A few comments:
- we lost due to a physical size disparity rather than a skill/ experience problem. The Dolphins had a massive man on man physical advantage and monstered us. Our team was young but also still physically developing and we were steamrolled.
- our smaller first grade players were exposed with the middle not on parity - Sironen, TMM, Berry, etc
- I don’t think we were mentally up for it. Our first graders were making uncharacteristic mistakes and their heads didn’t seem in it. Nothing to play for.
- AFB is crucial for the finals but also next years success rests on him staying fit. Fan of Bunty and
Barnett but they are not first grade starting props. Ale does a lot of good stuff but is to small for a prop and doesn’t have a physical presence. I really fear we have too much riding on AFB next year. Still few we are one more starting prop short.
- Montoya seemed to be returning to his best.
- Dolphins were physically dominant but their halves lacked cohesion. So many balls to ground. We were lucky they lacked finesse or it could have got ugly.
- refs… enough said. Ugly game with forward passes and dropped balls everywhere played on. Low quality game.
- I hope Webby has the resting call right. We have lacked form for the past month and if we go out in straight sets we will regret not building combinations and form in this game.
- despite all that, happy for the Dolphins. They have great support and have had a decent first year. Good journeyman side to build on into the future.
