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Larson Laments Loss
By DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE TIMES - 19/5/2004
The Bears bundle up a Parramatta player during their clash at the weekend. Photo: SARA NIXON
North Sydney Premier League coach Gary Larson has pleaded with his squad to “give themselves a chance” after their finals pros pects took another jolt on the weekend.
Sunday’s 46-18 loss to Parramatta was their second heavy loss in succession, but the most disappointing display because of the comfort able manner in which the home side was allowed to dictate proceedings.
Norths’ tale of trauma is illustrated by the fact that not once in the first half did they manage to venture into the Eels’ end of Parramatta Stadium, thanks to a litany of ill- timed passes and poor handling errors.
“We turned the ball over six or seven times in the first half and you’re never going to win if you do that,” said a frustrated Larson, who saw his side go to halftime trailing by a whopping 32-6.
The second forty minutes was far more pleasant to watch through red and black eyes, however Larson doesn’t want that recovery, as admirable as it was, to mask the fundamental problems undermining the side’s confidence.
“They train like champions, but they’re not taking it out onto the field,” Larson lamented.
“The effort’s there but we’re just not concentrating.
“The task I have is to get the ‘park’ mentality out of these guys and get them to compete week in, week out. We just have to be more consistent to succeed at this level, because at the moment they’re letting themselves down.”
What Larson finds especially difficult is the side’s inability to harness their potential, which was evident throughout April when they downed Cronulla and Western Suburbs, whlle taking the Bulldogs to the wire.
However since having the bye on the opening weekend of this month, they have conceded 88 points in two games.
Yet not all hope is lost. Because the competition is so tightly packed, the Bears are far from being buried and Larson has set his troops a target of winning three of their next six matches, starting with Sunday’s duel against South Sydney at Aussie Stadium.
Norths’ Jersey Flegg team tasted defeat for the first time in a month on Sunday when they were outflanked by the second-placed Eels, 38-22, however they still remain in the top eight.
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By DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE TIMES - 19/5/2004
The Bears bundle up a Parramatta player during their clash at the weekend. Photo: SARA NIXON
North Sydney Premier League coach Gary Larson has pleaded with his squad to “give themselves a chance” after their finals pros pects took another jolt on the weekend.
Sunday’s 46-18 loss to Parramatta was their second heavy loss in succession, but the most disappointing display because of the comfort able manner in which the home side was allowed to dictate proceedings.
Norths’ tale of trauma is illustrated by the fact that not once in the first half did they manage to venture into the Eels’ end of Parramatta Stadium, thanks to a litany of ill- timed passes and poor handling errors.
“We turned the ball over six or seven times in the first half and you’re never going to win if you do that,” said a frustrated Larson, who saw his side go to halftime trailing by a whopping 32-6.
The second forty minutes was far more pleasant to watch through red and black eyes, however Larson doesn’t want that recovery, as admirable as it was, to mask the fundamental problems undermining the side’s confidence.
“They train like champions, but they’re not taking it out onto the field,” Larson lamented.
“The effort’s there but we’re just not concentrating.
“The task I have is to get the ‘park’ mentality out of these guys and get them to compete week in, week out. We just have to be more consistent to succeed at this level, because at the moment they’re letting themselves down.”
What Larson finds especially difficult is the side’s inability to harness their potential, which was evident throughout April when they downed Cronulla and Western Suburbs, whlle taking the Bulldogs to the wire.
However since having the bye on the opening weekend of this month, they have conceded 88 points in two games.
Yet not all hope is lost. Because the competition is so tightly packed, the Bears are far from being buried and Larson has set his troops a target of winning three of their next six matches, starting with Sunday’s duel against South Sydney at Aussie Stadium.
Norths’ Jersey Flegg team tasted defeat for the first time in a month on Sunday when they were outflanked by the second-placed Eels, 38-22, however they still remain in the top eight.
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