Danville Demands More Despite Bentley Victory as Skirlaugh Prepare for Kippax Test

Head Coach Matt Danville praised the attitude and resilience of his Skirlaugh Bulls side following last weekend’s hard-fought 22-18 victory over Bentley ARLFC, but insists there is still plenty of improvement left in the group ahead of this weekend’s Round 9 clash against Kippax Welfare in the NCRL Yorkshire Division B.

Skirlaugh continued their impressive campaign with another important result, although Danville admitted his side were not at their fluent best throughout the contest.

“I thought it was a reasonable performance against Bentley from the group,” he said. “We showed good intensity, controlled large periods of the game and responded well when momentum shifted.

“There’s still room for improvement though. We have a habit of letting teams back into games, but overall I was pleased with the attitude and the way we started and finished the game.”

One of the biggest positives for the coaching staff was the side’s defensive commitment during key moments of the second half.

“Probably the work ethic and togetherness defensively pleased me most,” Danville explained. “Everyone contributed, and when we stuck to the game plan for long spells we showed good control.

“The effort areas — kick chase, line speed and support play — weren’t consistent enough though and that ultimately let them back into the game, so we’ll be working on that this week.”

Skirlaugh raced into an 18-4 lead during the opening stages, and Danville believes that opening quarter — combined with an important spell after half-time — proved decisive.

“I think the first 25 minutes when we went 18-4 up and the spell just after half-time were really important. We defended a couple of tough sets and then managed to build pressure at the other end.

“That shifted momentum in our favour and we managed to score a long-range try after absorbing two sets on our own line.”

Despite conceding late points, Danville was pleased with the overall defensive display and the willingness of his players to work for one another under pressure.

“Defence is built on attitude, and I thought the commitment was there for everyone to see. We scrambled well and trusted each other under pressure.

“We conceded two soft tries on an edge, which came from some good play from Bentley but also a lack of communication from us. Overall though, we recovered those areas well later in the game.”

The Skirlaugh boss also stressed the importance of remaining grounded despite another victory.

“I told the players they deserved the result because of the effort they put in during the first quarter and the back end of the second half.

“But consistency, being clinical and patient with the ball is what good sides are built on, so we can’t get carried away.”

Several players earned praise from the coaching staff, with a mixture of experienced leaders and emerging youngsters continuing to impress.

“Some of our senior lads really led from the front. Marcus, George and Ross worked tirelessly, while some of the younger players like Alfie, Freddie, Keano, Barney, Tom and Josh Smith handled themselves exceptionally well.

“But it was very much a team performance.”

Danville also highlighted the growing competition within the squad as one of the club’s major strengths this season.

“A few of the younger boys have trained really well and are showing they can step up physically and mentally in big games. That competition is healthy for the squad.

“It’s a long season and you need everyone ready to contribute. Injuries and availability always play a part, so having competition for places keeps standards high.”

Attention now turns to this weekend’s fixture against Kippax, with Danville expecting another stern challenge.

“We expect a tough game. Every week in this league is competitive and we know we’ll need to be at our best to get the result we want.

“They’re a young, physical side and they compete hard in the middle of the field. They’ll test us defensively and we’ll have to match their intensity from the first minute.”

The Skirlaugh coach believes discipline and execution will be key if his side are to continue building momentum at the top end of the table.

“Completing our sets, controlling field position and defending consistently will be crucial. If we do the basics well and stay disciplined, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”

There are a number of injury concerns heading into the weekend, with Alfie Walker, Toby Matson and Tom Gray all expected to miss out, while Dave Bade continues to recover from a knee injury.

However, there could also be positive news on the selection front.

“A few players are close to returning which is a boost for us and gives us more options heading into the weekend. George Power, Dan Baines and Makesi David could all feature depending on how training goes.”

As the season continues to gather pace, Danville says maintaining high standards across the squad remains essential.

“Competition for places is crucial. Players know they have to train and perform to keep the shirt, and that drives standards every week in training and on matchdays.”