I'd forgotten about the game to be honest. Sounds like another shocker.

I'd have kept going more often if I'd have felt like our support was appreciated and had a bit more open and honest dialogue from the club.

Nowadays my weekends are precious and I'd rather do something I'm guaranteed to enjoy if it involves me spending my cash on it! I went to the first few home games and a couple since but I can honestly say I have barely missed it at all. Even the SL games are usually pretty dull, I think the game in this country desperately needs some change at the top.

Yep, exactly, it's gone backwards for me, which is one of the major reasons I don't go. I don't watch it on tv anymore, I find it dull, and the whole administration sagas and the way the game is run is enough to switch me off completely when it comes to RL.

Admittedly, I've been daft enough to still attend home and away - should be a medal for that. Few observations from yesterday:
1) Bulls warm up twice as long as Batley - why - seemed that Batley energy levels maintained throughout as part-timers - a number of Bulls seemed to be lacking in that department
2) Problems that Oscar obviously had are well documented and to be fair he should be withdrawn for his own mental well being - no outwards sign of even wanting to be on the pitch yesterday
3) Plenty of effort from a select few but we don't back up anymore (Sironen obviously has the ability to offload but rarely anybody in support)
4) We are consistent at panicking in the opposition 20 and don't really seem to have a game plan
5) Based on 4 I'm currently unconvinced what training, plays and game plans Toovey is providing - despite short term official tenure he has had several months to demonstrate what the teams proposed improvements will be and there haven't been any
6) Latest signings are welcome but seemingly 'better' players (Sironen excepted) are lowering there own game standards to lowest common denominator - why?
7) Finally and most worringly for the game in general - who was the referee? One of the most inept performances witnessed for many a season.

Didn't think he was the worse we had, but maybe that's because Batley were quite a fair team TBH. If a team with the thug tactics we saw with Dewsbury, might have been a different story. Think the penalty count was 10-4, didn't think we were that bad or Batley that clean. Don't think we got one "technical penalty" I.E Ref thinks Batley messing about but we got pinged a fair few times for it. Inconsistent.

TBH We did some stupid plays though. Batley could hardly get out of their half in that first half, why we did 3 ball strips god only knows. Was no need. Keep saying it but fines should be issued to players who do ridiculous stuff like that. Coach and team killers.

Oh and the James Bentley no try was a scandalous call. Couldn't tell if he disallowed it for a ball steal or offside but neither were correct. Having seen the replay he was onside and Rettie blatantly loses it cold.

You'd have to have a limit if you were going to start fining players for stupid decisions. The likes of Oscar would end up owing the club money on pay day.

How has Chamberlain played? He has to be better than our donkey Marsh.

I like Chamberlain, Very fast and hasn't shirked his duties while he has been here with us. Definitely worth Widnes sticking with him IMO

Chapelhow... looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. Literally provides nothing for the team. Just seems to go through the motions for 80 minutes. Not sure what Widnes were thinking extending his contract. No where near SL quality and can't see many championship clubs queuing up to sign him

Looks like "Off the Cuff" has got his wish. Chamberlain is in the Widnes squad for this week.

Was never going to stay at Bradford through the Super 8s. Widnes need him as backup and I don't believe he has played enough games to continue "dual reg" as such. The first team he plays for in the 8s, he will be tied to.

penalty count was 9-7 to the Bulls

No idea where you've got that from.

It was 9-5 to Batley. One of which was in final few moments of game for us.

He's got it from League Express. Which lists the penalty count as Batley 7, Bradford 9.

yes I did, so whose right ????

Does it matter.