I think the idea of this game is great.
However i have concerns about it, in its present form.

It is always going to be hard, for a team of amateurs to do well against a professional team.

So instead of having a select team play. Why not have one team play one year and then another team another year.

A team that is used to playing together, would do a lot better.

Also play the game during the week. This would give the amateur team a chance to field a strong team.

Agreed

I'd like to see it be made a 3 way tournament but played in 1 day.

Keighley Cougars, Amateur Select and Keighley Cougars Reserves.

Round robin of 20 minute each way matches with no half time break.

First Team play the amateurs.

15 minute break

First team play the Reserves

15 minute break

Reserves play the amateurs.

This way both the 1st team and the reserves get an 80 minute run out and chance to prove themselves against the 1st team, the amateurs get their money and a crack at a tired reserves team with a genuine chance of winning, the fans get more action better value for money.

Everybody wins.

Only problem with the round robin is the fact that not many amatuer lads want to play in the select game has they have played the day before. Therefore the select team is made up of reserve lads, 10 played on sunday and therefore making the majority of the team up. Good idea though.

Given that this game makes few quid for the local amateur clubs, couldn't they rearrange fixtures so they could put their best teams out for this game?

Why would any of the teams, they are going to play agree to that.
It would mean a week day game and having to travel during the week.

Here is an idea, leave it as it is. If you play mid-week it takes a training session away from the teams, it also means that the amateurs and some of the pro players will have done a hard days work, and then are expected to play an 80 minute game of rugby, then get up for work the next morning.

Hi Darren.

One question for you.

Do you think this game, if left alone will show how good the amateurs are in this town?

Because it's a memorial game and for a worthy cause?

At the level that the Keighley Amateur clubs play at, the players are really only playing because they enjoy it. Would a little recreational club really be that spiteful as to not move a fixture to accomodate a game like this?

I think that before we start suggesting changes we have to consider the reasons why we are doing this:

- As a memorial to Pete who was a fan of Cougars and Amateurs alike?

- As a warm up for Cougars?

- As a money earner?

- To raise the profile of the Amateur game?

- To give the Amateurs chance to play at a higher level?

- As a scouting exercise for cougars?

It’s probably a combination of all the above, so we have to fit in with the amateur schedule and bare in mind most of the players on both sides have day jobs.

For me, I'd keep it as it is but allow the amateurs a much larger bench so they can rotate more fresh players.

I enjoyed the game and thought they never gave in, its just a shame they couldn't take that first scoring opportunity.

You are right it is, but would that apply to people who have no connection with Keighley?

The thing is, as it is at the moment, it isn't doing that on either count.

Cougar fans that don't regularly watch amateurs came to the game. Admittedly, not a big crowd, but nevertheless raises the profile. Most fans that I talked to thought that the amateurs put on a good show.

I think that Amateurs playing against a championship side can be said to be playing at a higher level

I'm not saying it couldn't be better, but I can't see how you can justify the two points you have picked out

I was thinking some where along the lines of, if Silsden PR had not got a fixture that weekend maybe we could play them. After all Peter did a lot for Silsden. Or even Keighley Albion. What do you think?