It's tight at the top
By Haxbytyke
October 15 2015
It is only 5 games into the season, and already Bristol Rugby, and Yorkshire Carnegie, are forging ahead at the top of the Championship, confirming the pre- season predictions that they would be leading the chase for promotion....
As far as I am concerned however, it is just another league game and whatever the result, it will have no bearing on what happens come next May, (or June or July), when the promotion spot is secured.
What Sunday will give, is an indication of the relative strengths of both sides, and both will want to lay down a marker even at this early stage of the season. Both sides have won 5 of their 6 games, both sides’ defeats coming on home soil, and it is only an extra bonus point that puts Sundays’ visitors at the top of the pile.
Bristol are the big spenders, this week they have announced the arrival of Steve Borthwick as their forwards coach, and they are desperate to return to the Premiership. They have big names, and quality players. They also have a couple of former Carnegie players as well. Headingley fans favourite Craig Hampson will be hoping to get the nod to show his former club, and team mates, what they are missing, and if he does start, I hope our back row can ‘nail’ him early on to stop him running the show. If Bristol get quick ball to their backs they will pose a huge threat, and this is one area which the visitors will need to be fully concentrated on.
As for Yorkshire, much faith has been put on the rolling and driving maul; how effective will that be against the better organised sides? We too have the pace and the skill in the backs, but will they get the quality service they need to show what they can do? Injuries to key players especially at prop will probably mean the visitors will lack a bit of experience up front on the bench, but with a couple of key players available again, they should be able to name a strong side.
It all adds up to being a tight affair. Last season saw two close games between these two teams down in Bristol. Hopefully this week, Carnegie will come out of the fixture on the right side of the scoreboard. Hard to predict, but I’ll let my heart rule my head, and go for a ‘Neegies win by 3.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:10:29:19:05:47 by Wildwillie .
Interesting to see how we get on here. In one way it really doesn't matter as I doubt it will have that much significance next May.
But it would be a nice psychological marker to put down
From what I've been hearing Bristol's first halves have been as lack lustre as ours so I predict the team who can turn it on in the first half and play to their abilities should do it....but look what happened when we did that last season. I still come out in hives at the memory of that.
If I had all the money I've spent on drink ..... I'd spend it on drink.
If Scuffers friend is correct this might be our best chance of first blood to us .....hope so.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:10:16:10:14:15 by farmertyke.
Henson has an 86% success rate with the boot this season which quite frankly I never thought he had that in him.
Should be a great game on sunday.
But I've just got a feeling that we might do it.
If Alberts odds are accurate, a few quid on the draw might not be a bad option.
Should be a great game and I wish I was going
So Sunday's result is important. It will have a slight bearing on what we do at the end of the season but it would also establish our credentials as "serious contenders" and give us a bit of breathing space (which we might use to blood young players).
I cannot believe that Brush and the squad will be happy with anything less than a win.
the top two. I have a sneaky feeling that we will sneak a win and remain at the top of the pile.