I have no idea what the people slagging Sheriffe are going on about, I thought he had a good game apart from the incident where he didn't let the ball go into touch, but to fair the ball could have bounced anywhere so he had to go for it.

Scruton was great once again and I thought Worrincy played well when he came on so hopefully that will help his confidence.

As others have said it wasn't a classic game, but it's the sort of close game we would have lost last season so I'm happy with the two points.

From where I was sat, it looked like the ball would go clearly into touch - or at worst hit close to the line and bounce into touch.

That said, had Witt (was it?) put a load of spin on it and had it landed in the field of play and bounced back then we'd all have been slating Rikki for letting it bounce. It DID look like it was going into touch one way or the other though from where I was - but its easier to call that from above than when its bearing down on you with some big men pounding down after it.

The kick was a nasty one and the ball was really spinning in the air, the ball could have gone literally anywhere, it probably would have gone into touch but he didn't take the chance. Even with that error I thought he had a good game and there were much more obvious errors from other players without even a mention of them.

I agree, I think somebody let an error over shadow what was a decent performance from Rikki. Certainly didn't have a shocking game like some suggest.

Not a classic by any means but it was never going to be really. I'm really proud of the boys today. They were out on their feet for the last ten but dug deep. Well played.

Once again, some eccentric refereeing decisions that generally ruined the game as a spectacle.

Thought Whitehead was excellent, as were Scruton and Lynch.
Sykes the pick of the backs for me. And please keep halley on the wing.

That incident (still looked more like a brain fart from where I was, but bigchris puts up a good counter-argument) aside, he certainly did not have a shocker at all - if maybe not as good a game as some he had earlier in the season. Quite a few in the side made serious errors, ones where a better team would have crucified us (see "Saints" a few weeks ago for examples...).

Exactly, with some players I feel fans only remember the mistakes and with Rikki people are just waiting for him to make a mistake each game.

As they did with Platt last season.

He's been much improved this season and i've been backing him. I just thought he wasn't even near his best today. Hopefully he'll get another chance to impress v Catalans.


Halley can't get dropped from the wing though, he's quality.


Why do people like to put their shoulder in Kearney's face?

Platt has basically thrown them off his back though. You can't ignore how well he's going atm and its down to (from what i've read in T&A) his hard training in the off season.


They used to call him dedicated Mike at Salford, and thats why!!

Very true, thankfully with his improved performances they've been shut up.......for now!

The poor bugger had no chance last year, when some strange "fans" booed him before he even touched the ball no wonder his confidence seemed shot.

But he's proving those "fans" wrong now. And indeed as did Worrincy today - I was dreading seeing him but I'm pleased to say he played fine in the main.

Seems some people need to have a scapegoat?

It would never have made touch in a million years and there were two Crusaders attackers running on to it. He needed to challenge for it and did - just made a complete pigs ear of it.

A very good and satisfying win. Real character shown in the second half. James Child is a joke and Jamie Thackeray? What a loser!!! Dirty cast off nice one mate!

What do you feel he did wrong? You've described his performance as terrible, that must mean he made some glaring errors apart from the one already mentioned? Did he knock on several times? Lose the ball in the tackle? Give away constant penalties?

He had a solid game, made good meters when he got ball, he came inside looking for work when the forwards were tiring, he tackled well and tracked back to help save a couple of tries. If his was a terrible performance then I was watching a different game.

thats another game we wouldnt have had the composure to win last year. certainly wasnt a classic and the poor kicking made the scoreline flatter crusaders slightly.
Don't think sheriffe had a bad game as such, although he needs to watch the sideways running which seems to be creeping back into his game. Worrincy was better than his last performance but he seriously needs to get some practice in on the tackle bags, his technique is attrocious - he seems to bounce of tackles way more than a guy his size should. Fair enough using him for squad rotation but on that showing koppy will be straight back in next week.

on the whole well done bulls on picking up a win, against fresh opposition and despite some very poor reffing and a very blustery wind.