Oh Wow

So Dewsbury again then?

Thought it was a good performance in general against a fired up, physical Dewsbury side. There have been times when we would have lost this sort of game - and not too long ago, either.

On the basis of some things are baically best left unsaid I'll not comment on the referee, other than to say he certainly unified all the fans.

Dane Chisholm was my MOM, he ran the side well on attack and did a solid defensive stint too. I will critcise his pass to Ethan Ryan for his try though, which unlike the impression given by Ross in the T&A made it appear that he'd been given a walk-in. It was actually far too high and Ethan had to jump and reach up with both arms raised well above his head to catch it and then step his opposite number on the line get the ball down - some gimme! Despite the execution it was good vision from Dane, that is very true.

It was also forward. I was right in line with it and I had no doubt. I wouldn't have expected the referee to spot that though.

I don't mind mentioning the ref. I saw Mick Gledhill quoting Rohan after the match suggesting the ref didn't dish out discipline enough, and I tend to agree. The amount of sh*thousing in the tackle from Dewsbury, especially Stringer, that went unpunished was ridiculous. That then wound up certain members of our team who ended up retaliating. I won't defend Addy's off the ball hit on Stringer, and he was lucky it was only a bit of a nudge otherwise he could have ended up off the field, but the only reason he did is because Stringer had shortly before that been trying to rub out Addy's face with his forearm.
Repeatedly the ref would give quite baffling holding down decisions, but then totally ignore it for the other team (he reversed round which team he did that for later in the game). He also missed some quite blatant face shots, presumably believing that being hit in the face doesn't count as a high tackle.
I wouldn't say he in any way affected the game, as he was terrible for both sides, but he looked far too inexperienced to be refereeing even at this level yet.

As far as the game goes, I thought we were fairly poor to be honest. We were lucky enough to come up against a depleted Dewsbury team, as I think a full strength one may have turned us over. We were just the less poor team on the day. It was encouraging though that with the exception of Addy & Clark, most of our players seemed to refuse to get involved in the sh*thousing, whereas previously more would have lost their heads and cost us stupid penalties.

With the example set (what other likely conclusion can be drawn) by the three going to hudds, perhaps Addy & Clark would welcome a reason to miss the rest of the season?

I suspect listening to Hobbo commenting when the BCB broadcast comes out with the video, he will be getting hot under the collar and expecting the Bulls to dish out some sort of summary justice same they would in his day!

Its funny in a sad sort of way in the NRL now, when its just a bit of slap and tickle instead of good old punch up, it will happen again sometime soon as the frustration levels of a few players have reached breaking point!

This post would be valid, but Hobbo wasn't on commentary this weekend! SOrry to be the bearer of bad (?) news!