As much as I dislike the fact, the Seagull aren't on our radar at the moment. Hopefully one day soon they can be genuinely competitive affairs but until then, this Sunday is more about performance than result. They'll be a damn sight better than Hunslet, and the poison dwarf won't let them be complacent, so the task will be tough.

I'd like to see us compete for reasonable portions of the game, create some attacking options and show resilience in defence and see what happens.

A very good effort I thought by the lads that bodes well for the season ahead. Unfortunately we wilted a bit in the last 10 but impressive they weren't ahead before then. Having said that if those two spear tackles had got more than a talking to for their respective players may be things would have been different.

Personally I'm very happy - what is everyone else's opinion?

ps I was undecided over whether to post this here or start a new topic - if someone thinks it wants moving and is able to do so please feel free.

thought the side performed brilliantly. especially going into the game with only 16 players which is probably why we run out of steam in last 10 mins. i think china sanderson emmet and kesik were great. they never stop and although uncomfortable out of position kesiks kicking game was spot on. especially the chip for a try. only downside today was fawcett. he seemed to really slow the game down.
looking forward to the season now!! come on you dons!

Why did we only have 16 players or 17 if you include Edwards who did not come on.

All in all a good effort , Eagles deserved the win just .

Very very happy, think the scoreline flattered them in the end, although they did edge it for me. But across the pitch there were very encouraging performances.

We will not be facing many teams of their size and calibre over the league season so the scoreline does not bother me one bit. I liked what I saw, and that's enough for me

Outstanding performance's by everyone wearing the Dons shirt today and the Eagles were very very lucky to come away with the spoils.

Looking forward to the Cookie and Castle show when the season proper begins.

Well-Done.

Thought the lads played really well and did not deserve the score line.
Castle played like he's never been away, and with somebody on his shoulder we'll make brakes.
The ref let seagulls slow the play of the ball really down which is something we need to learn.
All in all very promising.

Thought they were slightly quicker than the dons, but not much else was different.
As you say ran out of steam towards the end, but a good run out.
Was my first game today and i saw enough to convince me to get a season ticket, which i will be doing in the coming week.

yes pleased with the hunslet game and very impressed today against a good team if we take the effort amd power the forwards are showing through the season we will not only get promoted but i can hear the song championies being sung at keepmoat! ( tad optomistic but thats what beer does) coyd

Well done to the guys today, thought we played some good stuff against a big strong side. Thought that Sheffield were the better side, but as stated in a earlier post they got away with slowing the play of the ball down.

But we have to remember that they are a division above us and got to the play offs last year.

Big well done guys

I have to say that I don't think that we particularly 'ran out of steam' (and I'm not falling out with anyone when I say that).

I think that we just made a couple of mistakes which received the ultimate punishment. At 28-22 when the Eagles had finally got back in front we tried to keep the ball alive to get back level. As it turned out we got intercepted and they went 50 or 60 yards for a try.

On the restart we kicked out on-the-full and gave Sheffield good field position which it looked like we'd defended but unfortunately Butts spilled the ball (having been first to it) to present the Eagles with another try.

40-22 certainly flatters Sheffield although you couldn't argue that in the end they deserved to edge it.

If I'm being honest, I also felt that the visitors were given a fair amount of latitude with regard to slowing us down. It's a tricky one this, are we too honest when the opposition has the ball or do we need to read referees better???

All that said, we have shown enough in the two games so far to suggest we ought to be amongst the better teams in C1, especially when we get a proven SL player on the pitch to give us even more direction.

Another very solid effort today, no complaints here.

You've been reading my notes ....


I totally agree we didn't run out of steam.
On 60 minutes at 22-16 ahead we were pressing to make it 28-16 and yet once again a spear tackle went relatively unpunished and the Eagles went down the other end of the pitch to record another forward pass try.
The ref was a complete joke.
He was that bad he could ref in Superleague.
The difference in the two sides was the wind in the second half and the INCOMPETENT OFFICIALS.
Oh! and while I'm at it, the gatesperson that allowed that drum into the stadium needs it shoving up his@rse.
You can't bring an umbrella in but you can bring in a drum??????
Both are fooking potentially dangerous!!!!

The Dons were ace today.
But I almost puked watching Sheffield hoist that cup.

Prior to the game I saw a Don's fan with a drum, would you wish to inflict the same punishment on one of your own?

God yes! Luckilly said drum never made it in, nor has it ever been in the Keepmoat ever!

i have never seen a Dons fan with a drum, but then again i could be a rugby league official as i am blind, on the perfprmance the only improvement i could see on a very solid and pleasing performance could be more yardage on kicks to to touch, am sure on occ we could double that.

What the hell do you think???
I have never heard a Dons fan playing a drum, and if there was such a numpty, he should be shot!!!

I am not a believer in the view that the game was better in Geoff's day, however the amount of holding down today was criminal.
Approaching the levels of the prime exponents WIGAN it was ludicrous.
Sheffield put 4 into the tackle sometimes (Wigan regularly use 3). And so one gets off and then another gets off and then another gets off and then another gets off and then the ball is played.
Meanwhile??????????? The ref scratches his @rse!!!
Fook my pit cap!!!!!!!
If every rugby league game was like that, you could stuff it!!!
Geoff would be right!!!

Anyway, on a brighter note ... the crowd was double last week plus another hundred.
I suppose I ought to thank the Eagles supporters for coming.
I suppose.

Like

can only comment on how i saw the game, thought in the last 15 mins the dons energy levels dropped, at the play of the ball in that period options were minimal because there wasnt much movement/backng up. also from where i was sat level with the 20 metre line at the end the dons were defending second half, i could see that players had their backs to the game walking back the 10 metres as sheffield played the ball. This allowed them time and room to gain metres. Not criticising though, i thought the dons played really well and more game time will improve fitness. Thats what pre season games are for. Looking forward to next weeks game.
On that can anyone just verify for me were it is. Think its the ground near the range. Not certain, not a union fan so never been.

Thought we gave a good account of ourselves today seeing as we only had 16 fit players come kick off. With players not risk who had been carrying knocks from last week, and two players dropping out due to sickness on Sunday morning the Seagulls were always going to have the upper hand come the last quarter of the game.Grant pulled his quad in the warm up and was advised by the doc not to risk a more serious injury for the sake of a friendly,as much as he wanted to play. Thought Cas and Kessi gave us good go forward and will be a handful for all the teams in our division this year, and with Cooky to come in all boads well for a promotion push. COYD

Thanks for that insight Neil.

COYD

Andy Townend has broken his hand. www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

Andy Townend has broken his hand. www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

Quote ="weighman"Andy Townend has broken his hand. www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league'" I knew we should have signed more forwards.

Quote ="weighman"Andy Townend has broken his hand. www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league'" I knew we should have signed more forwards.

Good effort from all today. We ran out of steam in the last quarter but overall i was very pleased and the performance exceeded my expectations.
Well done to the Eagles fans for a good turnout!

Impressed by the team display and Castle added to the pack performance with some good off loads although Brambani spotted one of them quicker than us.Thought the turning point was the penalty award when the Eagles player tried to play the ball whilst getting to his feet and the ref penalised the Dons.The Eagles scored from the next set and took the lead and we were on catch up.Suppose 16 players to rotate against 22 may have helped the Eagles towards the end but entertaiming game and some good tries looks good for the future.