1st half performance was ok , but we let them back into the game with two sloppy tries.
Played better in the 2nd half , thought it was going to be closer .

Referee came up with some bad decisions .

Perhaps I am being overly critical when you look at the scoreboard but the team looked lethargic both during the warm up and through out the first half, if wasn't until the last quarter when Gloucester were tiring we looked like we wanted it.
I agree with Cross for Mom, and like a lot of others disappointed with the Referee, the best refs are the ones you don't notice, the guy today seemed to want to be the centre of attention.
Interested to see who we get in the next round.

Were into the hat for the next round and we put 48pts on the board but the missed tackles and tempo to our game needs vastly improving and quickly, I was surprised we didn't try a couple of 40/20 in the 1st half when we had the wind behind. On the plus side I thought the toll bar lads showed up well zac took the ball in well and Kieran had a field day when close to the line, the calling for the referee to get them back after 12 seconds of play made me chuckle though. (I'm not a big moaner of referees but I thought he was poor today albeit for both sides) anyway onwards and upwards COYD

That was seriously weird ....
We seem to be playing an Australian type game.
Keep it in the forwards until we get into their twenty and then chuck it about.
Fine if it works ... but we struggled to make metres. Gloucester seemed better at it until they tired and realised the game was up.

One or two players would not get in my starting team.
I almost peed myself when a certain player was put into a good position on the flank and then shat himself and chucked the ball up towards the moon.
Seriously?
Someone I talked to thought the said player had a good game ... must be me!

A good win in the end, but we looked like we had a right to win at times ... poor attitude.

As for our defence ... Jesus!

Leeds at home please ...
COYD

looked good when we played rugby and moved the ball but didn't do it enough.
they're supposed to be working on defence but it didn't work very well at times

Cross ... 9 tries in 5 games.
Yet nobody really knows where he should play position-wise.
4 tries and held up over the line for a possible two more.
Don't really care where he plays... don't drop him.

Cross adds that bit of pace to the team .
The coach has a big decision to make when Hedges is available .

COYD

Hedges?
Who's he?

Actually, I would give him a go against such as Oxford and Hemel.
If he cuts the mustard it would be a Howden, Hedges, Cross core ... 6,7,9 ....or 6,7,13.

I had a similar chat with a guy after the game. Keiran Cross is perhaps best at hooker off the bench but we need him out there for as many minutes as possible as he can inject pace to our game.

The lads certainly seemed fitter than Gloucester in the closing 15 minutes and that probably won the day for us. In the end, the scoreline probably
flattered us a little as it was nerve jangling stuff when we were 2 points in front with 20 minutes to go.

The players stuck at it and deserve credit for their efforts.

I tend to agree about Cross as 9 , why not try Kesik at 13 .

Cross has to become our regular no9, i was surprised Gloucester fell for that dummy pass out wide 4 times. I think we have decent pace on the fringes and up front we have some big units but its the halves i worry about we need more guile

[*
Great kicking from Miller, so big-ups there, but not for me, well not yet anyway.
He has got something, but he is so tiny.
Whereas Cross is chunky and strong.

Scoring 4 and getting held up twice I can understand mom but I thought Zac ran strong all game and England tackled everything. Best game I've seen brad play for us

I aren't sure where I think he should be playing. He's not defensively strong enough to be a starting 9 and beyond his own tries doesn't create enough. And I don't know if his kicking game will be good enough as an half against the tougher teams. Maybe loose might be a decent position for him so he can run off the back of plays.

Its a difficult one, as he definitely has the skill to play in the halves, and the mobility. I think playing at 13 may be a good option, as he always runs off the shoulder of his teammates, and creates a hell of a lot of opportunities. He is beginning to create a lot of spaces with his running and footwork, and once he gets a bit more used to playing in the halves (if that is the long term aim), then, he will be very good. This is someone, remember, who has spent a lot of his career prior to joining us playing in the pack, and he has only played 20 'professional' grade games for the Dons (scoring 15 tries).

Gloucestershires number 9 ripped us to shreds when Kes wasn't on the pitch so needs to be on at 9, and for longer periods.

The trick with Cross is, it is obvious he needs to be on the pitch, but to put him somewhere that suits his skills and doesn't detriment the rest of the team. Scoring tries is all well and good but he can do what he does from anywhere.

If he plays at 7, he should be too busy marshalling the others and directing the forwards around to back up as often as he does. If a 7 backs up player and the ball doesn't come you're down a ball player on the next set and the team suffers. Similarly if he plays at 9 he needs to be darting the ruck (which he can't if the pass hasn't come) and putting in a lot bigger defensive stint that he appears able to. He also wouldn't play 80 mins at 9/

it is becoming obvious we don't have a 13, or we wouldn't have been playing a prop there yesterday. Our pack is also big enough, particularly when you add the size in the three quarters. So for me, the best place to keep cross on the pitch and weaken the team least is to put him at 13 and play Howden and Miller in the halves. With Kes hooking and wright his understudy.

On Miller, I genuinely believe he will become a cracking half back that we'll struggle to keep hold of.

(IMO)

Away from Cross...

Braham and Castle were spot on for me. Thackeray terrorised them when he came on and Kes managed the play the ball well. Our team is perfect for fast plays and off loads. Simple and effective stuff which comes off the back of strong forward play.

Aizue looked to be having problems and got stepped a few times, and Heil looks more like a 2nd row than a centre to me

I don't know about that .... 'left outside' might be his best position.

I do agree kes offers more with aggression and with his tackling and the fact he can easily operate in the halves or at 13 is a big plus but ideally he needs to be settled in one position, its quite obvious when were close to the line he's our go to guy. End of the day he's still young enough to be moulded into a position it's just wether mr thornton is the right person to help him!

COYD

Leave the bloody wink and say exactly what you feel about him then. Hes had 2 games for the club, and you're already on his back.

All I will say is the fringe players this season are much better than last season , may be they have not come from Agent Harrisons fold, he sold us some pups last season !

It's a good job he doesn't work for Toppings, he wouldn't be able to let go.

Alright he's crap .... happy now?
I can't help being a complete winker.

Well I've seen him in at least 3 times, so you're maths is not much better.


He's had a friendly, and two cup games as well as games in the Hull -23s.
Long enough to show a semblance of class.

We're still buddies though aren"t we Donny?
Cos I am not too sure any more.


You just seem to chime in once in a bluey railing against what I say. Stalking or what?



'Big powerful centre' was how he was described on coming here ... well he is big.

And I am not on his back, this is a forum, not a adjunct of the Dons, you have an involvement with the club so your view is biassed.
If I may make so bold.



Do you think he cares a sh/t what I say?
Do I think he will be here next season?
No!

Highlights from the game here, thanks to Rob terrace as always https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIOLWuIkEWg

Highlights from the game here, thanks to Rob terrace as always https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIOLWuIkEWg

The Coaches view on the game. Free Press online www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/spo ... -1-8450957 Thanks to Rob for the Highlights. Cross is exciting to watch.

The Coaches view on the game. Free Press online www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/spo ... -1-8450957 Thanks to Rob for the Highlights. Cross is exciting to watch.