We held them for 40 mins but thats not much consolation when they take us to the cleaners for the other 40.

You can't do much without field position or ball in hand and we didn't get much of either in the second half.

Dewsbury had a very well executed game plan to deal with us and it worked. They were the better side in the second half by a long way.

Disappointed with some of the decisions from the officials (as were the commentators on telly) and although that would not have changed the result it might have changed the score. He did not ping them once for not standing square, which they used quite a lot in the second half to keep us pinned down.

I wish then all the best for next year it will be interesting to see how they go in the higher division where sides will play against them for the full 80.

For the 1st half and at least the opening five to 10mins of the 2nd half we matched Dewsbury. Then we just seem to raise the white flag. Then come back out fo the last five. And how Robert Hicks gave that 2nd dewsbury try only he knows. The player who passed the ball back after the kick, was infront of the kicker, and the rule says infront of the kicker is offside.

The decision for the second Dewsbury try was in fact correct as per the laws:

The try scorer was clearly in front of the kicker when the ball was kicked. The Laws (Section 14, Law 2) state:

“An offside player shall not take any part in the game or attempt in any way to influence the course of the game. He shall not encroach within ten metres of an opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall immediately retire ten metres from any opponent who first secures possession of the ball”

The key word is “waiting”. No Keighley player was waiting for the ball. The ball was kicked into space and the Keighley full back never even got in a position to make a tackle on the player that eventually played the ball following the kick. Had that player taken possession then the offside player would have had to have given him ten metres.

Section 14, Law 3 (c) states:

“An offside player is placed onside if...one of his own team in possession of the ball runs in front of him”

Dewsbury number 3 runs from behind the kicker, gets ahead of the offside player and passes the ball backwards to the Dewsbury player who was in front of the kick. This places him onside.

Fair enough, it does help when people explain the rules like that!

Fair do's.

Most of your forwards could do with some gym time, particularly Rawlins and Shickell. Will Cartledge looks to have piled on the pounds since his time at Batley too.
An obvious lack of fitness in the the pack might well explain why you wilted so badly.

To be fair Brendon has just got back from the best part of 5 months stuck in Aus.
I watched the game last night and the first half was spectacular, much like the first 15-20 min of the away game last month.
The second half went down hill rapidly, again stupid penalties and silly handling errors just gave away possession and position just like last month.
We lacked fitness towards the end, Dewsbury are a much fitter and skilled side than any other we have come across this season and it will have taken its toll on our lads.
Fair enough there may have been some dubios decisions by the officials, but if we can't start blaming them for losing by 40 points, they didn't physically score those 40 points, create the knock ons, or give away silly penalties.
It was the first home loss of the season, we're second in the league and if my calculations are right we can't fall out of the play off zone even if we lose the next 4 games.
We just need to put this game behind us and focus on Workington next week and the last 4 games of this season!