Oh dear - your naivety is rather sweet, but if you expect SL opposition to play to the spirit of the laws rather than the letter, you're in for a loooong and frustrating season. I'd go so far as to suggest that if your players were getting off the tackle *before* the ref called move, either they're a bit dim, your coach is way out his depth, or both. I'm not a fan of the 'wrestle' techniques that the Aussie coaches brought to SL but at this moment in time, failing to use them to some degree is like turning up to a gunfight armed with a knife. I can only imagine how you'll react after playing Wigan or Shudds - you may need a long, post-match lie down.

I don't need to be educated about the correct terminology by the way - the tackle is commonly referred to as 'the ruck' in RL, as rlthis linkrl clearly demonstrates.

Don't worry - I know it's hard being the new boy, but you'll catch up in a season or two.

Sorry to add to your woes Old Viking, but wait until you play Leeds, Wigan or Shudds and then you really will see some "proper" slowing of the play the ball.
Also Widnes regularly used an additional "runner" just as a tackle was taking place. It appeared as though this tactic was being used to obstruct the tackler, although you did score from an off load to one of these players who then passed wide for Ah Van.

If Friday nights game was played "to the rules" as you put it - then you would have had about 4 players on the pitch at 65 mins.

High tackle = red card? That's a new one. Never mind the fact Cockaynes early on was the worst of the night yet no complaints here.

I know, it was a shocking attempt of a try what was he thinking

Let us see what Wheezy's reaction the Giants match will be, he'll have a fit!!

When our Dennis was waxing lyrical on the virtues of the I pitch on sky sports, I'm almost certain I heard him claim inspire of the weather three games had been played on it without any major issue.
Somebody mentioned at work that the reserve game played on Saturday was abandoned following a double leg break to a young Widnes player.
Now I'm not jumping to any conclusion, but that fact seems to have been omitted from Dennis' summary of the weekend.

So you where just digging to cause trouble then. Coyle's guttingly horror injury has been well covered elsewhere. Trying to use it to back up Mathers sore knee claims? Classy.

From watching back I still think it's vague to sust the high shots were anything more than careless?

Behave. 1 or 2 in a 10 minute spell is careless, 5 or 6 is dubious - 9 or 10 is blatant.

Not at all, trying not to jump to any conclusion if anything!
The fact was missing from DBs summary as were the fact that Widnes players tweeted in a non complimentary manner re the pitch.
I said it before I'll reiterate it again, nothing will become an issue until its a big club that complains, and IF these comments persist the weight of evidence will stack up.
At the moment it's only Wakefield, but stage management of the situation goes so far, it could get much more difficult.
For me Widnes are in a lose lose with this pitch.
1) artificial surfaces have a bad rep from football
2) any injury WILL be scrutinised because of the surface
3) any losing team has a ready made excuse
4) knowing how we love a good cover up story in RL any attempt to air brush history will be looked on suspiciously.
Without question it's a bold decision from Widnes and I can see all the all year round benefits for the club the business and the community.
However all the points above and the bigger question of is it fit for purpose for RL are huge obstacles.
Football and NFL have both tried these surfaces with problems, one has little physical contact the other plenty but players are kitted out in a way we would never want to see our RL players kitted out.
There are IMO vastly worrying questions, and ok we may be being a bit too fidgety after one game, I concede that.
If they persist it becomes less fidgety and more finger pointery.
So if you think I was digging I concede I probably was, just not in the way you think I was.
Widnes are allowed their point of view, but that's only one out of fourteen SL clubs and thousands of individual supporters who care about the game equally.

Now your just making numbers up. At one stage yes there were 3 in a row but that was mentioned by the officials and Cross (as acting Captain too) was called over and warned.

yawn........the scoreline wasn't even close IRRELEVANT.
Wanted Widnes to win (family reasons) but Betts is an arrogant black/white (not blue) tit.