So the competitive stuff starts this week.

Quite like the changes to the 1895 Cup. It's a stand alone comp rather than the ridiculous situation of it being merged with the challenge cup. Also with it being at the start of the season there's more reason to do well in it. When it's in the middle of the season it's almost a positive to be knocked out to have a rest. But with still 6 weeks until the champ season kicks-off, we don't want to be knocked out.

Dewsbury had a shocker against Keighley and are effectively now out. So expecting a straight forward victory. We've looked good in pre-aeason, fit and mainly dominated everyone in terms of field position, although obviously take it with a pinch of salt as some of the opposition were very young.

Agree with all that. Was surprised that Dewsbury were well beaten by Keighley. Assuming all goes according to plan the away game at Keighley will be interesting, hopefully a mile better than our last visit.

For Dewsbury I think the side picks itself in most areas. Jowitt and Myers got knocks last week so we may see them miss out. The makeup of our bench when everyone is fit intrigues me. Doro and Scurr are certainties but what about the other two spots? Are we intending Flanagan to have a place so that Souter gets a breather? Do we use Appo as an impact player and play Hallas from the start? Can Okoro play back row or loose forward?

So are the cup holders already out of this? I haven't really followed how the new format works tbh.

[i"In 2024 the 13 England-based Championship clubs will join eight League One clubs (Cornwall having graciously opted not to take part) in seven groups of three. Groups will be seeded and regionalised, with League One clubs awarded home advantage in any fixtures against Championship opposition. The top team in each group will qualify for Quarter Finals, joined by the best-performing second-placed team – the latter to be determined by competition points initially and then, if necessary, by points difference."[/i

Fun Fact: Sunday's game is Paul Sykes' 18000th competitive game.

I always rated his versatility and footballing brain. To still be turning out at 73 is remarkable.

All after spending years in prison, swimming the straights of Johor and punching sharks.

Thanks

Keith x

Overall good win in poor weather conditions. Thought first half we looked focused and disciplined (despite the knock ons from the kick offs). Second half we were poor and allowed ourselves to get drawn into a scrappy arm wrestle.

Downside was the injuries to Blackmore and Scurr which hopefully aren't too bad.

One thing that really wound me up today was some of our own fans. Really don't get paying £20 to just shout abuse at referee. I mean occasionally you might moan at a decision but this was constant. Two women in front of me were like wailing banshees... everything was a bad call and Bulls couldn't do no wrong.

We are all a little bias but some of our own really need to learn the rules rather than getting on the cider.

Hopefully another win next week. Perform like the first half and we are looking forward to a QF place.

just from listening

too many errors, first half when we scored we couldnt deal with the restart and gave up possession with unenforced errors. thankfully our D held.
second half just became a penalty error-athon.

injuries to blackmore and scurr major concerns

To be fair, the Rams used the wind to their advantage really well be just sticking it up high and letting mother nature do its thing. Every kick in that first half was a 50:50 ad it was still moving massively on its way down.

It's the other errors I'd be more concerned about.

Does anyone know if we lost 2 players to HIAs?.
Peposhi came in as 18th man
New rules state 18th man can come on if 2 players have serious injuries from foul play resulting in a sin bin or red or 2 HIAs.
Are we in trouble for a rule breach?

18th man can enter the field of play if 2 players have failed an HIA ( previously 3) or
If a player is unable to continue through injury resulting from foul play when the opposing player is sin binned or red carded.

Sounding like a costly game with the injuries to Scurr, Doro and Blackmore. The Blackmore injury was exceptionally poor play from the Dewsbury player coming in late and attacking the legs. I hope the disciplinary board take a closer look at that challenge. Hopefully the injuries are not long term as we are now starting to look light in certain positions.

Overall I thought we were ruthless and clinical in the first half and scored some great tries. Souter, Lilley, Scurr and Doro were stands out during the first half of play. Dewsbury only got out of their own half when we dropped the ball from the kick offs, which caused some serious disruption. The second half was a bog standard early season game. Lacking in quality from both sides but fortunately we'd attained enough points to always be in the driving seat and not have to worry about the scoreline.

We march on to the next stage against our rivals down at Cougar Park. Let's hope we actually get off the team bus this time around.

I found that a difficult game to call in the second. The amount of penalties and errors made it too stop-start.

I need to see the Scurr incident again before fully commenting but when I spoke to Eamon O’Carroll after the game he defended George Flanagan by saying that when he sees foul play taking place and it's missed by the officials it's human nature to defend one of your own.

I thought the main takeaway from the game was the defence and energy levels, especially after a week in which the entire side has been affected by an illness sweeping through the camp at Tong.

Yep attacking the knees isn’t policed properly.

I'd like to see both incidents again on video. At the time they both looked quite ugly. Dewsbury got a player in the bin for the first but not the second and Flanagan got a yellow card for starting a dust up after it.

Really hope the injuries aren't too bad as we really rely on both players. Was disappointed with the referee who seemed to struggle to keep the teams back 10m or get a tidy PTB.

Performance wise we looked good with the wind at our backs. Less so playing into it. Thought Doro and Souter stood out. Going into the game with only 3 props and then losing Scurr and Blackmore meant we needed Taufua to stand up and he did, probably with his best game for us.

McGowan looked assured at the back with a couple of try savers and a decent try of his own. He's not Tom Holmes but looks defensively strong.

I was less impressed with Flanagan who looks past it to me. The drop in quality when Souter went off was marked.

I notice Peposhi came on as 18th man once Scurr got injured. Was this the first time we've had that happen?

It's the first time I can remember it happening. Is it not a new rule for this season?

Thought we had concussion 18th man substitutes last year? I could be wrong.

Changed it for this year.
Last year was 3x Concussions, 18th man could be activated.
This year is 2x Concussions OR 1 injury (head or otherwise) which ends the game for the player and has come about through foul play, serious enough to warrant a yellow or red card.

Just watching the highlights and McGowans try from the scrum, I couldn't help notice the quality of Souters pass from the base of the scrum, fast, accurate and in front of Gaskell and it starts the whole move off. Such a change from seasons gone where we've had slow passes from dummy half, behind the player, which just slows the entire attack down.

Think Souter may end up as an 80 minute hooker as the season progresses and maybe only interchange with Flanagan against "lesser teams"

We do look vulnerable in depth for the spine though. Any of Souter, Gaskell or Lilley get a knock and the drop in quality is significant.

Souter is a class above that's for sure. His reading of the game for his try off Gaskell was great too. An old head on young shoulders.

Interesting to watch the full game back and in particular look at the two incidents which ended up in injuries to Blackmore and Scurr.

Have to say, for me I think the referee got both calls spot on. First was a low shot to legs but wasn't a cannonball tackle by any stretch and I think a yellow sufficed.

The Scurr one was just a case of his leg getting caught underneath him. Really can't see what the defenders could have done differently in that situation.