Players look down- No joy when scoring and again seemed to be flat.

Hemingway is crap and should bugger off to Hudds. Young Bowman should have played as he is good enough. Halfback area was very poor tonight

The passing needs to be sorted as Penky was awful and passing way too hard. Others were passing poorly as well Barker to Haley for example.

If we had played anybody above Doncaster tonight we would have lost! Calland and his team need to find the Magic again.

Tackling was poor at times and Doncaster were unlucky not to score more. Certainly deserved it.

We really need to cut out the silly passing. When the wingers are doing 20 metre passes to the fullback on our own 20 its suicidal! We got lucky today but a couple bounced on the floor. We really need to go back to basics when we are flat. Build a platform and then work off that. We put Doncaster under very little pressure.

Not happy with tonight at all!

must agree hemmingway seemed to disappear from game after first 15 mins.

He played?



Sorry, but I've not seen anything to rate him very highly as yet. Maybe I do him a disservice as he's only played two games for us, but I'd like to see this kicking game he's supposed to be so good at.

I agree with you on Hemingway. He looked out of place and his passes didn't seem be sharp or on target all the time. Perhaps this is because he hasnt been with them for long?

Unfairly harsh, as I've said on another thread the cas match battered the lads mentally and physically. You can't doubt the team's efforts this season, they were magnificant up to 2 weeks ago ... it's all so easy supporting an in form side but the mark of a true supporter is not to get on the players backs after 2 ... yes just TWO ... indifferent performances following 13 great ones. Get a grip for christ sakes.

We needed the win tonight, simple as that. I agree about the Cas game, took a hell of a lot out of our players. We now have a couple of weeks break so they can recharge their batteries, put their feet up a little (Black is off to Portugal I heard tonight) & Matt can then get some good training into them ready for another big push.

Its great being top, when we all know we have so much to improve on.

I also think it put too many chips on shoulders. Almost defeating a Super League team made them even more "invincible" than the hammerings dished out in previous matches did.Sheffield was a wake up call, Doncaster was the hair of the dog and Leigh and Barrow will put us back on the pop again

Lets face it we was lucky tonight that we played Doncaster. I know the Cas game took some petrol out the tank. However that should not excuse some of the things we did or did not do. Some of the passing was awful. Some players looked like they were just not there.
The team has been getting much praise-and rightly so for the way it has performed. However the team also should expect some criticism when they play poorly 2 games in a row. Some players like Gleeson, Greenwood, Haley, Said were good tonight but others not. MC and the team MUST find the magic as Leigh and the following games will be tough and each team will be wanting to beat us even more with some of the comments made. The team has to make sure that MCs comments amongst others are true.

I really do shake my head in disbelief at Fax fans sometimes, we win by 32 points away on a Thursday night and people STILL MOAN!!!!!

So we weren't at our best tonight, big deal, we can't play at our full potential every week, especially against a Doncaster side who were up for tonights game, had nothing to lose and played very well indeed.

Hemingway didn't play well but the fans are being harsh on him and cruel, if the fans want someone to blame, surely it's Calland for bringing him and not the player himself. It must be hard for a player who is coached to SL gameplan (5 drives, kick, 5 drives kick, batter into submission etc) into a team where everyone thinks they are in the Harlem Globetrotters.

Penky threw some shocking passes in the first 15 minutes, I didn't hear the same fans telling him to bugger off!

Are you hearing any rumours of trouble in the camp, players signing for other clubs next year, money disputes etc

heard none, but must agree thats what looks like how they are coming across in play.

Here we go !! We lost 1 game and this is what we get, ok we wernt brill at Donny but any team in this league would be happy to come away with a 30+ points win. After watching a re-run on the game it is obvious that most of our mistakes came from 1 player, a player that has been brilliant for us all season that just had a bad day at the office.
Nothing more, Nothing less in my opinion.

If you actually think about the game last night:

* Doncaster are a pretty mediocre side who played pretty well for the talent.
* Halifax had several opportunities of line breaks but didn't quite hold onto the ball on those breaks (i remember at least six times we dropped the ball when breaking the line and would have been clean through to the line.

That's the way it goes sometimes!

I'm not sure what all the fuss is all about. Halifax weren't sub standard, they were just sub par based on other performances this year. Yes they can improve and i'm sure they will.

They weren't troubled by doncaster except for allowing those kick offs to bounce for some reason. The panic is unmerited and should stop.

The only bad performance was against Sheffield and they rightly got punished becasue of it.

I would expect Halifax will raise their game against stronger opposition
and if not then start talking about it.

agree there, never seen him make so many mistakes.

true, think it was just so many mistakes in short time at start of match that made em look worse.

After Sunday I expected us to be a little more controlled. 3 strong runs and a couple of balls out wide and then a good kick putting Doncaster under pressure. I thought Hemingway let us down in the kicking area after hearing so much about him. He offered nothing and I would have had Anthony Bowman play instead. Penky seemed to be trying too hard and was awful-but he has also won us games-thats what you get with him. Beswick did well in the kicking department.
What is annoying though is our catching and passing skills at times. Yesterday more than one player put some poor passes in. Or we try and offload in impossible situations. I love the open Rugby we play and except that it is risky but sometimes we need to have a little bit more control and build pressure. We also need to sort out the defence a little. True Doncaster played very well and got just 1 try-but it could have been a couple of more. We really need to learn how to respect the possession and starve teams of the ball.
I still believe that we are good enough to win this League, Grand Final & Rail Cup. The teams I have seen have not been as good as us and I dount any of then would of gone to Cas and put up that performance like we did. Maybe we have been spoilt a little in the first few months with the way we have played and are expecting a little too much.
I highly rate the players and coaching staff. However we have to keep improving and pushing our standards further to get anything from this season as Barrow, Fev, Widnes, Toulouse, Haven etc are all looking for us to make mistakes and capialise.

Sky did mention last night that Halifax are already trying to tie up some of the squad for next year, which is sensible; I really do hope that we haven't upset some of the squad with the offers we may or may not have put forward to them for next season. A successful year needs a happy squad no matter how much talent the team have.

Said is already on a 2 year deal. I think Ben Black is as well. I am guessing the likes of Penky, Gleeson, Shad, Frank are on 1 year deals.

I like the look of Ross Divorty, thought he really stood out for Doncaster.

i did too, bit bigger than when last saw him at thrum hall lol.

i agree with a below par 1st half performance last nite, however i thought in the 2nd half we controlled it from start to finish, and could and should have scored more than we did, with a little more patience.

donny had there chances throughout the game, due to there vgood kicking game, constantly turning miles around..usually after a pretty poor set with ball in hand!

penky obviously had an off day, and afew others but he stood out because all his mistakes seem to come like buses! as for hemmingway, i wish people would get off his back and let him settle in. for me beswick did very little in out first 3-4 games this season, but look at him now. he was FANTASTIC last nite!

and all this missing our ever present (this season) ben black! his absence was is bound to throw our midfield links off abit!

Good result, only 4points conceded! 7 trys scored! NO INJURIES! and the likes of goddard, black, roberts, govin, worrincy, ect to come back.

i for 1 cant wait till leigh in the cup!!!! and as a fax fan for yrs have never had a more satisfying season after 16 games.....

i think wed have all taken,
TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
ONLY 3 POINTS OUTA 27 dropped!
CROWDS ON THE UP!!!

My blue and white glassers look GREAT

I agree - I have highlited above where we are struggling and apart from that 40/20 its OUR KICKING GAME.
Come on when a poor side like Donny do better at it than us then we need to take note, its back to not having a dedent stand off thats what needs sorting.
easier said than done mid season though!

sean long up for grabs...

Quote ="swifty62"sean long up for grabs...'"

GOOD GOD NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Lighten up folks.Lets be positive.We've had a fantastic start to the season ;top of the league , nrc quarter finalists and cc 5th round.OK we were poor against the eagles and the dons but give them some slack.
I really believe we are punching above our weight, ; we have the best combo of props/hookers in the division , same for the loose forward slot.
Our half backs are good ,so are our threequarters but I dont think they are the best in the division.The return of Goddard will help especially defensively.The next 2 weeks are crucial.The players should be given a week off and then a really good week of training should freshen things up.
But stay positive ; we have only lost once all season.