shudda gone to specsavers

(I have the same problem these days and wear specs like jam jar bottoms when im filming )

Thanks Fred enjoyed watching it again.

During that clip Derek Disley made a good point about where the touch judges were stood and asked how they would be able too see a forward pass from the attacking side.

It is a point which the RFL would do well to adress.

Was also interesting that the ref and touch judge where surprisingly well placed to see that the Oldham winger never touched the ball for their first "try". It was easy for us in the North stand but sadly there is no video camera from the North stand end.

I supppose it just vindicates those two officials incompetance. Course nothing is ever done about it which should be imo.

Just got to take the rough with the smoothe Frank.
We didnt finish second from bottom, Barrow didnt finish on top and Man U dont win the premiership because of c**p refs.
Sometimes it costs you, but it averages out over the long term.

It never averages out though does it.

Well you are right of course but Laughton is one very poor ref for whatever game he referees.He does not seem to realise fans' of whichever side' go to be entertained and not to see him stop a game from flowing.

His pedantic behaviour round scrums is a joke for example . Re offside and lying on if he told teams before kick off if a player does a particular offence twice he'll be sin binned then he might not be having to stop play every couple of minutes.

He really does not make any game I have seen him referee anything but boring for the people who go to watch a game.

It would be a relevant comment if the try was awarded to the winger, but it went to the centre Littler, who grounded the ball with his right arm as it went past.

Having watched the tries again I'm surprised to say that all Oldham's tries look ok. The second one comes off Foggy's shoulder (which isn't a knock on) and both players challenged fairly with their eyes on the ball. This of course doesn't excuse the rest of the official's performance which was pretty shocking for both teams. Apparently Laughton doesn't talk to the players, which generally leads to frustation when he just blows for a penalty. There's also the fact that he loves giving out strings of penalties (7 on the bounce to Leigh towards the end of the 1st half and six on the bounce to Oldham when we got back into the game in the 2nd). This just distorts the game and makes it too easy for any one team to dominate at given times. As for touch judges, they may as well have cardboard cut outs for all the use they are. The failure of the main stand touch judge to see the Roden high shot was appalling and there were numerous examples throughout the game that left you wondering just what exactly the officials were looking at.

However, the best team won on the day and the score was fairly reflective of the difference between the teams. I do get the feeling though that Basil will have to work some magic if you're not going to have another season of struggle at the wrong end of the table. I hope not though as it's better for RL in general if we have decent teams in places like Leigh and Oldham.

I agree about the touch judges and what you say about our respective teams.

Could not agree more clockwork re the tuch judges and the game on the whole ,doubt anything will change regards this but any ref is better than no ref eh tut.

Having our front line props out of action for so long will not assist the cause, I think we will struggle early doors without the 'grunts' but as the grounds firm up our 'lightweight' pack will (or should) go well.

Are we able to do a dual contract with Blackpool and get Hobson back?

Go on the Keighley board and you will see a clip of the Blackpool v Keighley game.

Hobson was sin binned.

Well, considering the conditions, I would not have expected anything else.

We need to defend kicks better (Was it Higson on the 2nd try ?). Seemed afraid to get his shorts dirty!

Alot of positives with the attacking element though. Its good to see some dummy runners at 2nd and third reciever, and I feel that Robbie Paul will have a field day when the conditions get better as opposing sides will not have a clue where he is passing. We never saw this for the WHOLE of last season so heads up folks.

I will be hoping to make a few this year, but once the defensive element is sorted out, I feel that we will do pretty well. When the big props return in April, we could really be a force.

Leighs attacking line looking at the video looks similar to Warringtons close to the line. Once we start to 'ping' them passes with dummy runners, some of Leighs plays will be difficult to defend.

A good win at York will hopefully do us good. Lets hope we can sort that defence out, because York have some good attacking players in their 13.