The Season So Far

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:19:17:23:20 by Kimbo.

Thanks for the info and hard slog Kimbo!
It’s always good to have this information . Sadly, I think, the days of the match day printed programmes are coming to an end.
It’s good to have a sight of the average attendance figures, they seem to be holding up quite well and with visits including Jersey, Bedford, Nottingham and everyone’s second favourite team, Caldy, still to come, perhaps these figures can be improved.
Thanks again.

Yes Paul, our average of very nearly a thousand over the league's is testament to the support levels given the local competition.
As you say, it should improve, particularly if the run of good form is continued.

Cov's player stats for the season still appear in the page I do each home game for the online match programme.
I agree it looks as if printed match day programmes are a relic of the past.

Trouble is John, the club seem to hide the online programme from view for some odd reason. Maybe it's just me, but I'm damned if I can find the Richmond offering. Surely it should be available from a 'page' on the website, alongside all the others for the season?
Not your fault I know, but it really doesn't help with supporter engagement.
Same goes for match report links, and the lamentable 'Match Centre' offering...

A great set of stats Steve, clearly set out, easy to read and attendances as well. What more could you ask! It would be good to see them on a match-by-match basis as we go through the year or failing that, as a completed season in April/May. Thank you.

I'm intending to update regularly. Possibly every match.

Steve

Like you I could not find the Richmond match programme, which is especially annoying having contributed to it.
It normally is easily found through the news area of the site

JB

It seems to be an issue since the format change. I previously downloaded and kept the pdf versions. When that changed to what is basically a web address it really didn't help.
Backwards steps imo.

Home gates are pretty darned good and I feel there is scope for regular 3,000 if in the top two or challenging within a few points.

Totally agree with 'Kimbo' about the match programme.
I understand why printed versions are no longer available, but a PDF version, which could be filed away electronically, was a 'second best' option, as it's really useful, and informative, to look back - for example to last season's corresponding match.
The new format, although far easier to 'read' on a phone, or tablet, than last season's version, can't be downloaded and saved (so far as I can see).

I agree that the current format is a step backwards.

Not sure why printed programmes are out of the question. Is it that Cov don't sell enough copies to cover printing costs? I've bought paper programmes at other football and rugby matches this season and indeed at theatre performances so it really needn't be a post-COVID health issue.

Match programmes are of most use actually at the match, where paper copies are easiest to consult. Failing that pdfs that can be printed out or downloaded to a phone/tablet for easy consultation are OK.

But having to click links to access content, requiring as it does, a good internet connection, is a real pain. To say something is interactive is normally a point in its favour, but with a match programme not so much.

Thanks for the info - interesting reading.

Much less comprehensive but the Championship did a basic comparison of this year compared to where we were this time last year - [twitter.com]

Twice as many points and nearly twice as many bonus points.

Now updated to include Jersey match.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:15:14:28:31 by Kimbo.

If you strip out Blues and Coventry’s gate that average would drop a bit. After today’s game for the league only we average 2,992 but it is skewed by the Boxing Day 5,000 game so will fall.

Our highest apart from that was today 3,267 and lowest as always the first home game of the season with 2,218.

Now updated to reflect the five matches played over the weekend.
Only change here is an increase of 17 on the average attendance over the 76 games played so far (previous week showed an increase of 19).
The assumption would be that this week's increase (driven by Bedford with 3267) would likely be less or possibly negative had the Ampthill/Cov game gone ahead, based on Ampthill's previous home attendances.

Updated with yesterday's six matches.
The overall Championship attendance figure finally crept over the low bar of 100k for the season, although the week's average dropped by 14, as both Bedford and Cov were away. Honourable mention to Caldy, though, who took up some of the slack with a very creditable 1875 through the gate.

Pellegrini continues to hold third place on the scoring chart with 103 points, behind Will Maisey (133) and Craig Willis (107) (although a quick add-up puts Pat on 108 if my stats are correct).
Perhaps JB could confirm one way or the other?

My error now corrected.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:30:18:36:32 by Kimbo.

Kimbo

i have checked through, the 5 point difference relates I believe to Bedford away in the Cup.
If you look back you will see your details for that game show a try for Ma'asi & also one for Pat, whereas he scored 2 that day together with his 3 conversions.
Hope this helps

JB

Cheers John. However, the totals only relate to the Championship. I've left the cup matches to one side for now and will total those separately when the six group games are done.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:30:15:03:07 by Kimbo.

Steve.

Looking at Pat overall he is on 134 points, broken down as;

League 5 tries 30 cons & 6 penalties making him 103 which is what the R Paper have him as, so they appear right for once.

Cup 3 tries & 8 cons making him 31

Overall total 134

That is where I have it all, hope this helps & please prove me wrong , I am not getting any younger !!

Cheers JB

Steve

i have just gone through your figures again for Pat; think I have spotted the 5 points
In the league your summary lists him as 6 tries, when in fact it should be 5
he has 8 overall 5 in the league & 3 in the Cup

JB

OK. Do you happen to know which match his phantom try pertains to? I'll correct it.
Thanks

Your breakdown by match is OK Steve, it is just the summary at the end which shows 6 not 5 which needs correcting.

Cheers
JB

Yes, you're quite right.
I counted twice, and got it wrong twice!
Thanks John.

Clearly Cov are one of the leading lights attendance wise in the division.
Bedford being the highest supported and 7 others nowhere. Even the top two aren't great, but Jersey on an island of just over 100k have gates above the norm.
It remains to be seen what effect the insects and worc have on the division.
I still think the premiership should stump up cash to support the teams lumbered with these two big fish, skewing the division and forcing more games and injuries that will happen.
Third is far beyond my expectations.
We'll done Cov.

Updated to include Cov vs Doncaster in the Champ Cup.

Updated to show league positions throughout the season.

Updated to add Bedford.

Updated to add London Scottish (Cup).
Not a bad return from Cup matches, tries-wise, with an average of five per match which isn’t too shabby considering the stuttering start to the campaign.
80% were converted too (more if you include penalty tries), which is a very decent return.
Sadly, that stuttering start ultimately cost progression, but overall a fairly satisfying run.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:06:10:37:16 by Kimbo.

And with the gates we notched up for the home games, much needed/essential revenue Steve

JB

Quote:

Cov kid 42
And with the gates we notched up for the home games, much needed/essential revenue Steve
JB

Yes, and I guess there wouldn't have been any more home games even if we'd progressed.

It has been a remarkable season really. It is not just about the results it is about the style of play and the improvement around the set piece. The progress has been so steady - almost week on week.

Quote:

HoboAl
It has been a remarkable season really. It is not just about the results it is about the style of play and the improvement around the set piece. The progress has been so steady - almost week on week.

We need to hope, though, that next season starts from the same footing. It's almost impossible to play catch-up successfully in a small competitive league like this.
Too many false dawns in the past though.

Quote:

Kimbo

Quote:

HoboAl
It has been a remarkable season really. It is not just about the results it is about the style of play and the improvement around the set piece. The progress has been so steady - almost week on week.

We need to hope, though, that next season starts from the same footing. It's almost impossible to play catch-up successfully in a small competitive league like this.
Too many false dawns in the past though.

That is why I am hoping we dont have a big churn and can keep most the squad together. So this season is actually a building block into next season.

(Edit to sort quote tags)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:02:11:31:59 by Kimbo.

Cov are still very proactive locally and elsewhere, inviting promising players to trials. They are definitely interested in young players, but they need physicality, skills and positional awareness, without which they won't be taken on.
I think the coaches know exactly what they need for this division, hence the excellent season we have enjoyed with a young squad.

Downside is, our players gain interest from the premiership sharks.

Quote:

covkid1953
Downside is, our players gain interest from the premiership sharks.

I would slightly temper the ' downside ' comment and say it is, possibly, only a short term effect as other players might be attracted to Cov in that they could see possibilities of seeming to be ' in the shop window' effect. Although I would say the approximate £500k investment per club in the Premiership Academy system should lessen the need to acquire Championship players.

We drop a place from third (after many weeks) following Bedford's five-point win tonight.
However, we have two games in hand on them, and there's always tomorrow!

Balance restored now with a four-point lead over Bedford, and a game in hand.

Updated to include Saturday's Championship game against London Scottish.

A fairly satisfying attendance (third highest at the BPA this term), with the overall Champ attendance increasing very slightly too with Cov and Bedford both being at home, but tempered slightly by sub-1000 attendances at Nottingham, Ampthill, and Richmond.

The average tries scored per game currently stands at a respectable 4.266 - not a bad return given that four of those games were against top-two opposition. It'll be interesting to see if that can be improved at an in-form Cornish Pirates.

What I find really interesting is that there have been only 7 penalties scored in 20 matches overall which talks strongly to the ethos of this squad.

Yes, an incredibly low number.

Updated to include Pirates (a).
Tries per game now 4.6 for the Championship, and 4.71 for all competitive matches.
Overall attendance figures are down (usual applies: Cov and Bedford both away from home).



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:13:16:13:58 by Kimbo.

99 tries for the season before Caldy !

JB