(from the shady side of the ground)

There is an excellent review by n1 rugby in the "feedback-missed game!?" thread so this is more of a reflection on the game than a report.

Firstly we have been lucky with a number of Mr Kitt's decisions in both the Pirates and Albion games, how Richie Pugh stayed on after the late throat-high swinging arm at their full back was even more incomprehensible than how Nic Sestaret stayed on after taking out their man in the air. However Mr Kitt does owe us for the semifinal defeat by Bedford in the cup so perhaps we should just be grateful.

Although the final scoreline is generally felt to have flattered us we did look like scoring everytime we moved the ball through either forwards or backs, you therefore have to ask why we persistently kicked away the possession which enabled us to look so dangerous? Albion on the other hand looked one dimensional, they need a good backs coach just for starters.

Clive Stuart-Smith had a shocker, one example will suffice: where his indecision and holding on conceded a penalty which Albion converted whilst he had three unmarked players outside him any one of whom could have kicked for touch or carried the ball forwards.

I have recently looked back at the tries shown on TV from last season (sad person that I am) and we have not yet replaced Junior Fats' bullocking runs at outside centre; perhaps Mark should play at 13 whilst Brian Rennie is out: Matt Cornwell as the rapier and Mark as the broadsword.

Ball carrying second rows: don'tya just love them? One of the biggest differences this season has been the invaluable ball carrying by Lewis and Dan Tuohy; this has opened up gaps for the back three to exploit as sides have had to defend against the locks' very powerful running through the centre.

The Marsden/Drauniniu double act: The level of support running by both of these guys to help out the other explains why they are doing so well on the scoring charts, with a choice of Luffy or Jess on the right wing we now have a back line without peer in the division.

Finally we should consider how we are perceived by other teams' supporters. Mercifully both kickers were left in peace yesterday and we all have a responsibility to ensure that this ethos prevails at SP. The Albion supporters around me were gracious in defeat and, if the season fulfills the rich promise that it is beginning to show, we should remember that magnanimity in victory wins far more friends than gloating and honesty in defeat is superior to whingeing.

Those who claim to support the club are only doing so when they uphold the standards upon which our success has been built over the years including honesty, fair play and the fact that the team is bigger than the individual.