When they peak is down to training and the coaches getting them to peak at the right time. Being full time won't mean they peak earlier. We probably peaked first last season and there was 3 full time team in our league. It's all about timing it right for the back end of the season like whitehaven did last year.

Widnes play the most boring rugby, I wouldn't be happy watching that every week. Just 1 out scoots all the time until they are well into the oppositions half and they then use the drop off and inside ball all the time. I can see it winning them something this year though as it is that typical SL percentage brand of rugby which is not that exciting to watch.

That said I thought that the game was OK. Quite scrappy with all the penalties and mistakes but think we just edged it.

Must agree about Dana and Frank. If Dana was playing injured then that explains his lack of game time but Frank looked quite a bit off the pace but the other props played well enough to cover them.

Great to see Govin playing well and having a good run I just hope his jinx doesn't strike!!

[quote="urbancarrot"]Widnes play the most boring rugby, I wouldn't be happy watching that every week. Just 1 out scoots all the time until they are well into the oppositions half and they then use the drop off and inside ball all the time. I can see it winning them something this year though as it is that typical SL percentage brand of rugby which is not that exciting to watch.

That said I thought that the game was OK. Quite scrappy with all the penalties and mistakes but think we just edged it.

Must agree about Dana and Frank. If Dana was playing injured then that explains his lack of game time but Frank looked quite a bit off the pace but the other props played well enough to cover them.

Great to see Govin playing well and having a good run I just hope his jinx doesn't strike!![/quote]

What did you mention that for?!!

I thought Cherryholme had a great game.Anybody notice when wrench went off early in the 2nd half we only played one recognised prop ; Cherryholme came back on , then Wilson for a few minutes then Frank for about 5 mins then Cherryholme again ; they moved Larder up to front who I thought had his best game this season.
fax also seem to have lost their early season fluency behind the scrum.Although I think Shad is our best fullback, at the moment I think he should be in the centres , Paterson back on the wing and Greenwood at full back.

was on my way to ther pub when i wrote that, so no time for spell checks! lol had quite a few to celebrate

However my comments re widnes tackle tactics stand

And as for silverwood, if we had lost that game in the last few minutes, i am sure many many more people would have been calling for his head, i thought he had a shocker!

Widnes were slowing it down all game but it's the only tactic you can have against a quality side like fax

Penky was quality throughout usually cant kick at all but was the best kicker and player on the field last night. Missed Tamghart i thought shows how big he is for us. Barker looks twice the player as a wide running second rower. Royston was dodgy at the back but showed why he should be full back with his attacking threat he seems to find gaps that others can't.

All in all, great defensive effort, still hope to have better field position throughout a game than in the 2 widnes games.

IMO Silverwood got the 20m restart decisions right, just FAR TOO PEDANTIC!!!!

Good Widnes following, made plenty of noise.

All in all, a quality cup tie and a brillint advert for Non-SL Rugby League.

That's one of their biggest stengths, Gaskell and Dodd make so many yards from scoots and quick play the balls its almost unplayable.

Apart from tonight. I must admit, 5 mins from time I thought we were gonna lose it but the Fax line defence was heroic, absolute quality!

I know from talking to a couple of the staff that there were injury worries in the run up to this cup tie, but you have to give the boys who turned up with injuries and gave it a go massive credit and also credit Matt Calland for his use of Larder. It can't be easy preparing for a game with doubts over playing partly fit lads, trusting them knowing their own limits, but for Larder to soldier on in the manner he does is typical of the spirit within the camp.


I think the comparisons between Halifax and Widnes should be kept on hold for the later stages of the season, this after-all was the challenge cup and Calland's hearty comments in the courier about his own personal passion for this competition is something to behold. The challenge cup brings back so many great personal memories for myself, watching 'fax win & lose the finals in consecutive years and then my dad reffing it a couple of years later and there certainly seems to be a great buzz around the place now reminiscant of years gone by that has been missing since we left Thrum Hall. Non- SL club at home in the next round please....

Correct and what a great game of Rugby League as the mighty Fax machine rolls on undefeated

I should be at the Batley game Thursday