Tony Millers view on the game from the Doncaster Star

Tony Millers view on the game from the Doncaster Star

Tony Millers report, with my little additions.

THE Dons are left to concentrate on retaining their Championship status after crashing out of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.
Tony Miller's depleted side lost 32-18 at home to Gateshead Thunder in yesterday's fourth round tie.

Head coach Miller said: "I thought that we started and finished reasonably well as we have done in our last couple of games.

"But a 40-minute period in between cost us the game. Whether we aren't mentally tough enough or not switched on, I don't know.

"There were too many individual errors and certain players let themselves down.

"We also lacked penetration near their line in the first half. We've been working on trying to set things up in training but our execution was poor.

"But there were some positives to take from the game. Our short-kicking game was better and certain players stood up to be counted.

"I thought that props [b]Mark Castle [/b]and Matt Carbutt were both outstanding. Defensively Ryan Steen was very good and Ross Divorty took the ball in well all afternoon and produced a solid display."Was that in between the dropped balls and missed tackles, Miller also singled out full-back Andreas Bauer and scrum-half Paul Handforth.

He said: "We asked Paul to run at the line more and I thought that he did that.

"I thought that when Josh Weedon switched to half-back it gave us a bit more shape.

"Towards the end of the game winger Gaz Carey got a bit more room and showed that he could be a threat."

, TM thinks 8 players in yesterdays game played well

In my opinion Weedon, Handforth, Carbutt and Castle played well for us,
but what is our opinion worth?

Can we start watching the game from the opposite stand. You obviously get a much better game from there.

But same result Wilf

We are the worst side in the division......we can ignore Toulouse.
Gateshead according to their coach also had a depleted side.
Something changes or we are going down.......that's after only two league games.

And here was I thinking our nadir was the Leigh game!!! Thankfully, I kept my money in my pocket yesterday and it seems it was a wise move on my part.

We look woefully out of our depth in this league unfortunately and I hate to say it. God help us when Widnes and Halifax cross our paths!
I have never coached or played the game but I'm sure performances couldn't be much worse if a complete novice like me were in charge.

I fear I'll be making the trip to the Jungle more often this season just so I can remember what running the angles, supporting the ball carrier, completing sets of six and team rugby looks like.

Sorry to hear we haven't hit rock bottom yet. We need a clearout of the dross before we are thoroughly embarrassed in the very near future.

I bought a Season Ticket as the Club were almost begging people to at one stage and I normally get one.

£120 for 15 games (excellent value at £8.00 per game).

But once purchased, it was announced that in fact you only get 13 games. Ok, still not too bad value (works out at £9.23 per game) until the Club then announce it only costs £10 per match!

Virtually no point in purchasing a Season Ticket and now you are faced with the choice of continuing to go (having paid up front) or walking away and losing money. No option to stop going and stop paying sadly.

I suppose as S-O said, at least you have the option to walk out at whatever point you wish!

You and many others it seems - only 458 paying customers.

I thought and have probably said that there was a perception that there were only about 550 to 600 die-hards now but clearly some of those have either gone or are selective as to when they attend. Performances (and results) like the last couple won't bring people back and those results certainly won't attract new supporters.

Let's hope the powers-that-be are aware of the situation and deal with it urgently, otherwise that number will diminish still further.

Have to say despite the justified negative stuff that if we can get back, fit & well - Alex Benson, Michael Hayley Craig Lawton, Shaun Leaf and China the side takes on another dimension. It may be too little too late but it could just stem us getting whitewashed this season.