FFS!

not unexpected though.

A great opportunity to promote the club missed. Not good !

Agreed. The weather clearly impacted on the game but they came out a little more energised in the second half and that just got them over the line. For those who weren’t there it was scrappy. We missed an absolute sitter of a kick in front of the sticks. They nailed two. We had three genuine attacks at their line. Bombed one, scored one and a speculative pass led to their length of the field intercept try from Walmsley who had spent the first half scratching himself and had been well marshalled but when he got it he went. Two observations. To step up next year we need some real pace and we need a better kicking game: too many wafts. I wonder if this will take the air out of our balloon for the rest of the season. It has mine. On the plus side I didn’t fall through a hole in the newly un-named main stand (one assumes the sign has fallen down). So that’s good.

Very flat performance from us I thought which was a real shame given the energy and confidence we have been playing with recently.

We seemed to really struggle to get the ball into Olis hands and were happy to sling it Norman in the hope he'd come up with something on the last. Some uncharacteristic errors from some of our more reliable performers hampered us too.

Ultimately Halifax were the better team and they handled the pressure of the day and the conditions better.

I thought Fax were deserved winners with Lachlan Walmsley getting us over the line with one of his specials. Unfortunately I couldn't get down and watched the game in a pub in Sowerby Bridge but i've got to say I thought the referee/linesman got three or four decisions badly wrong in London's favour, any of which could have swung the game towards your lads. Fortunately for Fax we had just enough to overcome it and gain the victory. Does anyone have the attendance figure as you couldn't tell owt from the TV pictures.

Is appearing at a final,one of 4,played in London on the same day,with a not hugely significant financial reward a better opportunity to promote the club,or would it not be better to focus on reaching the play-offs and really going for promotion to Super League?

I understand your frustration but looking at your remaining fixtures I think I know where your club priorities may be.

Keep the faith.The year could end a good one.

I think we could have done with Butler, who was cup tied or at least one of Napoli, Waine or Albert who were all injured to give the other forwards a rest. Bringing Stock off for Davies is not a like for like although could work but as you say we seemed a little flat or devoid of attacking ideas. Didn’t think Norman was as dominant as he has been. Defence wise neither side could be faulted but very little attacking threat. We didn’t come out the second half as fired up as them and they clearly had the better of the first twenty without being amazingly threatening but it got them the two penalties which gave them. Cushion. I Remain unconvinced by Ranalui although he seemed more involved. I thought he was going to be a big player for us but I’m sure that’s happened. Did Whare come on? If so, not sure he was influential. We have quite a few big units amongst our younger recruits but I assume we felt this was too much of a risk.

I think you were definitely the better side second half but it was a war of attrition. Not sure it was either teams finest hour but ultimately we were the home side and should have made that count and didn’t. As you may have seen from they’ve coverage,it’s a very odd and delapidated ground. Difficult to say how many. It was pretty full but how many that is - probably 700. There was a train strike. It was raining and most fans don’t come from the immediate area so it is what it is. The atmosphere was pretty flat Ithink because the layout of the ground doesn’t lend itself to allowing a significant number of fans to congregate in one area. Anyway good luck in the final.

[quote="Ornery Optimist"]Is appearing at a final,one of 4,played in London on the same day,with a not hugely significant financial reward a better opportunity to promote the club,or would it not be better to focus on reaching the play-offs and really going for promotion to Super League?

I understand your frustration but looking at your remaining fixtures I think I know where your club priorities may be.

Keep the faith.The year could end a good one.[/quote]

The number of games being played on CC finals day is symptomatic of the RL heirachy’s inability to think clearly. As one of only about 5000 people who stayed for the Sheffield/Widnes final a few years back I take the point about the level of impact of the 1895 final but it would have been nice. Coming sixth and getting turned over by Rovers or Toulouse I’m not so energised about. In any event I think we might be too far back to get in the six.Hopefully we will win majority of our remaining home games which at least will help to stabilise attendance rates-although the much touted 5,000 remains, sadly, pipe dream.