Well guys I don't post on here very often these days and as usual I risk being shot down by those who know so much better. However tonight I couldn't resist because, make no mistake about it, that was nothing short of an amazing win.

We always knew that this week we were in severe adversity 7 players from the squad missing injured, and one on leave in Australia. a retired players who hadn't broken many tackles for the last year recalled, and a patched up front row with 5 missing. Then there was Peter Gentle hanging on the phone this morning dreading a call from Wade McKinnon saying he was unable to play, all the pundits writing us off and Adam Pearson fretting about the gates we were getting.

For me FC Live on Wednesday was surreal watching in some ways, as both Pearson and Gentle talked as if the result was never in doubt, and I couldn't really believe all that hype could you? surely with the players we had out, that was all about selling tickets?

But I guess in the end they were right! That wasn't a win but with so many players missing, it was an unbelievable achievement. I say that because Rovers should have won, well according to all the pundits they should have, Stevo, Clarkey, Charlie Mullen and Paul Cooke et all, wrote us off. The pre match arrogence was there as usual, and I had a sleepless night last night, because I just wanted it to be over.

Todays game was a victory for our game plan and our Coaching staff. They have told us that junior players and 'reserves' would step up and fit seemlessly into the pattern and after past experience, we said "Oh Yes!" But time after time this year they have.

Had Agar faced that sort of adversity, we would have seen at least 10 players moved around to accomodate the needs of the team, to ensure whatever we did we didn't have to include any youngsters.

We bombed three tries in the first half and made mistakes and last year at that point we would have folded, but we kept our shape and our composure, put it behind us and battled on and restricted Rovers to just one chance in the first half, which to Rovers credit they scored from.

In the second half we came out, scored immediately and then battled on until the the introduction of Whiting and Aspinawall (remember him, he was the one that loads on here said was a waste of money) came on, they increased the go forward and we stepped up a notch and blew them away with some attacking plays that followed the trend which indicates that as the season unfolds our attack is getting better and better.

Boy how they all laughed in East Hull when Gentle recalled Radford, but after they had scored and celebrated the fact that they were on their way, he was the one who rubbed their noses in it at the base of the post, right in front of their massed ranks in the North Stand.

Then as we all thought we were about to wake up in bed and it was all a dream, that last try by Jordan Turner(another Agar nowhere man) was the stuff that derby dreams are made of!

8 points in front of Rovers with a game in hand after 9 games, top of the League and winning a local Derby by a County mile.............. tomorrow its back to reality but tonight guys, its as good as it gets!

It will still be a long haul and lets not get carried away we will have dissapointments and defeats but another year will show a lot of difference and for now I am sure we are certainly on the rightb track. Pearson says that we are over acheiving but I'll take that if it means results like todays. However for now Well done Fc, well done the players and Peter Gentle and well done Adam Pearson!! A great day when I was so proud.

ENJOY!

P.S.
Those old gits like me may just remember the first season Brian Smith was here, we lost a few critical games, but in adversity, at times, it looked a lot like it did today..good coaching????

Great post Wilf.

Ive had some little goes at Gentle but after seeing that today i honestly think weve uncovered Super Leagues next great coach and i think with further introductions we will become a top force in SL.

Great post Wilf

Cracking post Wilf, have you robbed it from the next Dentists Diary?

Lots and lots more to come in the Diary we''l move to the Park and Ride bus on the way home. radio Humberrside and the biggest cheer of the day!!!

what a day Eh?

Top post wilf!

The thing is it was a great day and we should all enjoy it, they don't come round that often!

Maybe they will now

My pre match thoughts were the same as yours, worrying about the players not available for selection and fearing the worst.

From now on, when faced with a seemingly negative situation, I will ponder 'What would Peter Gentle do?'

I think AP, SM and PG are here to make sure it does happen more often. Based on what I have seen already this season and the signing of Gareth Ellis this is just the beginning. The future looks much brighter in just a few months already.

It was a Great Day Wilf and one where our new Coach stamped his mark on the team, the fans and on those smug pundits who wrote us off days ago. I never had any doubt about today, I have never been so upbeat about a derby ever. I told a few people even if we where 16 or so points adrift with 20 to go we would win, KR have looked clueless in the latter period all season.

Monday is coming and no predictions, but we know now we have built a home fortress and those so called top team have to come here.

Its good to be back and I have been drinking

I think the biggest indicator of Gentle's coaching ability is that for the first time in a long time our team seems to be greater than the sum of it's parts. For several years we've been strong on paper and ordinary on grass, but ATM we have reversed that to actually punch above our weight and produce some impressive performances/results with a squad that still has areas to improve. Once we make those improvements we could well do anything.