Due to the traffic, got there 3 mins into the game - Gateshead had just scored and Mark Castle was already in the sin-bin.

We twice got back within one score.

I hate singling out players, but after we battled back to within one score the first time, Wayne Riettie collected a ball inside his own 20-metres and for some inexplicable reason he turned into Bolu Fagborun (Batley last season) and threw a pass to no-one (I say no-one, there was another Dons player back but the pass was 5 yards in front and therefore past him) which Gateshead picked up on our try-line to score.

Handforth was withdrawn in the first half having failed to find touch with a penalty and was not used again until Speake got a bang early in the second half. The difference when he returned at 34-6 down ... well work it out for yourselves. I wonder what might have happened had he have played for longer???

Carbutt played despite the injury concerns and Mark Castle was withdrawn before half-time with another injury.

Have we ever scored 42 pts away from home and finished up getting beat?. (1 for Geoff)

Stand-Offish wrote:Yes it must have been mega exciting watching us score try after try and looking like we might win. It would have been an epic win. I suppose it gives us a lot of encouragement for the Batley game.....we mustn't feck up in that one. If we could only get some bodies back we could motor. The table. Pity the Batley game has been postponed. If we played them next week how we played in the second half last night you'd have to fancy us.

Stand-Offish wrote:Yes it must have been mega exciting watching us score try after try and looking like we might win. It would have been an epic win. I suppose it gives us a lot of encouragement for the Batley game.....we mustn't feck up in that one. If we could only get some bodies back we could motor. The table. Pity the Batley game has been postponed. If we played them next week how we played in the second half last night you'd have to fancy us.

Sorry but I seem to come from the same mould as Geoff Roebuck.

If I wanted basketball scores, I'd watch basketball.

How the hell can a team score 42 points and lose?

Something is radically wrong & it looks like a major mistake in failing to appoint a fresh coach with the calibre of Karl Harrison, especially with him going to the only side that looks likely to challenge us for bottom spot.

I despair.

I wanted Karl Harrison before EH was appointed mainly because of my fears of being left in the lurch.

I can understand the disappointment.....but let's not go calling for the head of John the Baptist just yet.
If we can do what we did with a weakened side like that....something must be right......especially going forward.
We need to tighten up in defence....and when bodies come back we will be a force to reckon with.
It's just that there are only thirteen games left and time is against us.
Fingers crossed.
I hope we don't find ourselves capable of whipping anybody at the back end of the season but too far adrift.
Anyway that result really cheered me up after the Toulouse sh?te and I am revved up again for the next game.
Is it away at Fev?
I shall be going and optimistic about a WIN.

We really do need to start winning at home...apart from Fax and Barrow there is now nobody who should come down here and beat us.....if we muscle up and play clever.

The Co-Operative Championship
Toulouse 38-12 Whitehaven

I glad I have had the pleasure of watching Rugby League when it was a proper game