Someone mentioned it elsewhere about Jon Clarke's contribution. Well today I thought it really showed. Widnes were puffing like good 'uns with around 20mins to go, whereas we looked like we could have done another 40, a testament to good conditioning. Also for what it's worth, I thought Gidley just nipped Sandow for MoM in my opinion. Great all round performance apart from their tries which were a bit sloppy. Happy days

True true WO.
I Couldn't go but have read a lot about the match here and on other forums.
Most reports including many posters on the Widnes sites give us credit and say the better side won, but clearly injuries before the game had a major effect, and then during the match with only 2 subs left Widnes were always going to tire.
But Wire can only play what is in front of them.

As I commented elsewhere, strength in depth seems to be even more important this year and honestly speaking I think we're one of the few sides who have that.
TS alluded to the fact that we may have a few more busted bodies than is known.

Will be very interesting to see this weeks 19.

Although Ryan Atkins has had a lot of criticism (some of which has been deserved) over the last few seasons I thought today was his best game in years. Solid in defence and a superb try that, as already commented on, not many of our players would have scored.

Also think Ratcford deserves a special mention - he was brought on the first half to try and get some quicker play the balls and he achieved that and got us moving a bit quicker. It can't be easy for him Playing in three positions in one game but he did all three superbly showing just how important he is to the team - something that perhaps only dawned on me yesterday.

Smiths post match comments regarding widnes slowing us down at the play the ball within the rules that were applied to day was very telling. Thaler promoted a slow play the ball which widnes made the most of and we didn't. On another game widnes would have been on a team warning within the first 15 minutes (as would we have been in the first 10 of the 2nd half). Thaler missing the Russell foul for the first try and the forward pass for the second widnes try was very poor. Also his decision to penalise (an injured) ratchford for lying on was ridiculous - it took the two players 15 seconds to untangle themselves after the whistle was blown so how ratchford with a facial injury was supposed to disentangle himself is a mystery - compare that to an incident later in the game where a widnes man got stuck under chris hill and Thaler chose to (correctly) call time off to allow him to move. Minor point but annoyed me a lot.

Finally on the officiating - how did the touch judge miss lineham slipping into touch on the second half in the widnes 10? He even left a big boot mark on the touchline!
Also be interesting to see what others made of the Ah Van swinging arm that connected with Evans when he was already tackled? Looked a nasty one from where I was standing and Rhys didn't look impressed.

Ratchford according to either him or the rumour mill isn't happy about not nailing down a spot as it effects his England selection.
In fact he has become so versatile he could get in the England side on that factor.
Pick up an injury or two in a game and you just slot him straight in.

I can understand if he feels that way, but it's a massive plus for us.

Negatives...

All of the 1st half and the first few mins if the second, there was very little go forward from us. Constantly looking for off loads, resulting in quite a few mistakes.
Only Sandow Russell and Clark trying to run forward as opposed to hot potatoing.

Smith/Agar error for the first 20 mins playing 5 left to 3 right in defence, two on the right being Sandow inside Penny.
Caught out twice before we restructured the imbalance.

Positives...

Seeing Ratchford and Clark on together really lifted the lacking go forward. Turning a battle of defence to easy defence....attack.

We cannot afford to play catch up rugby against FC. They are a much fitter side than what we've played recently. We must attack with go forward early on not silly offloads. If we fall behind there, we'll find it difficult to pull it back.