After fearing the worst before the game an excellent effort and scored double the previous best v London in the league this season. Enjoyable atmosphere as well. We definitely got to them and some of their players need to remember they are playing in the 2nd Division not State of Origin!
Today showed there is still the passion there- needs to be matched by greater ambition off the field!
We played really well and losing edge after about 15 minutes.
The difference was the pass that Gilmore dropped about 15 meters out with a clear run to the line, then they went down the field and scored. A 12 point difference.
i was surprised they didn’t go away from us after they extended their lead with about 25 minutes left, like they have with every other team. but much to our credit we didn’t give up and kept pressing them and scored some good tries.
Thats the most points anyone has scored against them , including Bradford in the cup, and the closest score, in our division.
if we play like that in the final we must stand a chance of winning.
Excellect analysis of the game...exactly what I thought.
Turning point was the Gilmore drop.
They actually tired more than us in last 20 hence started making errors and giving pens away.
At 18 42 I feared a 18 60 odd final score.
Would have like 10 mins at them at the 26 42 and not 2mins.
Overall they did just about deserve to win....made a lot more m in forward runs and did have real speed in the backs. Also better at off loading...basically SL style.
Widnes should take a great deal of confidence from that game and be looking for to the final and another go at them
Attendance was 2011
Campbell-Gillard the big aussie gobshite, only ran the ball in 4 times. I'm looking forward to seeing the tries again because a couple of theirs were from forward passes, and I thought one in the NE corner was grounded against the corner flag (but I was 100yds away). Also one of our Forwards said after the game, that one of their tries wasn't grounded. All ifs, buts and maybes. Apart from the regular offsides at the play-the-ball, which is every game, I thought the Ref had a decent game.
Paulie xx
Great comeback in the second half, but our undoing was absolute shocking tackling in the first half for their 3 tries
edge loss could be immense for us
langtree - at season start people were questioning his retention - proved it in spades !
the 2 wildes were good too
and after the ref chalked off Lawton’s try for a forward pas ( quite correctly) he then started to see London forward passes
attendance - did not hear but guess about 2500 and that includes the 26 from London
We started well and did very well to come back at the end. London a very quick side but terrible goal line defence, we scored virtually everytime we got to their line. Which for us is good as we have struggled in this area in the past and had 2 2nd rows playing centre.
You could tell London were rattled as celebrated by signalling to our fans at the end. I thought that lacked a bit of class considering they are full time but at the same time shows weakness. Gillard had a 5 min moan to the ref at the end as well.
Any news on Edge, has he broken his arm? That would be a big blow, but we have 2 fairly easy games next, Taylor can come in and Owens only has 1 more game of his ban.
Not having Richardson or Wilde for the final will be a blow, especially Richardson. I hope Sambou is available for the last couple of league games but not sure how far off hevis, been out ages.
We started well and did very well to come back at the end. London a very quick side but terrible goal line defence, we scored virtually everytime we got to their line. Which for us is good as we have struggled in this area in the past and had 2 2nd rows playing centre.
You could tell London were rattled as celebrated by signalling to our fans at the end. I thought that lacked a bit of class considering they are full time but at the same time shows weakness. Gillard had a 5 min moan to the ref at the end as well.
Any news on Edge, has he broken his arm? That would be a big blow, but we have 2 fairly easy games next, Taylor can come in and Owens only has 1 more game of his ban.
Not having Richardson or Wilde for the final will be a blow, especially Richardson. I hope Sambou is available for the last couple of league games but not sure how far off hevis, been out ages.
Listening to the interview from Coleman it seems Sambou could play next week, but i think Kieron Taylor will be fine. Everyone played well except my least favourite player Gregson.🤣
Big misses Richardson and Wilde for the final, but i presume Lyons will play with Gilmore. I also noticed on the interview Coleman mentioned all the rumours about signings need to be stopped as negotiations happening and these rumours of Swinton and Rochdale halfbacks is ridiculous.
@pascal I think we will play Lyons vs Workington as a warm up, perfect game for him to come back in.
We are a prop light though as McWhirter is out and Wilde cant play. Having seen London today I don't think it would suit Houghtons game with the speed they play. Hopefully we get Billington back and we can use Lawton and Billington off the bench as 2 props, although Huddersfield won with him in the side.
@pascal I think we will play Lyons vs Workington as a warm up, perfect game for him to come back in.
We are a prop light though as McWhirter is out and Wilde cant play. Having seen London today I don't think it would suit Houghtons game with the speed they play. Hopefully we get Billington back and we can use Lawton and Billington off the bench as 2 props, although Huddersfield won with him in the side.
The interview with Alan and i do not think he is confident of getting Billington back for the final. Hopefully Huddersfield have a few players back from injury in the forwards, if there is any mate.
Fingers crossed we can find a permanent new signing or Billington plays. I think it makes sense for Lyons to play against Workington to prepare for the final, and is an easier game to come back too.
Don't forget their "off-side at the PTB" shenanigans!
Oh, and holding down at the PTB shenanigans.
Just wstched the highlights on you tube and Richardson and Gilmore i love to get both on 2 year contracts.Depends if Richardson wants part time or full tome rugby, but they gell so well together. Langtree and Lawton i also hope are at Widnes next year. I tbink Langtree has another year left on his contract.
All in all, a good day to be a chemic, so fair play to the lads regardless!
Up the chemics!
I can't remember whether it was after the Gilmore try or Lawton's but I loved how Foz and a number of other players urged everyone to get back ready for the restart and at 24-42(?) they believed they could rattle the London players even more. That belief will be critical going into the final.
It also shows how important it is having a goal kicker though. I think Richardson was 100% yesterday even kicking a rather hasty conversion from the touchline. To get anywhere near it is imperative to try and take all points that are on offer.
Fantastic attitude by the team and great atmosphere in the ground.
Say what you like abut the ref the penalty count was something like 10 to 1 in our favour. All our tries came off penalties, I think. If London improve their discipline the 1895 final will be more difficult as we struggled to get field position. That said the players deserve credit for avoiding giving away penalties themselves, and for a heroic performance all round, especially bearing in mind the loss of Edge.
Adam Lawton has now found his best position, centre!
Say what you like abut the ref the penalty count was something like 10 to 1 in our favour. All our tries came off penalties, I think. If London improve their discipline the 1895 final will be more difficult as we struggled to get field position. That said the players deserve credit for avoiding giving away penalties themselves, and for a heroic performance all round, especially bearing in mind the loss of Edge.
Adam Lawton has now found his best position, centre!
I have always rated Lawton but I feel through his career never fulfilled his full potential.Tbis season is the fittest I have seen the lad, and always thought a back rower and never a prop. Has a great offload and back rower usually the type to play in the centres.
Say what you like abut the ref the penalty count was something like 10 to 1 in our favour. All our tries came off penalties, I think. If London improve their discipline the 1895 final will be more difficult as we struggled to get field position. That said the players deserve credit for avoiding giving away penalties themselves, and for a heroic performance all round, especially bearing in mind the loss of Edge.
Adam Lawton has now found his best position, centre!
I have always rated Lawton but I feel through his career never fulfilled his full potential.Tbis season is the fittest I have seen the lad, and always thought a back rower and never a prop. Has a great offload and back rower usually the type to play in the centres.
The problem with Adam is not what he does on attack or with the ball but what happens when the opposition have it.....like defending with 12 ,missed tackles or worse as his penalty against count although I think has been better of late is still a liability. Maybe he now just let's them pass him rather than head tacking them...AC should know of this from his stats sheets .....could be why his game time at all stages of his career has been less than it should have been..... could have been a SL of some note....but......