Judging by the attendances at the five games played this weekend they aren't as just 1911 people attended the five league one games the highest crowd was 521 at Hunslet & the lowest 276 at London Skolars the average attendance for the 5 games was 382

The Championship faired a little better with 6531 attending there five games. (Av 1306)

The Super Leagues 7 games attracted 61311 spectators we are constantly told that the game is booming yet with the exception of Castleford & St Helens all the other SL clubs report that there 2009 attendances are down on the 2008 season.

To put this in to context last weekends Football Blue Square Premier League (The Old Football Conference League) nine games attracted 27044 spectators (average 3005 per game) this was a total of 18602 more spectators than attended the 10 rugby league championship games played over the same weekend.

A total of 69753 spectators attended the 17 professional rugby league played over the last weekend & Manchester United v Fulham attracted 75207 spectators.

The Rugby League must give more support & financial help to teams outside of the SL as it won't be too long before some long established clubs disappear I am sorry to say but ouside the SL & a few exceptions the game is slowly dying.

Rock and a Hard place Geoff. No promotion out of the Championship for three years and then everything as to be in place.(and your face fitting IMO) The Yo Yo that is promotion and relegation between the Championship and Championship1. In our case a fresh team twice a season for the past few years. The game itself is struggling for headlines in the media and lags way behind Union and Football for coverage. The list is endless and you have been around long enough to recognise that the game is not what it was, (but most things in modern life are like that) I hope that most clubs have structured for the downturn, it will be hard but I just pray that we don't see clubs disappearing.

only football gets good attendances below the top level.. cricket championship, athletics, rugby union division 1,speedway etc etc all struggle for attendances but think that the rugby league clubs in the championship have to do somthing to attract more people or they just going to die.. but what? let kids in free to attract the next generation that is 1 idea as it cant hurt as no point having nearly empty stadiums with just the diehards there

This was yet another in a long line of attempted suicides by The RFL/Superleague.
Is there any wonder the game is dying and is largely ignored by the media?

But in football you have a far greater chance of getting in to the premier league than do the championship RL teams of getting in to the Super League
There best chance seems to be is to apply for a SL Francise from outside the areas were the game is currently played

It was interesting to read the attendance at the Harlequins v Salford game 2395 against some of the Blue Square Premier League games played the same weekend

Cambridge v Histon 4417
Luton v Wrexham 6538
Mansfield v Tamworth 2954
Oxford v Kettering 5836
AFC Wimbledon v Eastbourne 3358

A professional RL team as been based in the capital in various guises since 1980 the RL must have poured thousands in to London and given them every possible assistance and they are still insistent that the game must have a presence in the capital, will there attendances meet the SL criteria for the next round of franchise applications.
I think the RL's new baby is the Crusaders & I wouldn't be suprised if they make it to the Challenge Cup Final this year.

On merit or with a little help draw-wise?

Att 237 at gateshead tonight.to watch them slaughtered 4- 100 by Batley.This is not good for the game at all

Ouch!

17 tries for the Bulldogs including two for Kyle Wood. Chris Buttery, Sean Hesketh and Craig Potter also crossed for scores.

We need to be playing Gateshead now!
Still.... the 11th April is not too far away.

Be interesting to see how Batley do against Siddal. When is the next round ?

Well it all just goes to show what a half-decent coach can do.....I mean not too long ago Batley were nothing....now look at them.
Is there a lesson to be learned there I wonder?