Dons

[BillyStubbsTears]

Bouncing back strongly from a so-so start to the season. Beaten 2nd and 3rd placed teams away in the last 2 weeks.

[Metalmicky]

They were 12:6 down at half time.... before winning 12:26

[BillyStubbsTears]

Yet another win today against a playoff contender. That's 7 wins on the bounce. It's be excellent for Club Donny if they could win the playoffs. Looks like they'll be going in as the form team.

[BobG]

What's quite scary though is that last season's play off winners are this seasons whipping boys in the league above. Not far short of a thousand points conceded and exactly 1 win in 21 games.....

BobG

[Metalmicky]

Another away win.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/match/EVP3767579

[BillyStubbsTears]

Next week against 100% Keighley will be a good indicator of what the Don's are looking like going into the play offs.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Excellent start in first playoff match. 16-0 up away at Crusaders after 20 mins.

[BillyStubbsTears]

20-0 at HT.

[BillyStubbsTears]

26-12 FT. Excellent result. I think they must be favourites for promotion.

[Sprotyrover]

26-12 FT. Excellent result. I think they must be favourites for promotion.

The iconic Documentary 'Another Bloody Sunday"  caused my youngest to take up Rugby league!

[Dagenham Rover]

26-12 FT. Excellent result. I think they must be favourites for promotion.

The iconic Documentary 'Another Bloody Sunday"  caused my youngest to take up Rugby league!

Probably been asked is it available to watch anywhere i watched it first time round  gonna shove it up me lads nose

[BillyStubbsTears]

https://youtu.be/PjaTYQAuPFk

[BobG]

I've just seen that this Saturday the beaten Crusaders are playing at home against Rochdale in the 'play off semi final'. Meanwhile on Sunday the victorious Dons are playing away at Swinton in the second semi final.

How does that work?? Free pass for the losing Crusaders? Meaningless victory for the Dons yesterday? And why is the proven better team, the Dons, playing at Swinton rather than the logical choice of the losers yesterday? Crusaders ! Or even Rochdale?

BobG

[Dutch Uncle]

I looked it up Bob, not straightforward. Winners of Dons semi go to final, losers get another chance against the winners of the Rochdale-Crusaders ‘eliminator’ semi final

I guess it gives the higher finishing teams an extra chance

Edit: either way Dons have to win 2 more matches for promotion, but can lose the next one

[BillyStubbsTears]

It's...err...complicated.

Match A (Elimination play-off): Rochdale v Oldham

Match B (Qualifying play-off): North Wales v Doncaster

Match C (Qualifying semi-final): Swinton v Match B (Dons)

Match D (Elimination semi-final): Loser Match B (NW Crusaders) v Winner Match A (Rochdale)

Match E (Qualifying semi-final): Loser Match C v Winner Match D

Match F (Promotion final): Winner Match C v Winner Match E

So yes, Dons have a hard match next time. But it's not an elimination match. Winners go through to final. Losers go to a second semi.

Whereas Crusaders are now in a situation where they will be eliminated next time they lose. And they have two win two more matches to get to the final, whereas the Dons only need to win one.

[BobG]

Thank you chaps.

Do either of you understand why this process was chosen? More matches = more revenue?

Bob

[BillyStubbsTears]

I think it is a genuine effort to reward the sides who finish higher. For example, Rochdale or Oldham who finished 5th and 6th are eliminated after losing one match and must win 2 to get to the final. Swinton, who finished 2nd only need to win one to reach the final, and if they lose the first game they have a second chance. The Dons (4th) must win 2 but have a second chance if they lose either the first or the second game.

It's complicated but pretty fair overall.

[BobG]

Lol. Just one more conversion across the whole season and it would have been very different for the Dons. It would have put them third rather than fourth.

Thanks again. A system to reckon with this is!

BobG

[BillyStubbsTears]

Lol. Just one more conversion across the whole season and it would have been very different for the Dons. It would have put them third rather than fourth.

Thanks again. A system to reckon with this is!

BobG

That would just have given them home advantage yesterday. Not required as it worked out.

[danumdon]

This play off system does look like it properly looks at the league placings and tries to apportion risk and reward with some thought.

Its a pity the FA don't look at this a little closer, it would if nothing else ensure clubs keep playing right to the end of the season and not to ease of the throttle as and when it suits.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Semi final today at Swinton. Anyone know if there's a radio feed?

[Metalmicky]

currently 6:0 

[Metalmicky]

12:0

[Metalmicky]

16:0

[BillyStubbsTears]

Yeah, getting trounced at the minute.

[Metalmicky]

22:0

Had a peak at the line up..... I see that Taulapapa is listed as playing - is that Misi Taulapapa - fella is 40....!!

[Metalmicky]

28:12

[roversdude]

Brilliant win today

[BillyStubbsTears]

Yep, great bounce back after last week. Can they turn it round in the rematch at Swinton next week?

[roversdude]

Is the final at Swinton or on a neutral ground