Just got home after 800 mile round trip. A lot of effort.
We are used to these sort of things and there is no point letting it get you down.
Got the call at 5.30 in our hotel, from some that were already at the ground to say that the game was off.
It was very wet, especially in one area. Match Supervisor apparently was happy but left the decision to the ref who called it off.
We went to the ground and spent an hour or so with the players, then once they left we were really well treated by Whitehaven,
they looked after us really well. We even got to eat the food that was prepared for the players, sat talking with the local fans and others from the club, it turned into a good night. But not quite as planned.
They think the game will be scheduled for two weeks time as neither side are in the cup.
Let us hope for better luck next time.
And once again, thank you Whitehaven RLFC for your hospitality.
As theoretically the fitter team we should be dominating the ruck turning the player on his back and getting him facing his own line, that earns you the right to have slightly longer on in the tackle. If the tackled player is on his front and facing the right way as then the defender has to be off pretty quick that includes getting hands off the ball, that's where we get caught out when we try to slow it down because we have not won the ruck, referees recognise that and penalise accordingly. So it's not the standard of the ref it's poor technique from the players.
By all means first second set in a game test the ref out see what you can get away with, but after that a team should have it worked out.
Refs look at tackles and the move call is adjusted accordingly, defender controlling the ruck will result in slower ptb and more time to set the defence, attacker dominating as in landing on elbows and knees and still going fed defenders have to be off quick.
Defenders can only work the ball carrier on the ground in a surrender or dominant tackle.
Personally what I have seen so far we have deserved the majority of penalties
It's not fitness, it's strength and technique. Our guys remain smaller, maybe more mobile but not as physical, and it's difficult to get some of the lumps into "good" positions in the tackle, in part contributing to the holding down penalties.
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