I bet you're gutted that we got into the top 4 then.

Sorry, but the RFL disciplinary clearly disagree, at least from a serious offence perspective. The spat between Johnston and Duport has resulted in no charges, although possibly Ben is lucky that his punch missed. He is on a charge for a grade A reactionary trip in the first half (I missed that one) but it looks like Bird (if he stays with you) won't be playing again for you this season (and maybe the start of the next).

All teams are offside most of the time and test the referees to see what they can get away with. Where the ref missed loads yesterday was where the Catalans players were consistently not square at the ptb. You also took the definition of "flat pass" to a new dimension, and the Fax fans got bored of calling "forward pass" as the ref was clearly happy with a couple of feet or so forward being Ok.

Glad you enjoyed the trip, and as others have said, you are correct that we lacked penetration near your line. I'm not sure any of your tries were "jammy", albeit one of them should have been called "held" well before the offload, and our centre should have held on to the ball for one of the others.

Based on what I've seen so far in the 8's, you'll have an opportunity for another trip to Halifax next season. We all see games in a biased fashion, although sometimes an opportunity to watch a game back afterwards does show things a little differently. The ref was awful yesterday, and allowed far too much to go unpunished. You'd normally expect the lower league team to resort to "physical" tactics, but it was Catalans that seemed to feel the need to be "tough" rather than play good rugby. Although your players seemed to think it funny that the Fax fans were chanting that "you're **** and you know you are" at 24-0, it was a well made point - we're not good enough to make SL, but you're not good enough to stay in it.

Was I mistaken but wasn't Dbvada's last post telling people to get behind the club yet this post here he is with more scaremongering. I get the feeling it's someone who is maybe a little jealous that he never ended up on the board afterall he does sound very bitter.

Well that's not what I have heard from sources close to the club.
The comments even contradict themselves and if anything is dire it's the post.

Every Championship club is being cautious because as it stands at the moment none of them even know what type of competition they will be playing until the almighty SL tell the RFL what it will be and decide it for them.

Richard Marshal is being cautious because that's the best way to be, he wants to keep the nucleus of the team together as something to build on with a couple of quality signings if they become available and give some of the better reserve lads a chance to step up, which they will, again sound thinking.

DR will be only used to fill any gaps in the above strategy or as cover for injuries.

Even without a top 4 finish a plan had been discussed well in advance and was in place to keep us competing as well as the next part time club, no doubt it would have been tough but we would still have been here.

The BOD have run debts up to 6 figures and yet one of them who must have been party to what ever contributed to running up the so called debt has now bailed the club out

thinking.

Michael Steel like many other club benefactors has given huge amounts of time, money and efforts to Fax for years and it should be acknowledged for the massive contribution that it is and not as part of some "Dire" club position statement that is based on missguided, missinformed hearsay.

Having just watched the highlights put on by Catalan I can't believe Bird didn't get sent off.

Also, while you are ref bashing, have a look at Kendal's decision when Catalan kick for goal. The Cats player is tackled on the 40m, he pulls Fax for offside and gives the penalty 15m upfield.

Can’t believe he’s only on a charge for the throw and that neither he nor the other offender is on a charge for the lake tackles on Murrell, the 2nd one seemed to be an attack to the kidneys. What made it worse, is in that play that the ref played on, straight after Tangy got taken around the head, ref played on once more, but third time lucky (if that’s the right word), Sio then got clobbered and the ref pulled them this time. And the hit on Grady was a shoulder charge to the chin where the defender made no attempt to tackle/use his arms. And ref wondered why our players were reacting and running in!

I always thought that penalties were taken from where the infringement took place.

Something changed...a lot of penalties are now taken from where the defence line is set

Which defence line? Where it should be or where the ref wants it? Depends who you are.

If you're offside at the ptb, the mark is where you should've been.

Not square mark goes back to defence line now but think this is relatively new ?