Toulouse didn't have "five or six" missing, they had nine (9), which included all but one of their imports, which included their full back, both their halves, and their French captain. Toulouse were much more disadvantaged than Batley. But as I pointed out, they chose to do this to preserve their most precious resources for achieving a top four position in the Championship, while simultaneously enabling their reserve players an opportunity to play. So under the circumstances, losing by six tries to three was not a bad outcome for Toulouse.

Yep, 150 ish is about right - many reasons but mainly due to the lack of interest shown in the CC by Houles. Nobody is going to be motivated to watch the reserves playing in a meaningless match when a beating is inevitable. The kids did well against a tidy Batley side who oozed experience and know-how.
Almost a full squad for the Fev game with only Con Mike still unavailable I believe.

Not bad outcome?

. Batley had players missing plus the gruelling long trip to France and thrashed Toulouse on the back of already having had 40 put on them earlier in the season. Many Batley players probably didn't sleep Friday night due to work and travel. In essence, Batley's second string beat Toulouse with their eyes closed. Meanwhile in the championship, Sheffield have recorded just 1 victory this season and have looked dreadful, yet convincingly saw off Toulouse.

With that little interest you have to wonder why they bothered entering , dragging Batley over at all , they were certainly interested last season

It was a chance for the reserves + youths to get a game against good opposition and make a claim for a first team place. Job done.

It's sad that some teams are not taking the challenge cup seriously, but with the all or nothing nature of the super 8's at the end of the season, it's understandable.

It'll be interesting to see how that manifests itself in the next round , if some bigger clubs do the same , quite possibly to the detriment of the competition , and the response to that

I would assume that we (hkr) are looking at the CC as a way of seeing were we really are in terms of SL aspirations. So far the championship is not really preparing us for any kind of quality challenge.

Ideally we get through to a point were we can draw a widnes / Hudds and use that as a marker game to see how our team stands up.

Will we win the cup, no way but the income and interest will be nice while it lasts.

Just a note: Probably get turned over by Sheffield now I've said that this in which case we are concentrating on the league

IF Toulouse are saving themselves for the League, then fair enough.
However, playing in the cup, against better opposition, would surely have helped them prepare for the middle 8's (assuming that they get there).
Also, unless they are planning to have a mid season recruitment drive, this season will be too early for them to have a proper dig at promotion, so they may as well have gone all out to progress in the cup.
You have to say, well done Batley as this was a tough trip for them.

Oh dear not a good attendance,time to tipex toulouse off the rl map and stick a pin in somewhere else

Good idea but would you allow them to carry on playing in the Elite ?

Only if they relocate to paris

My mistake earlier to say that Toulouse had nine players missing. In fact Toulouse had ten (10) players missing when you add the injured Constantine Mika. So Batley with four or five players missing (allegedly) --- not a second string Batley team by any means -- beat a mostly reserve Toulouse team. Some achievement!



Remind me now where Toulouse sit on the Championship table, and where Batley sit.

2,300 at their last league game, how many other Championship clubs draw that many for a game vs Swinton

150 for this game how many other clubs were that poor

Who cares, it was a 4th round Challenge Cup game. No one takes any notice of the cup until the final.

See how their crowds go over their next few home games. If they're way above this 150 I'll just assume their fans can't be arst watching a virtual reserve team compete in a competition that means zilch to them. However, if they hover around that level I'll just assume they probably don't have enough support to be sustainable at a higher level.

I care but then im a proper rl fan not one who only cares about little pet projects

Just about all the regulars I know were at the Carnival which is much more fun than watching the reserves getting battered. Wish i'd joined them !

A 'pet project' that has been in existence for 80 years?

IT WAS NOT TOULOUSE RESERVES !!! You silly man....



yes both sides were 'weakened' Toulouse started with only 5 of the players from last week's game, whilst Batley had 9.

No problem san your not on your own when making excuses when gates are crap

Leigh fans are so weird

Nobody at Toulouse was taking the CC seriously. Plus it was held at Stade des Minimes now under renovation. Next Championship home game will resume normal good crowds.

What rubbish. You are making that up as usual for you.