Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sat Jun 24, 2017 5:49 am  

Well this week sees Oldham come to Odsal. With them having a mid-week game and picking up a few injuries, maybe, just maybe we can nick this one

Injury Update:

Johnny Campbell has been withdrawn from this week’s squad. The winger pulled out of training on Thursday, after irritation to his recent injury to his knee. Due to short notice of the ‘injury’, there is no estimated time of the wingers return.

Lee Smith is recovering from his knee surgery and is expected to return to the Bradford side in time for the qualifiers. He's just had his operation.

Dane Chisholm had major surgery on his ACL this Tuesday afternoon. The half-back is following his rehabilitation process, he will return to playing action in 6-9 months.

19 Man Squad is: Bentley, Caro, Chamberlain, Davies, Hallas, Keyes, Kirk, Lilley, Magrin, Mendeika, Moore, Oakes, Oledzki, Peltier, Roche, Ryan, C.Smith, Thomas, Wilkinson.

Personally I'd go with:

14. Oscar Thomas
18. Omari Caro
40. Ed Chamberlain
4. Ross Oakes
2. Ethan Ryan
28. Jordan Lilley
7. Joe Keyes
8. Liam Kirk
34. Scott Moore
15. Jon Magrin
20. James Bentley
37. Cameron Smith
17. Ross Peltier

11. Colton Roche
29. Sam Hallas
31. Mikolaj Oledzki
36. James Davies

I'd personally go with this for a couple of reasons. It allows us to reform the quality left hand side of Bentley, Oakes and Ryan which was fruitful early doors this season. A mobile starting lineup to move Oldham around a bit early doors with them having a mid-week game they should in theory tire out by being moved about and Peltier to provide some punch.

Hallas on the bench to cover Moore if needs be. Or if a halfback goes down, Moore to 6/7 with Hallas on as hooker. Can also cover 13 if needs be. And a big bench in Oledzki, Davies and Roche to batter a tired Oldham.

But we will go with something different and get beat without scoring in the second half

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sat Jun 24, 2017 7:43 am  

Frankly if we cannot get a result in this match, we might as well forfeit our remaining matches. I'm planning to watch this one (1st game since Fax) so hoping they actually turn up and put a performance in.

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:47 pm  

I will be watching. Not holding out much hope

[Bulliac]

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 9:21 am  

Expect I'll get there and get back.

Other than that, who knows?

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 9:52 am  

Oldham played really well against us earlier this season. They played some great counter attacking rugby. I'm expecting a big challenge this afternoon. Hopefully we can get across the line and get back to zero.

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:12 am  

Sorry, but if the Bulls can't beat Oldham today, this is (the latest) rock bottom. A lower end part time side that played 4 days ago in a close match should be beaten easily. Anything but a comfortable win should be considered a failure. A loss would be bloody awful.

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:15 am  

With Oldham being part-time; and they played mid-week, they should tire early and the Bulls should run tries in easily, could actually be a home win and up to zero points.

However.......I would not put any money on that actually happening, because we're the Bulls so the result could be anything; including a draw, which would be better than a loss, but minus 1 point is not much good at this stage in the season

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:33 am  

A loss today, and that's highly possible as teams have worked out how to beat us - means a near certain bottom two finish!

Perhaps ChaLo have been saving all their cash to give it out to the other Championship club owners in brown envelopes at tomorrows meeting to persuade them to expand the comp next year and let two teams up and close the trap door behind them!

I'd have much preferred them to spend it on players to keep things in our own hands though

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:48 am  

The other chairmen don't need bribing. They just need to realise they will lose two local derbies and the money that the Bulls bring and add Toronto + a Cumbrian team.
Stay with 11 home league games and 4 of them with no away supporters.
No bribes needed just point that out to them - but they have probably already realise it.
Even Chalmers will welcome two extra home games @ maybe 5k supporters. What is that worth to the club not just in turnstile takings but parking and everything else - could it be worth £60K+ each game?

If it is a vote to go to 14 teams there can only be one result. I would also say the same if SL clubs vote next year.

Re: Round 19 vs. Oldham (Home) : Sun Jun 25, 2017 12:18 pm  

The last two posts are illustrations of why I am not bothering this afternoon.

Why spend £20 on a game that quite likely isn't going to make any difference to which league we play in next year?