chickenfeet

Out to Crusaders Park this afternoon to see the quarter final between the Nomads and the Cru. The Cru, as league champions, were naturally enough very confident of seeing off the newly promoted underdogs. The did run out 24-16 winners but not without a few scares. Frankly, few sides have gone to Crusaders Park this year and only lost by eight points so it was a very respectable result for the Nomads and bodes well for next year. The difference between the sides was ball retention. The Cru were virtually perfect which meant very little ball for the potent Nomad backs. I think if the Nomad backs had been playing behind the Cru forwards this would have been an 80-0 rout. As it was the Cru backs weren't very creative and the Nomads made the most of what little ball they had.

So, what of next season? I think if the Nomads can recruit two or three big, athletic forwards they will be championship contenders. they probably have the most explosive back line in the province. More ball at the breakdown and they will be a hell of a side.