Shenton on many occasions this year has been all hands and no shoulders so in other words he's grabbing.

I was suprised how easily he's dropped off a couple, but positionally he's been fine. Last night however, the whole left side looked like a car crash.

Thought they did. Must be my mind playing tricks. I certainly remember us getting stretched down that side even with Pryce in the line.

Either way it hasnt mattered who has defended at second man out on that side, we have been exposed, and as someone else pointed out, the exiles targeted Shentons side in that game, this was under a different coach with experienced class players around him.

It don't matter if he's fine positionally if he's just grabbing and missing tackles.

I don't suggest he's perfect, but I don't think the problems on that side stem from him. Obviously him missing tackles won't help.

pryce defended on the right last night for about two set six which in one makinson put the catalan player in touch which stopped a try after that lomax was moved over to the right

I had a kid in the u10s I coach who was missing tackle after tackle thru grabbing. One game he made one tackle and missed 21 tackles all thru grabbing. Every week we had the bags out with him but he just could take in that he needs to use his shoulder, the lads dad was going off his head at him.

One week I told him I'll cut them hands off if he didn't stop grabbing and sure enough next tackle he was straight in with his shoulder! Now he's one of my best players in defence.

Maybe royce should tell shenton he'll cut his hands off if he continues to grab

There's a couple of other things I'd like to mention about last night's game.

I thought Flanders played well.
Did any one notice the return of the Big Red Side Step? It was a tactic he used alot in his first couple of seasons to great effect. Haven't seen it for a while, but it helps him get on the front front and bamboozle defences. It also tend to win a coupl eof pens from high shots from lazy armed props.
Pat on the back for Meli, who continues to play well in the centre. He's had plenty of jip from fans over the year, but you can deny his success in the position. Came up with a real bell ringer at one point, as well.

A day to scrath off for Wilkin though, Menzies seemed on a mission to terrorise him.

Menzies is the form player in super league at the moment. He's a credit to the game and the perfect example to kids.

Wilkin didn't look himself from the outset. He was one of the players with a question mark over him from last week and I suspect he was playing injured, like Meli (who looked very like having a hamstring problem again at the back end of the game). Wilko took a particularly heavy hit at one point and I think that finished him off. He didn't return after being replaced by Moore did he?

I think you might be right. Something must have been a miss as he's normally one of our top defenders.
He took two heavy tackles off m2nzies in a row (his hat came off in both) before he missed two tackles on the same guy.

Everyone has an off day, now and again.

Yes I also saw that when he was taken off his legs and landed on his harris/back. It seemed to shake him up a bit.

right side surely?

Was just watching the tries back on SLTV.

Of the three that they scored down that side.

1. Shenton started the play at Marker following a made tackle. LMS was 3rd man in side Gaskell, who was beaten for the try.
2. Shenton was 2nd man into the tackle, but it was too soft and they got an offload.
3. From the scrum base, Makinson was too busy watching Menzies (who was Gaskell's man) to see Greenshields run.

Obviously its not just the plays tries are scored on where there's poor defence, but the above isn't so damning on any one player. Perhaps its just case where no one player is bossing that side, but Shents [iis[/i guilty of grabbing on occasion, as Pete points out.

I'd also like to say that for a couple of tries scored on our left (Meli and Foster, 1st half), earlier in the set Shenton threatens on the right, which helps to draw the defence over to one side. His try was also sublime rugby.