2018-2019 Nat2S Status

It's good that you are not over confident Sheepish......but frankly.....if Rams don't win the title this year somebody should be shot.  There is not a pack in our league that can match Rams for 80mins....as long as your lads maintain their intensity and don't get too expansive too soon in any given game, then they should win every remaining fixture IMO.  

Darth Raider wrote: but frankly.....if Rams don't win the title this year somebody should be shot.  There is not a pack in our league that can match Rams for 80mins....as long as your lads maintain their intensity and don't get too expansive too soon in any given game, then they should win every remaining fixture IMO.

Our run in is considerably harder than Canterbury's but if we keep the same intensity for the remaining games, I find it hard to disagree with your comments.

If we are successful and go to National 1, personally, as I was in our first season in Nat 2 South, if we're 14th with 1 minute left in our 30th game and a minute later we're 13th, I'll be happy ....

We'll need to be 5% fitter, stronger and quicker, so our S/C team will be busy over the summer but nothing changes in 15 a side rugby, if your scrum, lineout and driving maul are good backed by a miserly defence, you'll be in with a shout in a lot of games.

However, in the tried and trusted management speak, take each game on it's merits and Saturday brings Guernsey, who have won two on the bounce and as we have found with the majority of teams when they are at home to RAMS, they all raise their game significantly when playing us, so we under estimate at our peril, treat them with respect (we have by naming our strongest side available at the moment), play at 100% and hopefully we should get another win but we take nothing for granted, as that is a recipe for failure!

There is a strange set of circumstances developing,  which probably has plenty of precedent, it's just that I can't recall it .  

Wigwam wrote: I would suggest a fair number of us watchers had Rams as nailed on for first or second but the humble murmurings of the Rams faithful in not getting carried away; taking one game at a time and treating the opposition with respect is good to hear and deserves its reward. For me what has been surprising is the number of clubs in the chasing pack and the fact they are all still in with a great chance of nicking second at this stage of the season. Equally the gap to the rest is disappointing and scary as any could be sucked into a relegation scrap.

Jester10 wrote: Wigwam wrote: I would suggest a fair number of us watchers had Rams as nailed on for first or second but the humble murmurings of the Rams faithful in not getting carried away; taking one game at a time and treating the opposition with respect is good to hear and deserves its reward. For me what has been surprising is the number of clubs in the chasing pack and the fact they are all still in with a great chance of nicking second at this stage of the season. Equally the gap to the rest is disappointing and scary as any could be sucked into a relegation scrap. The "P" word is banned at Rams, it's a bit like mentioning the Dark Lord by name in Harry Potter. At the moment the only mathematical certainty for Rams is that we can't get relegated

Rams were my favourites for promotion before the season started - haven't seem
N anything so far to change my mind.

Darth Raider wrote: PaddyM......as others have already advised.....our succession of injury problems has seen Kiba deployed at NO8 last week.  FWIW......I suggested to chums 2yrs ago (at least) that this might be a good way for him to extend his playing career.  KIba is an outstanding tackler and a superb defender IMO.  Although blindside might be my longer term preference ?  Great player and club servant regardless    He made a decent fist of his first excursion in the back row (IMO) and we will see how he does over the next few weeks.  I am optimistic, though I suspect it will make demands on his 80min fitness.  He certainly shored up our midfield fence against Canterbury last week (IMO).   PLease note I am just a fan and absolutely nothing to do with the club....coaches or management.

I think Canterbury will be my choice for 2nd spot, especially our game Taunton is now postponed until 23/24 Feb. We still got to play Canterbury away and Taunton at home, like last season we won at Taunton and lost the home fixture!! Like Darth said earlier, if Rams don’t win it now, then someone will need to be shot!!
Enjoy your rugby this weekend!!

Darth Raider wrote: PaddyM......as others have already advised.....our succession of injury problems has seen Kiba deployed at NO8 last week.  FWIW......I suggested to chums 2yrs ago (at least) that this might be a good way for him to extend his playing career.  KIba is an outstanding tackler and a superb defender IMO.  Although blindside might be my longer term preference ?  Great player and club servant regardless    He made a decent fist of his first excursion in the back row (IMO) and we will see how he does over the next few weeks.  I am optimistic, though I suspect it will make demands on his 80min fitness.  He certainly shored up our midfield fence against Canterbury last week (IMO).   PLease note I am just a fan and absolutely nothing to do with the club....coaches or management.

‘Hawks’ strange that you should go against your own team and chose Canterbury for 2nd place?
Hawks have had an exceptional season so far according to last seasons finish. Not to mention must be this seasons over achievers with what seems a very young squad?

Lineoutboy wrote: ‘Hawks’ strange that you should go against your own team and chose Canterbury for 2nd place? Hawks have had an exceptional season so far according to last seasons finish. Not to mention must be this seasons over achievers with what seems a very young squad?

Head over heart here Lineoutboy, I would love us to get 2nd spot, Canterbury is a very hard place to win, we lost there last season & Canterbury have the points in the bag!, so we have to wait and see?! Like you say, we are a young squad and my personal veiw is and NOT the clubs veiw, I would like us to stay here for another season and do a Rams, but if we do go up, of course we would give it go!

Sorry “young”