I thought we got our tactics wrong. We tried to play too much rugby going down the hill. Passing is difficult because of the bizarre angles and we threw too many forward passes and put the ball down. Downhill it should be simple straight up the middle to tire Batley. Playing uphill is the time to bring out he passing game.

Thought it was a naive performance on a difficult Mount Pleasant pitch.

Got the intended response,David.

Have to give credit to Batley, they deserved the win. They matched us physically, kicked far better and capitalised on their spells of pressure. If they keep up playing like that I don't think many teams will win at Mount Pleasant this year.

Thought Higham was man of the match for us, everything creative we did came through him, however on the other hand that means our half backs should have done more (despite the admittedly poor conditions). Thought we looked much better defensively than we did in the friendlies. However I was worried about how our wingers kept coming in leaving the Batley man out on his own on the wing, dangerous thing to do, admittedly it was when Higson went off & Ryan moved out to the wing and didn't come in that Batley made their break to score the winning try.
Despite being made a bit of a scapegoat and admittedly I wouldn't play Rangi at full back I thought he had a decent game there. Made some good meters and half breaks returning with the ball, looked good ball in hand with his passing, OK he dropped difficult pressure kicks in wet windy cold conditions but that doesn't undo the good work he did nor does it mean he's to blame for the defeat.

Thought on the whole the ref was OK & fair (seen far worse) however he got some really key decisions wrong in particularly Batley's 1st try where there was a foot of clear grass between the player & the try line! Partly that could have been an over reliance on his touch judge who was utterly hopeless. Can't blame him though we should have done far better & Batley deserved the win.

We know full well it's not how you start a season but how you finish & there's an awful lot of Rugby to be played.

[quotatomeGot the intended response,David.'"

You can't blame SalfordLad *Frank1* for everything he's alright by me.

Surely not the Tripster of King Degsy