Lost before we lost

Thanks all parents for bringing the children along early for the photos and kit collection. We really appreciate the help and support. Thanks for your patience at the end of the game whilst we had an end of game team talk and more pictures.

I think the team looked great in the new kit, we might have a little bit of shuffling around of sizes but sure we will get there. Good also to see so many wearing the head guards, yet again one of the team took a bump to the head which a head guard would have reduced significantly. Anyhow, I'll keep on at them.

I am sure the boys all had in their minds the last games with Broughton Park where we've been closely matched and fairly level game play and results. Today was quite different..., but I am not sure why or what the change has been...,

Throughout the first and well in to the second half the boys didn't seem to get their heads in the game, the shape and rucking were all over the place, I doubt we kept or gained control in any of those breakdowns, we probably won some of them but Broughton Park really owned control of the breakdowns during this period. As a result, it didn't take Broughton Park long to get the ball out to the wings or break through our messy defensive lines putting a handful, at least, of tries in the first half. Walking on the field when Broughton took an injury I was disappointed to find when only 2-0 down the Rossendale boys had hung their heads and almost resigned to a battering..., so early in the game and with very little in the way of an opponent advantage..., I think the psychological edge was established and the boys plodded on and through, which was a shame given we were a mere 10 minutes in.

Second half and towards the close of the game some decent passing, tacking and a good bit of ball carrying from Charlie gave Rossendale the chance to break out on the downhill wing in front of the spectator’s, Bailey collected the ball well, used his hand off ability to good use and powered through to find the try line and put one on the score sheet for team Rossendale. We showed we could do it, and for 10-15 minutes around the time of Baileys try we started to look like a team ready to put up a challenge. Unfortunately for us it was a little too little and too late, Broughton had amassed enough tries in the first and second half to put them 7 tries (or more) in front of us. Bit of a shame we couldn't switch on earlier and make a game of it, but it just wasn't our day and very well done Broughton Park a great game and great result for them in the Lancs Cup.

Some really good game play at times, the players didn't lose heart all together and despite the score line they did get stuck in so it's really just one of those things we need to try and focus on, if we can just keep their minds in the right place and lift the positivity in these situations. Plenty to work on over the next few training sessions to see if we can capture, repeat and sustain those moment of brilliance when they switch on and show us how good they are!

Try Scorer Bailey (1)