Excellent post mate. I spoke to an old school mate of mine before the kick off, he's a long serving fax fan and we both knew what to expect, even before the game had started. We knew there wouldn't be anything in it, because Stokes (today's ref) never penalises holding down, he killed us (dog's) away at York last season with it. Surely that is a bad indictment of an official, if fans know exactly what an official is or in this case isn't going to penalise, even before a ball is kicked. The coaches surely will if fans do and plan accordingly.

TBH, I don't think it did either team any favours today. The guy is totally incompetent, simple as, but at least he is fair. He isn't talented enough/intelligent enough to cheat IMO. I cannot say the same for either Tommason or Leahy though.

I totally disagree with this. As we have seen the last 2 games, when we get on a roll with quick play the balls we are pretty difficult to stop. I would love to have seen the game played at the same pace as the last couple of weeks but it was never going to happen once the ref set his stall out and ive seen amateur games that have been played at a quicker pace than todays.

Fax definately benefit from a quick play the ball but it's not just about Fax or any one other team.
The game as a whole is much better.

Fast attacking Rugby League is what sets it apart from any other sport and is possibly one of the main reasons that got us to watch the game in the first place and keep us going back.

Think about it, on a decent dry pitch like today slow play means this.

From the intial impact of the tackle they remain in contact grapling about until the ref calls HEEELLLLDDDD.

Even after that they still often fall to the ground and have a wrestle and roll around until the ref says MOOOOVE.

Slowly but eventually they let go of one another but still push and shove at the play the ball when they are getting to their feet.

Sometimes from the man in possession the ball comes lose and the ref gives a knock on.

Sometimes in exactly the same situation in the same game the ref gives a penalty for interference at the play the ball.

By which time the players and supporters are getting wound up.

On a wet pitch it's even worse when this happens because it's like a cross between WWF and aligator wrestling, not exactly what we want to see at a game.

You can't have a stop watch out but if we have a common sense tackle completion and clean ruck play the ball where you have to let go and either move or roll away without all the messing around the game benefits as a result it's not too difficult or hard to achieve surely.
More attacking play, more breaks, more points, more enjoyment but most importantly of all more Rugby League.
More like what we pay our money to see to be honest.

yes, the ref was poor for both teams....he should have penalised Batley many times for holding down and didnt. Neither teams has square markers especially in the 1st half.

what frustrates me is the complete lack of consistancy between games.

the ref however is not why we lost.

Calum Casey wants sending back to Leeds, it is beyond me why? on the 4th tackle at 16-16 do you kick through to nobody but yourself (downhill!) instead of building pressure and knocking over a drop goal. That is where we lost the game.

Bowman in i think for Swinton.

Patto also needs to have a word for missing that penalty and not kicking it dead!

Too many of our players made poor decisions today. That is why we lost - simple.

Watching Batlley for the 1st time this season today, they are average. Fax lost that game.

Batley didnt win it!

oh yeah, onwards and upwards! Swinton to smash on Friday! Awesome away support today!!!!

We are STILL top of the league!

I think hes saying we would probably have won the game without the daft last 20 minutes. Lets face it, by the time Rettie came up with his moment of stupidity we were well on top. We blew it big style, i bet our completion rate was about the 50% mark yet we probably still should have won the game, i think thats one good thing our fans can take out of yesterday.

From what you say Moleydog, theres clear no reason for your fans to be jealous.

Mr Kear, Mr Powell and Mr March certainly know how to play the ref in this league.

A good fast game is all we fans have to look forward to, what we get is not helping sell this comp most weeks.

If the ref allows a slow ptb at least take em back a good 10m. As a spectacle our, Leigh, game was boring today - although Ii do think the CC hangover had a part.

Well yes I can see an argument for 'entertainment' value being greater with a fast expansive game.

Maybe I'm a bit old school but in my playing days we had a coach who coached to our strengths and had a game plan for the team we are playing.

Sometimes, if you have to play the ref, slow the game down, niggle your opponent etc to gain and advantage your way, then that's what you do. it's always been part of the game.
Actually I don't mind it. Almost like a game of chess, seeing who's got the 'smarter' players, who will crack first etc.
Against Wigan our lot did that throughout the game and kept us in the game. Against Fev yesterday, York unsuccessfully tried to slow the game down to keep the pace of the game at their level - it's what they had to do and it was up to us to break them down. Again, it made for an enthralling game - just different from fast free flowing rugby.

On Sunday, Fax lost that battle because regardless of the ref - but because Fax weren't smart enough to handle that part of the game which is surprising given Harrison is your coach and was one of the best at getting in opponents faces.

Feel the love!!!!

So are you saying Halifax is the only team that is hard to stop when on a roll???

We got on a roll early on in the 2nd half against Fev last week scoring 3 quick fire tries in the opening few minutes, as we did against Hunslet the week before. I'd go as far as saying, every team who gets a consistent quick PTB would get on a roll and score points, providing they do not make silly mistakes.

I too, would have liked to have seen the game played quicker, but I find myself thinking that in almost every game I watch including SL. Since this wrestling and dominance nonsense was introduced the game has become very stale and rarely do you see any team getting on a roll like say St Helens did 4 or 5 years ago.

Sadly the clown we had yesterday, rarely penalises holding down, and I've seen him a few times now to make that assessment, both as a neutral, and with my rose tinted glasses on watching the Dogs, he is always the same rarely penalising holding down.

The fact is, he gave a couple of arbitrary penalties for holding down and not standing square to both teams yesterday, but he would have been justified to penalise almost every ptb throughout the whole game. The only consolation was at least he was consistent with it and didn't favour one team with his interpretation.

He's not just talking about 'getting a roll on', what he's saying is (we believe) that Fax play better throughout the game when the balls moving quicker, ship the ball around quicker and cause the defence problems. From what we saw yesterday, it seems Kear sussed that and seemingly got your guys to slow us down, which is fair enough if you can get away with it. And no ones saying he's biased towards a team, but the consequences of his decisions (I believe) did favour Batley's style of play yesterday.

However, we can't know if that's true till you visit the Shay, see you then.

i didnt realise Batley fans had an 'problem' with Fax fans to be honest. I always love going to Batley (as by the looks hundreds of fax fans do)!

Even though we, like you say in recent times usually get beat!

We were on top going into the last 20, and if Wayne hadnt have lost the plot (forced by dirty niggly play from your lot) we would , i believe have won.

Even after going down to 12 we could and should have won it.

We made some poor plays (pattos goal attempt, casey kicking it away!)

Batley built next to no pressure to get the win, a rushed, sliced, dipping DG from 40 yards from that little sh#t moore won it.

Neither team played well, it was an arm wrestle full of niggle and holding down.

When you come to the shay we will do you by 30. Like last year I suppose oh hang on?

Aye if you say so, and angelic Barlow's attack on a defenceless guy on the floor, was I suppose Maun's fault for diving on a loose ball? That was somehow in your eyes our dirty niggle ridden style of play which made Barlow do that? GET A GRIP

Rettie's a complete D.ick for reacting like that, whatever the provocation. It probably did cost you the game, although we visibly lifted after Patterson missed the penalty.

That was ashall. Not barlow. Barrow took exception to maun going ballistic at anyone within swinging distance. Bit of a lad barlow. I find it funny that maun can take exception to anything that happens in a tackle. I guess someone must have really rubbed him up the wrong way...or rubbed his st tropez off