A couple of major errors cost us. We are still going toe to toe against the top teams even with injuries.


Alas it's only going to get harder.


Lost Matty Russell with broken ribs and Olly Rusell broken hand.


No idea who will play 6 against Sts.

I actually reckon we were pretty lucky to only be 0-6 down at half time. We lost the middle which is unlike us, and we never looked like getting round them either. And they’d clearly learned how to deal with Hood.


At half time Powell must have told them to start throwing the ball more early in our sets, and it worked. Vagana and Pratt looked threatening with early ball, and like most people once Rourke scored I thought we’d cracked it. We wouldn’t let them get in the wrestle again. Then Rourke dropped his easiest catch of the night (often the way isn’t it), and neither Smith nor Lino could handle Niu. Then that pass from Rourke… horror show, and he’ll remember that forever, but he’ll also learn from it. To me it’s symptomatic of playing positive rugby - Dazball as we call it - the same reason we got back in the game in the first place. Obviously that pass wasn’t on, but we’ve all seen wingers race 90 metres to score off similar plays. That’s sport. 


Individually, I thought Johnstone, Pratt, Lino, Vagana, and Rodwell shone. But we’re really missing Trueman. I’ve now seen enough of Olly Russell to know he’s a dead set Championship halfback. If you’re going to carry a half who can’t tackle, he’d better be unbelievable on the ball, and frankly Russell can just kick and pass a bit. Fingers crossed Mills has got something in the works for next year. Looks like Russell will be out for a while with a broken hand anyway, so we need Trueman playing even if patched up now.

So disappointing to lose last night.   Although I feared it, as so often in back-to-back matches between evenly matched teams, the one that wins the league match loses the following cup match (or vice versa).  It happens so often.


The only consolation I can find (and it's not really a consolation at the time) is to see how far we've come in a couple of years.


Two years ago, in the first few months of 2023, we got stuffed by Leigh 0-32 (league, home), 12-40 (cup, home) and 4-30 (league, at Newcastle).  Compare that to this season, where we're pretty much competing with all the better teams.

Interesting post from Trinity Heritage too on twitter,  there was Biut 1300 fans at the cup game in 23 compared to 6100 last night. 

Highlights from last night. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18c4VfYvwz/ Rourke wasn't the only mistake and when we played we looked great. Just one of those things. Some ridiculous comments on FB from people who should know better. I spoke to Trueman. He said 3 weeks, though that could be just a stock answer.

Highlights from last night. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18c4VfYvwz/ Rourke wasn't the only mistake and when we played we looked great. Just one of those things. Some ridiculous comments on FB from people who should know better. I spoke to Trueman. He said 3 weeks, though that could be just a stock answer.

Well, a game we very much could and should have won yesterday. We gift wrapped 12 points and the game. But there were also key moments where we should have applied smart rugby and failed. 


Roarke had a good game but a terrible 2 errors that cost 12 points. Unforced too, however he should be afforded the opportunity to learn from that. 


Pratt on the break at 12-6 and a pass to TJ would have been 18-6. I’m sure he knows this. He will improve his decision making and sometimes you can’t be too harsh a young lad backing himself. I did think Armstrong put himself in position well though to defend it. 


After that 12-12 and we were camped on the line in front of posts. Lino should have been screaming for a drop goal with 14 minutes left but Hood tried to barge through 3 players to score. Not smart at all in knockout rugby. 


Finally, the players should be reassured by the fact we could easily for a bit more composure and execution have won that at the end by 2 scores or more. 


The worry for me is halfback. It wasn’t fluid at all today. Trueman is a big miss but Trueman and Jowitt even more so. 


Now with Trueman, Russell and Lawford out who gets to be in halves next week?


Can see Walmsley at 1 and Roarke at 6, Myers on wing maybe. At least we have options. 


Personally though I would give young Stevenson the halfback spot and keep Roarke at FB and Walmsley on wing. 


Griffin, Storton, Russell, Truman, Doyle, Nikotemo, Lawford, Russell all on the treatment table it doesn’t get easier does it.