It's painfully obvious what the problem is. Speed around the ruck in both attack and defence, lack of impact up front and discipline.

We can throw the ball about when we've got momentum but when we're continually allowing teams to get the upper hand in the ruck and at the play the ball, we're being forced to drive the ball out from our own 20. The ptb was so slow with players seemingly labouring to get up off the floor, haven were set in their line and up in our faces immediately as soon as the ball went to first receiver. Our insistence on using Paddy Flynn to drive the ball out of our own 10 from dummy half simply is not working. Varkulis has much more of an impact at first receiver and gains greater yards while being able to remain standing to get a quicker play the ball.

I think we were very hard done to on Thursday night with so many penalties for holding down, Wildbore had his hand trapped by the 'haven player, Ostick the same though he did go in for 2nd effort for his sin binning. But it was those 3 penalties against Gannon and Smith that really hurt us which I thought were extremely harsh. The ref was an utter mug on those occasions.

If we can speed up our play the ball and slow the oppositions without getting penalised we'd stand a much better chance of getting on top of sides which seemingly look much quicker and much sharper than us who aren't necessarily any more skilful ball in hand.

No speed and passion at all at the mo.

I actually feel a tad sorry for you guys(And belive me im not being patronising).
You lot had me papping myself all through my moneymoon(In the US) which fell exactly between the semi and the final of 2006 (We landed on the morning of the gf).
It could so easily have been us and not you in this situation.
Chin up guys im sure it will come good in the end.

I would agree with that the ruck control by you boys wasnt good and imho that was what cost you the game as halifax scored a couple of times on the back of penalties because of it.
You were not far away from wining that game at all.

On a positve note, hopefully we are having all our injuries now rather than at the business end of the season. I think we would benefit from taking the arm band off smithy and handing it to webster. I cant for the life of me imagine he goes to training thinking i am gonna be an awkward bugger today.

....

Actually it's

...---...




(Work it out everyone)

Morse code SOS

S'pose that makes a bit more sense!!

A pint for you next time I'm over sir