Grunt isn't a desired characteristic in modern SL, it's chatting to the ref, rolling on the floor, flapping like a fish when tackled that wins you games... 

Still gutted by how it ended last night. So near yet so far doesn't even begin to sum it up. cursed our luck all the way back home last night.


Think the crucial spell was that period in the second half when we had some pressure on their line but couldn't put them away. I had a feeling we needed another score to see this one through but we couldn't quite carve out the decisive opening to kill the game. At 16-10 I didn't feel it was enough and had doubts we would be able to hold on for a win without scoring again, and so it proved.


First twenty minutes we had little ball and even less territory, pinned back in our half again, and I wonder if those opening twenty minutes played a big role in how the final ten played out. We looked out of steam towards the end and were desperately counting the minutes down, both on the pitch and on the Western terrace!!


Thought there was a number of crucial incidents which ultimately had a major bearing on the final result; their try right on half-time from that dumb off-load by Ashworth, altered the whole mood of the contest going into the break, Think it was their third try that came on a scrambled sixth-tackle play, itself off the back of a six-again, Croft's last ditch tackle on Briscoe when it looked as if he was about to steam clear of the cover defence, and finally the successful captain's challenge which led to their final set. All moments which could have fallen either way making for a different outcome. Like I said, so near yet so far.


See a couple of posters have mentioned Handley's break down the left that ultimately led to Hall crashing in at the opposite corner. Handley's an elusive runner, even without much space to work in, and he was a threat throughout the second half causing us problems down our right flank. That final break came against a tiring defence and we simply couldn't get back quick enough to close him down. 


We've now lost successive games by two points, albeit in different circumstances, a couple of moments here and there which if they fall our way would see us sat joint third this morning and the picture and mood around us is very different, fine margins and all that. We've still made great strides in little more than six months and we continue to build some pretty decent foundation stones on which to progress further. As gut wrenching as it was to lose in that fashion last night, it's still way better than hoping/praying that we don't suffer yet another fifty point drubbing which was about as positive as it got around this time last year.


Think the big problem now, as Wilf mentioned earlier, is confidence. We really could do with a win in France to snap this run. As competitive as we have been, losing can sap the energy of everyone, coaches, players, supporters especially, and we really could do with having that winning feeling around us and soon. Think at times we're one of the worst fanbases for wild mood swings, it really is black and white for us (in all senses!!), we're either up there or down there in some of our eyes, and there's undoubtedly been an element of that in recent weeks, myself included here. Still think most of us would have taken eleven points from eleven games before we kicked off, but this next month may prove pivotal in how the second half of the year unfolds.


Think we need to stay positive. Highlight the good things which are happening around the club while addressing the areas we still need to work on. The direction of travel is still onwards and forwards after seven or so years of slowly sliding backwards and downwards. The problem is it's Hull Fc and life is never simple for black & whites everywhere, following this club is joy and torture in equal measures!!! It always has been, for those of us of a certain age, it most likely always will be, so strap yourselves in the rollercoaster ride because that's how life is for the faithful I'm afraid!!!


Having said all that, I'm still absolutely gutted at how last night ended. Cursed all the way home and woke up still feeling numb this morning. It's like I can't avoid the car crash, but I can't avoid getting in the car either! Keep the faith everyone, still feel we are onto something good here, just be a little patient!!!   

You can't just compare like for like, surley you can see that.

Hodgson took over a side that had just finished in the play offs, Cartwright took over a side that just had the worst season in SL history.


But agree with the last paragraph, we are all disappointed with the last two games, but think you are overreacting a but 

Thanks. It was a hard tough game with bodies put on the line from both sides. A number of incidents/moments could have fallen either way, but that tends to be the case in close encounters.


Guess the fact you scored four tries to three would indicate you were marginally better at grabbing those opportunities when they came your way. In games like last night that tends to be the deciding factor. Apart from that thought there was little to choose between the two sides. 

When you're p!ssed off after a last gasp defeat and your coach is full and ready for departure, other than a couple who can't find the coach they'd got off on arrival!
No problem, delighted to sit there for an extra hour out of everybody else's lives..........

Absolutely we all have opinions....You think were mediocre I don't..... It's clear the club etc have improved from last year but still have a long way to go..... Nobody getting carried away and most  realise that it will be a rollercoaster ride......All in all I'm pleased in the direction we are going......