We were sailing long and got drawn into the nasty stuff. You have to feel for our lot, so many head shots, lashes with arms in the tackle, knees and elbows that went unpunished. I'd said to my lad before the game that Clark v Barlow would be an interesting sideshow. They put us off our stride as they have done with other teams this year. Chisholm was class at times but the tackling near our try line concerns me. To concede 28 points to Swinton is unforgivable.

Well, the 13 vs 11 certainly made it a bit more interesting didn't it?

I've seen games against Swinton twice now this season, and I hope I never have to watch them again - grubby, niggly, and downright dirty. Our indiscipline almost cost us, but you can hardly blame people for taking a swing when there's endless provocation and the ref only seems to see what he wants to see.

Again though, some strange selections. Why exactly was Howarth playing instead of Lumb, and Ferguson in place of Bentley? For goodness sake, we've already guaranteed top spot in the Shield - it was a DEAD rubber!!! Why didn't we have 3 or 4 of the Academy graduates mixed into the 17 for today?

You probably answered that last question in your first description of Swinton - which I totally agree with.
Probably not a game to throw teenagers into.

Very disappointed that we got drawn into a scrappy game by the idiot Barlow and his pals. Unfortunately their tactics worked and we ended up with a player sent off. At least the game showed Rohan that Haworth must not be given a contract, he was very poor today. BTW a shocking refereeing display once again, I can't believe the things he missed and his interpretation of events today.

I take the point, Woolly and I suspect Rohan would say something similar

But when [iis [/iit a game to throw them in? We couldn't do it before because 'we had to secure top spot', or next week at Workington because 'it always tough in Cumbria' or the following week for some other reason etc etc

It would a shame to let these Shield games go by (let's face it, they don't matter much) without giving a fair few of our Academy graduates a first team run out

I wouldn't have risked our Acadamy players against this type of opposition. Since we lost the Open Age players it has become more difficult to put these young players on the field. A couple more years on their backs would help. Besides which we are still paying these players who are leaving us and they know how to deal with this type of play. Apparently Swinton needed one point to stay up and I feel this lends itself to a war of attrition.

No, neither would I.

Anyone else slightly worried by the headline on 'Bulls' news' from the website? Apparently, Rohan was "pleased" with the twelve man Bulls - remembering that we used to have coach who was so happy with the way a forward was playing in the halves that he didn't want another halfback to play for us again, I'm so hoping this doesn't lead to us only 'needing' twelve man teams from now on.....

Must say I was very impressed with our own Ethan Ryan yesterday. All three tries were something special. That second with the "in and away" was bloody great.

Chuffed that he's signed up.

That was a very classy try by someone full of self confidence. Also bonus points on his third try for the little roll he did as he grounded the ball

Newlove-esque sidestep.

Forshaw-esque front roll.

He also made some crucial and very well executed tackles in the second half. At least 2 or 3 important "ball and all" tackles when Swinton had an overlap on that side, which if he hadn't made them, it would have been a sure fire try. That overlap of course having been created by Kurt Haggerty losing his rag.

Ethan scored 12 points, but he also saved between 8 and 18 almost single handedly.

The lad done good.

Yes I was really impressed with his defence too. It was better than a lot of other wingers I’ve seen play for us in recent years. One particular tackle in the second half when he stopped a 3 man overlap was superb.

He’s shown what he’s capable of now. The challenge is to maintain that and improve on it.

On another note I expect he’ll be at the sponsors quiz night next week, do fellow sponsors have any questions they’d like to put to him or Joe?

He looks a superb player. By the sounds of it, a lot of it is down to him knuckling down, grafting and trying to improve himself as much as possible.

His defence (Positioning and tackling) is the best i've seen from a winger for sometime and i would include SL players in that too. Get him in open space and not many catch him and he as an amazing ability to beat defenders when one on one, either by beating them for pace on the outside, or producing outstanding footwork to send them the wrong way. A very special talent we have on our hands.

12 tries form 11 appearances - hope he doesn't read this and take his foot off the gas but that is a marginally better rate than Vainikolo...