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Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 3:42 pm
by fivepointer
2 well matched sides. Should be a competitive fixture. Graham starts for Newcastle and is a little lucky to escape a citing after last week.

Gloucester: Woodward; Marshall, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Trinder; Burns, Braley; McAllister, Matu'u, Balmain; Slater (capt), Galarza; Ackermann, Polledri, Morgan.

Replacements: Hanson, Hohneck, Afoa, Clarke, Ludlow, Vellacott, Symons, Sharples.

Newcastle: Hammersley; Harris, Mermoz, Matavesi, Kibirige; Hodgson, Young (capt); Lockwood, Lawson, Wilson, Green, Robinson, Olmstead, Graham, Burrows.

Replacements: Socino, Vickers, Davison, Witty, Wilson, Stuart, Radwan, Penny.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:53 pm
by Puja
fivepointer wrote:2 well matched sides. Should be a competitive fixture. Graham starts for Newcastle and is a little lucky to escape a citing after last week.
Jesus - hadn't noticed he'd escaped completely scot-free (no pun intended). The random wheel of justice is spun again...

Ideally we want an English winner of this comp as the confluence of events means that it'd likely result in a 7th English qualifier for the ERC. Who do we think is the most likely to win the final from these two?

Puja

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:48 pm
by Oakboy
I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:34 pm
by twitchy
Newcastle in top form but glos at home, should be a cracker I reckon. Crowd should be in good voice in the sunshine as well.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:03 pm
by twitchy
:o The ref got nailed.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:46 pm
by Raggs
Glaws have some exciting players, but so much of their play seems to simply rely on size and power. Powerful carriers in the pack, 2 huge centres, and then an exciting back 3. Very effective of course, but not the most delicate, suspect it could get found out against the French sides in the champions cup.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:57 pm
by twitchy
Newcastle missing goneva and sinoti.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:57 pm
by Puja
Oakboy wrote:I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.
Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:00 am
by Gloskarlos
33-12 says it all. Glos at home are a different proposition.

Bilbao here we come

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:22 am
by Banquo
Oakboy wrote:I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.
...or...

great win for Glaws.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:46 am
by fivepointer
Glos the better side and good winners. Newcastle minus Sinoti and Goneva are not quite the same proposition.

Enjoyed some of Glos play in the backs. 12T looks a different player and Woodward is a strong running FB. Slater makes a real difference for them up front. Really solid, consistent performer. Too late for England?

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:10 am
by Oakboy
Banquo wrote:
Oakboy wrote:I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.
...or...

great win for Glaws.
Wrong . . . Again. I thought last night Gloucester were better than I thought they could be.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:12 am
by Oakboy
Puja wrote:
Oakboy wrote:I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.
Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja
Maybe a higher AP position will do them more good?

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:16 am
by Puja
Oakboy wrote:
Puja wrote:
Oakboy wrote:I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.
Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja
Maybe a higher AP position will do them more good?
They don't seem to have signed many improvements for next season though. Mulipola's solid, but that's it. I have faith in Richards and Walder to keep getting a quart out of a pint bottle though and hopefully sustained success will make then more attractive to future signings.

Puja

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:28 am
by Digby
I assume Falcons are already burning a lot of money they don't have, so more than Richards working with his squad someone needs to sign off on accepting losses as they are continuing, and even the losses getting worse

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:34 am
by Mellsblue
They lose £2mil a year, I believe.

Re: Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:12 pm
by Galfon
Meanwhile Blues beating Pau puts Glaws into the 'Champs' Cup next year...that will bring a few extra bob their way.. :)