As good as Simmies were at times, the Albert were equally awful. I honestly think the Tigers would have beaten them tonight. Never in my life have I ever seen such lack of team spirit, desire and pride in a team. There was just no talking amongst the players and you could hear a pin drop at half time. It was blatently obvious that the Albert have trouble in the camp as morale, simply did not exist.
Despite the massive score line, Simmies had a number of key players missing and pulled alot of key players off even in the 1st half. Also Simmies bombed loads of chances in the 1st half. Tactically, Simmies had it right, as everytime the Rock got the ball, he got clattered by at least 3 Simmies players. When he went off, there was no fire power at all.
May be the 1st year in Division has took its toll for the Albert. Either that or players are looking elsewhere as the current rumours are saying.
Turning attentions to Monday - I think if none of Simmies injuries are serious, it will be a one sided affair with Simmies taking the trophy with ease.
Think thats a bit unfair BigSamB.
Fact is Simmies are miles better then the Albert. From 1 - 17 they where quicker all over the field and ripped us to shreads at times.
I agree we played pretty poor and made way too many errors on 1st/2nd tackles to ever make it even reasonably competitive. The loss of our best player (the rock) through a poor late challange - didn't see it to call it dirty, but was obvioulsy late and has injured the lad who was very concussed and didnt know where he was after the game and has gone hospital, didn't help us.
But we definitely didn't lack desire or team spirit or morale and the Tigers wouldn't have beaten us as proven when we didn't play well and put 40 on them 2 weeks ago. When are you running road like headless chickens , tackling all the time it makes it hard to look like you are up for it as your so tired.
We have not had a great end to season due to lads missing and maybe the Division 1 campaign catching up on a small squad. But there is ability at the level we are playing at currently.
Their key players Percival, Middlehurst and Roberts all returned after being rested v Blackbrook at the weekend where they still scored 40 odd points. Yes they had a few missing but certainly not their key players and yes we had a few missing too.
They put 62 past the team that finished 4th in the Prem so shows how far ahead Simmies are from everyone apart from Pilks and they scored about 10 more then they did v us last year when they where off the pace a little.
Yes we are really disappointed with some of the errors and poor tackling we did. We thought if we started well we would go Ok, but it wasn't to be and they coasted to the win. We should have had 16 though which wouldnt have been a bad return attacking wise.
Top side, decent set of lads and I expect them to have a fair winning margin v St Maries.
No problems at the Albert and we will luck to improve next year
DLM
Trust in Widnes
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