a result
Personally Wigan 0 Leigh 0 was a result. It came when 2 defences were too good over 80 minutes for the opposite Teams attacking attempts.. So a draw was a fitting result
Going to sudden death then to produce a "winner" seems a bit harsh but judging by Leighs reaction they were pretty chuffed and it's there in the record books.
To the Leigh Leopards One Nil to the Leigh Leopard One Nil they will be able to sing forever ..... especially against Wigan
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As if the game couldn't be any more boring, 0-1 in rugby! Jeez.
I read some of the comments following the report on this game on the bbc website. Apparently despite no score it was a good game.
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So there are no draws in Super League? Does that apply to the rest of the Rugby League? Because there certainly were draws when I used to watch the Dons.
In the event of a draw after 80 minutes in SuperLeague there are 2 periods of 5 minutes of Golden Point. If after that it's still a draw, then that's the result (Hull FC v Leigh fnished as a draw last Thursday).
Outside of Super League the result stands at 80 minutes whether it's a draw or not (so no golden point).
In Cup games extra time just keeps on going til someone gets a golden point.
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As if the game couldn't be any more boring, 0-1 in rugby! Jeez.
I read some of the comments following the report on this game on the bbc website. Apparently despite no score it was a good game.
I've had an RL season ticket for 30 years and some of the best games have been the low scoring affairs, think the Dons lowest ever win was a 2-0. Afterall, one of the things that makes a goal in football such a big deal is, there aren't many of them.
They're probably more games for the purests, though rather than a neutral tuning into the first game of the season.
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I'm sure SS will know, didn't Dons beat St Helens 2-0 or something like many years ago at Tattersfield? Did Marra kick the winning points?
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Dons 'smallest' win was 2-0, achieved twice, once v Featherstone in 1953, and once v Blackpool in 1981.
The smallest Dons defeat to 0, was 5-0 v Whitehaven in August 1951
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I'm sure SS will know, didn't Dons beat St Helens 2-0 or something like many years ago at Tattersfield? Did Marra kick the winning points?
I think you might mean the quarter final of the RL Challenge Cup in 1970, Raven. It was a 4-4 draw, with Marra kicking both goals.
That was considered a tremendous achievement by the Dons to draw with the Saints, although they got pumped 36-0 in the replay.
However, we got our revenge in 1994 when we beat them 29-20 at Knowsley Road. I was there; what a day.
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Thanks SS, now if I remember the Dons were leading till the last few minutes when they scored a penalty?
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We were at that game. A great crowd for the Dons that night. I think that Mara either missed a penalty or drop goal very late on. A brilliant result that night when you looked at the St. Helens team.
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Those were the days..... What a team. And then they got screwed by a Dick Turpin. A bit like Rovers in a way.
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We were at that game. A great crowd for the Dons that night. I think that Mara either missed a penalty or drop goal very late on. A brilliant result that night when you looked at the St. Helens team.
It was a drop goal attempt, Idler. He once explained to me how it happened. Despite it being a quagmire of mud, he managed to lift the ball, but as it was rising, it hit one of his own players on the back of his shoulder. It would have won us the game in the last couple of minutes.
I miss old Marra. I can't believe it's knocking on for 10 years since he passed away.
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We were at that game. A great crowd for the Dons that night. I think that Mara either missed a penalty or drop goal very late on. A brilliant result that night when you looked at the St. Helens team.
It was a drop goal attempt, Idler. He once explained to me how it happened. Despite it being a quagmire of mud, he managed to lift the ball, but as it was rising, it hit one of his own players on the back of his shoulder. It would have won us the game in the last couple of minutes.
I miss old Marra. I can't believe it's knocking on for 10 years since he passed away.
My memory isn’t too bad then. It was a great game to watch.
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Dons first home game (it's been a long time coming) of the season this Sunday at 3pm, against Widnes
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Having been ludicrously unlucky against Widnes last week the Dons got the kind of result that can kickstart a campaign last night beating Full time Toulouse under the floodlights despite being down to bare bones squad wise
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Helluva result that. Almost fell off my chair when I saw it.
BobG
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Dons so up and down, after the amazing performance against Toulouse they were diabolical at York. Then, despite a string of missing players, turned up another huge defensive display beating Sheffield for the first South Yorkshire derby win in 11 years.
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Admittedly only watch the NRL(Wests Tigers) but do love the sport in general.
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Fantastic result for the Dons today. Wiped the floor with Halifax who were equal top of the league.
Halifax and Toulouse at the top have only lost four games to other sides all season. Two of those have been to the Dons
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What a Jekyll and Hyde league this is so far this season
Can we assume that The Dons have now stabilised and will kick on and demonstrate further spanking wins like this or do we expect this to be an outlier?
Would be very interesting to see where they could get this team in this league.
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We have a very strong 17, the Dons biggest problem is getting that 17 on the pitch regularly enough. When they are they can seriously beat anyone.
The big wins this year have come when we have enough bodies on the pitch who can run our defensive system. The win yesterday, as well as the wins against Toulouse and Sheffield, were born from insanely good defence then picking the chances off when they come. Problem with defensive set ups is, one or two weak links in the chain and it doesn’t work.
I fully expect us to get another hammering or 2 over the season, and to pick up more top results. It’s the nature of the system we play and the small squad that need to be on board with it.
We scored some absolute crackers though yesterday, which we hadn’t been doing. Finally seem to be clicking with the ball
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Highlights
https://youtu.be/OahRMBhilJ0?si=8p5kFQLEJeOiUvzn
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Thank you Jemmo!!
Some good rugby on there. BobG
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Highlights from latest game at home to London
https://youtu.be/i--AHdM6Snc?si=aT1FnQS7HHVL5ekl
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Tight first half but the Dons were all over them in the second. Enjoyable game but we only got going after a bit of a dust up.
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Tight first half but the Dons were all over them in the second. Enjoyable game but we only got going after our a bit of a dust up.
Yes the first half was really odd. Just flat from both sides. The brawl in the second half (and the baffling penalty decision reversal as a result) definitely gee'd us on more than them
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Tight first half but the Dons were all over them in the second. Enjoyable game but we only got going after our a bit of a dust up.
Yes the first half was really odd. Just flat from both sides. The brawl in the second half (and the baffling penalty decision reversal as a result) definitely gee'd us on more than them
Those referring decisions were very odd, is it a case of the lower leagues having inconsistent refs just as in the lower reaches of the FL?
As for the game, i wonder if the weather played a role, some of the forwards were struggling to get back onside very early on, i thought the big difference was the Dons backs, far superior to London and they finished the try's really well.
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Gebbie has since picked up disciplimary points for kicking out at that incident and I've watched it back and can see why so i think fair play to the officials they were probably right on that one. But yes, officials at Champ level tend to be less experienced than at SL.
Big game this weekend, Bradford Bull come to the Eco Power. A big crowd is expected. Last season this was a tight affair until very late in the game
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Excellent game today between Dons and Bradford, could have gone either way but Bradford nicked it late on. The fact that Dons are even competing against teams like Bradford is something to be proud of
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Excellent game today between Dons and Bradford, could have gone either way but Bradford nicked it late on. The fact that Dons are even competing against teams like Bradford is something to be proud of
Listen to it on Radio Leeds. Sounded like there was nowt between them.
Commentator said Dons haven't beaten Bradford since 1973. Which shows how well Dons are currently performing
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Generally apeaking, the Dons look to be within a gnats of almost all of the top sides. They're only that last couple of percent away from being a really very impressive and winning side now.
BobG
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Yes it feels like we're on the cusp of a play off side, a couple of players off a definite one.
We've played the top 3; beat 2 of them and lost narrowly to the other.
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Highlights from the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbRD9px10o
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Highlights from the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbRD9px10o
What was the attendance, Jemmo? I can't find it anywhere.
There seemed to be quite a few from Bradford.
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I’ve not been able to see one either. My guess would be about 2400/2500
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Dons are right in the playoffs mix after today's results
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Batley 12 Dons 50
It’s felt like giving someone a right battering has been coming and today we dominated from start to finish. South Yorkshire derby at Sheffield next week so would be good to take that form with us
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Highlights from the Batley game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfOEUIynQ2Y
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Thank you Jemmo.
BobG
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They've actually missed a try off the highlights somehow, for anyone who didn't think the maths checked out
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Sheffield 12 Dons 26
All the damage was done in the first half before a pretty awful second half but another good win. Only the 3rd time we’ve ever done the double on Sheffield and first since 2001
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Dons are in with a very good chance of making the playoffs.
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Edene Gebbie got his 16th and 17th tries of the season putting him top scorer in the league, after not being able to get into the side for the opening games of the season.
We have a week off next week, then away at Toulouse so chances are we'll lose a bit of ground.
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Highlights
https://youtu.be/PtgJHUZAgl4
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Thank you Jemmo
BobG
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Was a bye week this week but Dons managed to go up a place in the table after most results went their way. Opened a 6 point gap to the dreaded bottom 4 now. Only Barrow beating Bradford wasn't ideal
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The game on Saturday (now moved to a 7pm KO uk time due to industrial action affecting French airports) is scheduled to be live on YouTube.
I’ll post the link when I have it
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The game will be streamed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwQ0VWCdRtk
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Brilliant. Muchas gracias!
BobG
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It’s a lottery when or if this game is going to kick off. The rescheduled flight the Dons are on has been delayed at least a couple of hours and chances are will get worse.
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Who pays for all the travel to France and back? It surely doesn't all fall on the UK clubs shoulders
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Toulouse pretty much fund it up to a certain number of people (players/staff) the only concession is that we play our home game against them on a Saturday
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Tareverso
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No entiendo
BobG
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Dons team have landed, kick off has been put back to 8pm UK time
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Toulouse 12 Dons 6
Considering what has happened over the lkast 36 hours that was an incredible effort and a game we could have nicked. Felt we got proper mugged on some key 50/50 decisions too
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It should give the players confidence being so close.
Hopefully they qualify for the play offs.
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London 18 Dons 38
Another nightmare of a journey for the dons only getting to the ground 30 minutes before the game. Probably explains the tight first half but they dominated the second half and ran away with it for another good win on the road
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Did you go or watch it from home?
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No I went, stinking hot day at Kufflink stadium
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No I went, stinking hot day at Kufflink stadium
Credit to you there Jemma. Always nice to come home from an away game smiling. It makes the journey home seem a lot shorter as well.
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Certainly does! We were down on numbers but that was expected with our 5th away game in a row, long distance and a week after Toulouse it was a stretch for a lot of people.
Here’s the highlights
https://youtu.be/kLlJi9K4rSQ?si=BNUDRTOkYfVMWHpO
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Widnes v Dons game has been suspended after 22 minutes following an injury to a Widnes man. That was about 50 minutes ago. They have recently announed that Jake Maizen is in a stable condition but needs medical attention, the game can't continue as the medical staff are tied up dealing with him so can't be on hand for the game
Currently Widnes 0 Dons 10
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Game is back on after an hours break. Donny down to 12 players
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Donny down to 11 players but score next.
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It's 4 - 14 at half time but Dons are down to 11
There's no way they can win this from here, there's just too many gaps
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Are they off permanently Jemmo or sin binned? I can't find anything at all online.
BobG
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Yes 2 red cards so playing 60 minutes qith 11 players
Widnes have just taken the lead 16-14 with about 19 minutes left
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Ah. Found commentary. Bad news...
BobG
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Ha ha ha!!!!!
Bugger. Missed the kick.
10 minutes left. 2 in front.
BobG
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Sounds bloody exciting. Widnes ballsing it up. And Dons just got a pen. Get the ball from the KO and time will be almost up! 4 points ahead
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40 seconds...!
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Dons being v professional it sounds like. I.e. time wasting!
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Widnes last tackle
Knock on by Widnes. Almost there!!
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Hooter gone!!
Won with 11 men for over an hour!!
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That is incredible.
I'll be honest I've welled up a little here
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Me too!!!
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Win the game in hand and Don's are fifth!
Any idea who it is to play?
BobG
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That is incredible.
I'll be honest I've welled up a little here
What a result, that really must have been team spirit. The players and fans must be absolutely buzzing.
Were the two dismissals clear cut or debatable, Jemmo?
Alto correct had you as Jemma there, good job I checked. :lol:
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I am not a rugby league fan and well done to the Dons on the win at Widnes against the odds, but I hope the Widnes player makes a full recovery (it sounds serious).
Again, not a RL fan, but from days gone by, Widnes seemed to be a decent club years ago, but what has gone wrong there?
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That is incredible.
I'll be honest I've welled up a little here
What a result, that really must have been team spirit. The players and fans must be absolutely buzzing.
Were the two dismissals clear cut or debatable, Jemmo?
Alto correct had you as Jemma there, good job I checked. :lol:
The second red card was probably right for me and he was stupid swing out like that so soon after a restart. The first one I am certain was only a red cause the player was badly hurt, it was a penalty but there was no intent to cause harm and the player was on his way down. If he'd not been injured there was no further action there
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That is incredible.
I'll be honest I've welled up a little here
What a result, that really must have been team spirit. The players and fans must be absolutely buzzing.
Were the two dismissals clear cut or debatable, Jemmo?
Alto correct had you as Jemma there, good job I checked. :lol:
The second red card was probably right for me and he was stupid swing out like that so soon after a restart. The first one I am certain was only a red cause the player was badly hurt, it was a penalty but there was no intent to cause harm and the player was on his way down. If he'd not been injured there was no further action there
Thanks Jemmo, I wonderered if the injury was the main reason. Hope the lad makes a full and quick recovery.
It is days like these though when you win against the odds that makes it worthwhile for the real fans who stick by their club.
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The second red card was probably right for me and he was stupid swing out like that so soon after a restart. The first one I am certain was only a red cause the player was badly hurt, it was a penalty but there was no intent to cause harm and the player was on his way down. If he'd not been injured there was no further action there
That's how I saw it as well; very much looked a case of the injury being caused because he was already on his way down meaning he caught an arm to the head that otherwise would've been across his torso. Really unfortunate, but not malicious. The ref didn't seem set to take any action at all until after the stoppage.
Have to be honest, when Widnes ran in their third with half an hour to go I presumed that was that done. To dig in and keep committing from there, with half an hour to go, when your two men down and a score behind and go on and win – that's genuinely one of the gutsiest and most impressive team performances I've ever witnessed, in any sport.
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It was such a great achievement it's even made it to the football forum.
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The full game is here, highlights will follow later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3w79V7s5Sk
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What a fantastic rear-guard action from the Dons, every man played for the team, showed unbelievable determination and will to succeed.
Well done fellas, show that to the footballers as a demonstration of what can be achieved when everyone digs in and does their bit.
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The full game is here, highlights will follow later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3w79V7s5Sk
I can't see why Gebbie got sent off for that challenge.
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Win the game in hand and Don's are fifth!
Any idea who it is to play?
BobG
Dons have home games against the bottom 2 coming up, after 5 away games on the bounce.
Looking at the other fixtures, it's quite possible they could be in 4th spot a week on Sunday.
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Last 3 games are tough though sadly. Home to Halifax and York and away to Oldham. Got Featherstone and Barrow to come at home yet too. Ought to win some of those, but how many? Will it be enough?
BobG
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The toughest games left are away at Oldham and Bradford, and home to York. If we can nick a win one of those we’ve done well
We should be favourites for Batley, Hunslet and Halifax at home (Halifax haven’t been good second ever since we battered them at their place) and I’d hope to win all of them
Featherstone and Barrow are the ones mainly in the balance
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Happily I think Gebbie's suspensión coincides with two games against weaker opposition :) :)
BobG
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He can play this weekend, but will miss Hunslet at home and Bradford away (unfortunately in the case of the latter)
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Oh b*llocks.
BobG
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So after Barrow's defeat today, if the Dons win against 2nd-bottom Batley tomorrow, they are guaranteed to be in at worst 6th place, with a game in hand on all the sides around them.
A little bit of luck and the play offs are a distinct possibility.
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Other than Oldham 18-10 up v Hunslet, all the half times are good for the Dons. Dons themsves winning 26-6 whilst Featherstone are losing at home and Widnes are just ahead of Bradford. Fingers crossed it all stays this way!
BobG
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Looking at remaining fixtures I reckon it's going to be very tight.
I'd guess if the Dons win three of the matches against
Hunslet
Barrow
Bradford
Oldham
York
Featherstone
it'll probably come down to the final match of the season at home to Halifax for 6th place and a playoff position.
That would be a fantastic achievement
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I went down today for the first time in a while. The Dons did a great job and made it look easy against relegation-threatened Batley. That Pauli Pauli is an absolute beast of a player!
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After all those away game, I unfortunately couldn't get there yesterday but have just caught up on the game. Some good and varied tries, we have scoring options are all over the pitch at the moment and must be a nightmare to defend against.
Still got some tough games to come up and while play offs or even 5th is very achievable I won't lose any sleep if we just miss out
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Highlights of the Batley game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bo2F9Ol45g
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I went to a mate's funeral last Monday. The service was conducted by the Reverend Michael Towle. Yep, his late dad was the big lad himself.
Old Marra always loved the booze, fags, and women, but he let young Mick be his own person.
It's worked, because Mick is a smashing young bloke, and recently got married.
I forgot to ask him if he's interested in Rugby League.
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Dons have had to make a number of changes this week, between the suspension of Gebbie, failed HIA for Connor Robinson and injuries to Hey and Hepi.
Those 4 are out the squad and replaced by new signing Luis Johsnon, Loanee Harvey Horne, Dual Reg Logan Taylor-Moy and Alex Sutcliffe, who is returning from injury.
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Lol. If the Dons put 59 points net past Bradford on Friday they'll go 4th in the table.
Mind you, today wasn't very encouraging....
BobG
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Made hard work of that today, got dragged into a scrap we didn’t need to. And losing a lot of players through injury didn’t help with more than half the team out of positional second half
Very worries about having enough players on Friday night at Bradford
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For large portions today we had 4 half backs, 2 hookers and only 1 front row on the pitch. God knows where anyone was playing
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Oh. That suggests Bradford will be putting 59 past us on Friday....
BobG
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Friday is a write off.
Dons have a very tough run in. 6 matches to play, all against sides in the playoff mix.
The REAL crunch matches are the two straight after. Home to Featherstone and Barrow.
Win those two and I reckon that will very nearly be a play off position sealed. Win those two AND beat Halifax at home last match of the season, and that will be definitely a playoff place sealed.
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With the way the squad looks fitness wise at the moment, I'd be tempted to give up on the game at bradford and rest anyone we can. We're down to just 1 three quarter now, 2 if we recall Jason Tali from his loan
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Just watched it back now, that was a proper slog, some sore guys after that. Stuck to it well at the end, must be down to the bare bones now.
Thought the refs in football were poor, he missed plenty and some of his decisions were odd.
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Highlights
https://youtu.be/J-jykhHI8kU?si=3wHeSpBkPeba8jH5
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As suspected, the squad going into tomorrows game at Bradford is bare bones. We've only been able to name 20 (as opposed to the 21 we're allowed) and there's a few in there I know for a fact can't play.
Our three quarter lines is a lottery
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I don’t know how these lads keep doing it, but with a make shift team (the three quarter line is 2 half backs, a second tower and a teenager) we’re actually 8-6 up at half time
I don’t think we can go on and win this as we’ve had to put a lot of energy into that half but they’re showing some real guts
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Just gone further ahead 12-6 up come on you dons
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Making a great fist of it - but 12-12 now. 13 mins to go.
Bob
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18-12 Bradford still closed 5 mins to go
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A proper valiant effort. Not quite enough but bloody impressive all the same.
Bob
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Undone by a 4 minute period, but proud of the effort once more
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In my head I was thinking a loss by less than 40 points would be pretty good. Shows what i know....
BobG
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Highlights from the Bradford game
https://www.youtube.com/embed/7OSiKc4iGHs?autoplay=1
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Huge game on Sunday, 3pm for the Dons against Featherstone.
Both on the same points at the bottom of the play off zone and 2 to sides who have been playing well.
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I used to go watch London Broncos now and then and that was always a good day out. Going right back, I used to go with a mate to watch Rugby League at Fulham and at Crystal Palace.
The fact that it's never quite taken off down here has always been a bit of a mystery as there's plenty of people enjoying watching it on the telly.
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I used to go to Fulham too. Decent crowds for a while....
BobG
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Anyone know where to purchase tickets for The Dons' game away at Oldham on 31 August (or indeed if there's a need to)?
I can't find the info online – there's a ticket link on Oldham's site but not clear if it's home fans only or not – and I'm not on Facebook or Twitter to ask The Dons direct.
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Anyone know where to purchase tickets for The Dons' game away at Oldham on 31 August (or indeed if there's a need to)?
I can't find the info online – there's a ticket link on Oldham's site but not clear if it's home fans only or not – and I'm not on Facebook or Twitter to ask The Dons direct.
What I do know is there's no segregation at Oldham, and they only open a couple of stands. My suggestion would just buy one on line from Oldham.
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They're £20 in advance online and £24 on the day, its a couple of weeks away so I'd leave it to the week in case they change anything on their end but usually it's non allcated seating without segregation.
We will be taking a few that game by the sounds, one of the supporters has put free coach travel on although all the spaces are already taken on that
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The algorithm actually worked! Minutes after this I went on Facebook and there was a post from Oldham saying away fans can get their ticket through their site and sit wherever once in the ground.
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Creepy......
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The algorithm actually worked! Minutes after this I went on Facebook and there was a post from Oldham saying away fans can get their ticket through their site and sit wherever once in the ground.
Cheers Jemmo. Will get on that.
They're £20 in advance online and £24 on the day...
Yeah, I got stung by Widnes adding a few extra quid to the price on the day, but not advertising the fact that they would do so anywhere in advance. Their ticket office man quite plainly could not have given less of a shit.
This was why I was asking.
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They pretty much all do it, the Dons do too, cheaper to buy the day before.
The only exception is Batley who charge the same to buy online as they do to pay at the turnstile, but there's a booking fee online so it's actually cheaper to pay om the day
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b*llocks. Half an hour gone. 12-0 down.
BobG
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FT. 30-42.
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Was a hell of a game with some good tries. Think Fev were good value for the win. We could have nicked it, was just a score behind with 8 minutes to go and we had all the momentum, but we dropped it.
If we'd nicked it it would definitely been a real smash and grab job
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Thanks Jemmo. It's a sod being over 150 miles away and not being able to find anything online. I was reduced to the BBC...
BobG
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Them having the better of the first half made it difficult.
Every time we got within one converted try of them they scored again.
Horrible fans.
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Highlights of Fev game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H-7lLi7ylo
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Dons named pretty much same squad except for Josh Bowden coming back from injury.
Whoever loses this weekend between us and Barrow are almost certainly out of the play off race (even if not mathematically)
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Further afield, the Canberra v Penrith game in Australia this morning had the most incredible finish in golden point extra time:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1281384093393575&ref=sharing
Almost up there with the way the Dons beat Toulouse in 2024
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Widnes winning at Featherstone is an awful result for the Dons and makes a play off finish a lot trickier.
We need Halifax to win at most 1 of their remaining games really (assuming that 1 isn't against us), but they also play Widnes who we can't have winning all 3 of theirs (Widnes' other 2 games seem like bankers for them).
So assuming Dons win 2 of their last 4 (with wins at Oldham and York unlikely). We essentially need Halifax to beat Widnes, but that be the only game they win. (They would need to lose to away at Barrow and Doncaster).None of that is impossible or even improbable but when you get into need a specific combination of results you're on dodgy ground
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Hmm. Yes. I was pondering this morning that perhaps injuries and previous superhuman efforts have taken their toll. I fear we've reached a bridge too far. I hope the Dons win this afternoon, but I ain't confident they will.
Let's hope I'm barking mad!
BobG
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Absolutely awful first half from the Dons
Barrow have barely touched the ball on our half and have scored 4 tries. All from a comedy of mistakes. 2 of which we looked like we were going to score ourselves
Never seen a half like that
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Dons 22 - Barrow 32
Donny had about 8 clear chances and got 4
Barrow has one chance and got 5
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Beautiful turn of phrase Jemmo. The only bright spark in the day.
BobG
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On 23rd May this year, was picking my daughter and family up from Limoges (France) airport and on the same flight were the Barrow RL team on their way to play Toulouse,the next day. They had a coach journey from Barrow to Leeds, a flight Leeds to Limoges and then a coach journey from Limoges to Toulouse. There is no wonder they lost the game on the Saturday. The life of a professional rugby player!
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Highlight v Barrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpmHG_X2qF0
Just imagine the Benny Hill theme tune as you watch
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Dons have come out fighting today, half time is 6-6 away at big spending Oldham
Just need to stay in the fight today and see what we can get
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Finished 13-12
Great effort and always in the hunt but that was probably the last swipe at getting into the play offs
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Although with the last couple of weeks, Craig Hall has become the boo boy again
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Ridiculous. He's got pedigree, quality and experience. What else do these fools want? If they someone younger, who's going to pay?
BobG
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I run the man of the match votes after every game, add all the points up and thats where the Supporters Player of the Year. Hall is currently 5th in that.
It comes about with him for 2 reasons. Firstly when he makes a mistake it tends to be high profile or costly, due to the way he has to be involved and his position. Secondly, and for me there is some merit in this one, he isn't a full back. However we need to get him onto the pitch somehow, and being there lets him float around and chime in where wants which is how he creates most trouble. We kind of need to invent a new position for him
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Hall isn't a poor player, but he did have a poor game yesterday – though I take your point about his mistakes tending to be me more visible owing to where he's playing.
I thought the defat was harsh on The Dons, but was surprised they didn't look to set up a tying drop goal opportunity on the final forays forwards.
Still, I did get to see some silverware yesterday... I nipped in the pub by the train station when I got back and the Crusaders were in there with their League One bowl sat on a table by the bar.
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Highlight v Barrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpmHG_X2qF0
Just imagine the Benny Hill theme tune as you watch
Have they given up on applying the forward pass rule? That pass for Barrow's first try went about 3 yards forward. Look at the cut marks on the turf. The lad on the break has made the pass about mid width of the light grass. The pass has been received well over the edge of the next dark grass strip. Those strips are 6 yards wide, so it's gone forward at least 3 yards. It's not even close for the officials to justify not calling it.
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Highlights from game at Oldham
https://youtu.be/OZX2EnVS65k?si=Gj59HIAYpsEKfdW0
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Highlight v Barrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpmHG_X2qF0
Just imagine the Benny Hill theme tune as you watch
Have they given up on applying the forward pass rule? That pass for Barrow's first try went about 3 yards forward. Look at the cut marks on the turf. The lad on the break has made the pass about mid width of the light grass. The pass has been received well over the edge of the next dark grass strip. Those strips are 6 yards wide, so it's gone forward at least 3 yards. It's not even close for the officials to justify not calling it.
Even taking into account the momentum of the player passing the ball that is a bad one. They tend to get away with them if running fast (because its harder to judge and the ref is usually behind it rather than side on
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Yeah I appreciate it's tough for the officials on tight calls. Always has been. And I also get that it is to some extent about the spirit of the law. You do have to give a little bit of leeway for momentum, if the player is at least trying to pass the ball backwards. But that's a shocker really. The Barrow lad made no attempt to play it backwards. The No4 was almost level with him and running flat out when the pass was released. Craig Hall knew. He immediately turned and looked at the ref with his arms outstretched.
It reminded me of Union back in the day when it was amateur. They used to turn a blind eye to outrageous forward passes, and there'd have barely ever been an open play try without forward passes.
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You can always tell by the passers hands, that was the givde away for me on that one
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Yeah I appreciate it's tough for the officials on tight calls. Always has been. And I also get that it is to some extent about the spirit of the law. You do have to give a little bit of leeway for momentum, if the player is at least trying to pass the ball backwards. But that's a shocker really. The Barrow lad made no attempt to play it backwards. The No4 was almost level with him and running flat out when the pass was released. Craig Hall knew. He immediately turned and looked at the ref with his arms outstretched.
It reminded me of Union back in the day when it was amateur. They used to turn a blind eye to outrageous forward passes, and there'd have barely ever been an open play try without forward passes.
Regarding that last paragraph, BST, I totally agree, and it's still there in the professional game. Also, they get away with a lot of knock-ons in Union, with those little fumbles around the ruck areas.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the women's World Cup, but I've seen loads of forward passes and knock-ons that the refs have missed.
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Not Dons related, but that's one way to be sent off.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/which-one-are-you-shagging-womens-super-league-player-sent/video/4f996b51cbd7678c40496507b1929b0c
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Not Dons related, but that's one way to be sent off.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/which-one-are-you-shagging-womens-super-league-player-sent/video/4f996b51cbd7678c40496507b1929b0c
Thanks for that, PL. Brilliant.
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Bloody brilliant! Thanks Pintolager.
BobG
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As this season winds down the rumour mill has been picking up speed about next year. Doing the rounds a bit has been that Dons are signing the Sheffield half back Cory Aston; this is now being reported in a couple of places so fair game to talk about!
Interesting signing for a number of reasons; Cory has been one of Sheffield best players for a number of years so combining this with us finishing well above them this year it really represents a changing of the guard in South Yorkshire.
Half backs are like rocking horse shit outside of Super League, between Aston, Robinson and Boas we will be one of the better equipped at that key area.
Finally he's just a very good player at this level
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:):)
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Well that was awful
I know they’re the best team in the division but to get nilled by them twice is just painful
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Aye. But nothing to play for. Injuries everywhere. Knackered after fighting bloody hard for quite a long period. To me, it's understandable even if it's unpleasant
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BobG
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Last game of the season is a satisfyingly risk free dead rubber. And a good chance to let the retiring players. Ben Johnston who’s been here 5 years and Jason Tali whose been here 10 and finished agonisingly short of our all time try scorer record.
Also a couple of the younger squad who haven’t had a lot of game time can get a run out
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Just about summed up the season yesterday. One of the best 40 minutes we've played all year in the first half; high completion rate, zero penatlies conceded, winning the arm wrestle and went in 16-0 up.
Second half the complete opposite; silly penalties, missed chances and too much in our half. Lost 16-24
We had a try disallowed when it was 16-6 that looked pretty harsh to me and that was very much the turning point, also denied Ben Johnston a top drawer of a try on his last game before retirement.
It is what it is, finished in same position as last year but a lot further clear of the regelation battle. All in all a good year, there's room for improvement but we have a good core squad, we just need more bodies to back it up when we have knocked bodies
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It's been year on year improvement for at least 4 seasons now. That is pretty bloody impressive in itself. Another season of improvement will make this team a proper contender.
BobG
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Agreed. I am still happy with the way things are going
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Dons have confirmed the following players have not been offered new contravts for 2026:
Craig Hall
Ben Johnston
Josh Bowden
Jason Tali
Junior Mafi
Andrew Gill
I'd have kept Hall, was easilly the top assists of the year, but he is 37 and had defensive frailties. As eluded to in previous posts many are happy to see him go. As long as we bring an actual full back in it will work out. (The expected signing of Cory Aston already makes up for the kicking game Hall had and another creative option)
Johnston and Tali are retiring
Bowden was one of the big signings of the last close season and never got going unfortunately, and picked up too many injuries.
Mafi is a young lad and will find another club, I just don't feel he's the right bodt type for the position he's in. Too small for a prop at this level.
Gill never got a game outside friendlies, but is a young local lad. I might have kept him on for that alone, particularly when we're gonig to get a few less intense games next season now the divisions have merged (although we're not still sure how that will look)