Really good summary for me is that..... I came away really enthused at the depth that we have. First half with our strongest (in my opinion) combinations available on the day we played some nice stuff.....

In the second half it was a merry-go-round of interchanges, and there was a good twenty minute period where Halifax really had a foothold on the pitch, but we were unsettled by interchanges (not a criticism - great opportunity for the young and new signings) and having only three or four of what I would currently consider to be regular starting or even interchange players. However, the quality is clearly there in these youngsters, and I expect a good chunk of well-deserved gametime for them this season.

With developments of the field, and then seeing this crop of youngsters playing yesterday in and amongst some of our wise old heads, I have to say I left a very happy man.

On another note, really liked the Shay, and the Fax fans were fab too. Tannoy announced 1339 in the crowd, and apparently Scott will be auctioning matchday jerseys for his testimonial, so look out for that!

The pitch is full sized, including width, and has been for a few years ie 100m long and 68m wide. It just feels more narrow because the stands are so close to the touchlines. You are right about the slope also being reduced a few years ago, although it is still there but to a lesser degree.

I don’t doubt you but as you say for some reason it does feel narrow. What you also have to remember is that we Trinity fans have been spoiled by having an extra wide and level pitch, BV’s only saving grace. I get the same feeling at Cas tbf however for some reason I find POR more intimidating.

Another odd thing about BV is that there are a number of tall mature trees on its outskirts and I always think this gives it an unwarranted grandeur.

Trojan is right about one thing, it’s twenty odd years since we have played you out of the depth of winter so that never helps.

Finally I really miss playing Fev, they were the club that got me into British RL when Bob Ashby and then Richard Evans were in charge. You owe me a lot I spent days helping sort out the new stand after the old one burnt down in 1984 ish? My main contribution were the two boxes, I think it’s two, took me ages to convince the board they were a good idea.

I never minded RL being a local game for local folk and I miss the genuine rivalries that you just don’t get now. The build up to the Fev game meant something as did the result. If Trin beat Leeds, Cas or Fev I walked tall in our Pontefract factory for the whole week and bragged myself to death. I never worried about minimum standards or the club going bust because there were none and all clubs went bust and started again. What mattered was the game and the following days report in the YP. Happy times.

This is a good point, I think the one year you were in the Middle 8s we didn't qualify for them, and we haven't drawn you in the Challenge Cup for years have we? My memory might be failing me but I think we haven't played you in a meaningful game (ie other than pre-season) since that fateful day back in 1998?

Hoping for dry weather up to and including Sunday as the pitch was very heavy for the Leeds game, though I'm blaming Wakefield for that (Wakefield AFC that is, who played there the previous day - they are away from home this week).

We got drawn to play you in the cup at our place but the initial covid outbreak put an end to that!