As frank said, gave away FAR too many penalties, and gamebreaker was Thornley dropping ball over the line when he seemed certain to score!

Well it had to come, but I'm still impressed with the bonus point and very encouraged by the comments from Leythers who were there and from E.S.O.
A long drive to Sheff, on a Friday night, after a 5 day rest, after 4 games in 12 days, I'm amazed our lads are still standing, never mind pushing Sheffield so hard tonight.
I am confident that we will come back harder than ever in our next game.
I believe in Leigh

To be fair to Sheffield, it was their fourth game in 12 days too. In addition to Parker, Hopkins & Bate, we were missing Finnigan.

For my money, Sheffield rightly edged it yet, as always there were a couple of crucial incidents. The Thornley dropped ball, under the posts was one, but there were two involving Brierley. There was the disallowed 'try' at 14-8, which turned into a penalty for dissent by one of the team, and Yere's second try. I'd like to see that on the DVD, although my first impression was that it was forward, but the players seemed incensed. Then there was the one where Brierley twice kicked on and was clearly impeded as he went to touch down. The ref thought so too and gave us a penalty but, for my money I thought he would have scored, had he not been taken off the ball, over the try line.

Still, a bonus point is a good result there - they haven't lost a league game at home since May 2012!

Great post about Duffy- lots of potential on offence but until he can guarantee getting back in the defensive line then he should not be in the 17.

If he wants it bad enough he will get in shape

Best team won no doubt. We blew what chances we did make, when are we going to respect the ball, too many errors and pens. I didnt think it was a great game, 2 obviously tired teams. Not end of world, we will finish 4th which is no difference to 3rd as it means any away trip to either sheff or fev. Must improve for play offs, and i think we will, cut out the errors, take our chances, get injured players back, and you never know.

Re that Brierley incident I said to the person next to me that it should have been a penalty try ah well not to be.

Charlie keeps hearing about what a good player Duffy will be WHEN he gets fit

How long will that be ?Hes a Semi -Professional sportsman , and looks like hes just climbed out of the crowd ,he has had all season to get fit , and hes struggling to get back into the Defensive line .

Last night the Seagulls weren't that good , Leigh were just worse , we must have the slowest 2-5 in the League , and they wont get any faster next season , we have a Decent Full-back , the BEST 2 halves in the League , and some decent forwards when fit , the Seagulls are not that good , to take 2 penalties against us shows they were not that confident , but I couldn't see us scoring twice last night , agreed Pownall should have scored in the corner , and Thornley was unlucky to drop the ball , its not the End of the World though , we WILL be going to Fev or back to the Don in the play-offs , hopefully we will learn from Tonight .

We missed Rob Parker , I don't know when he will be back , we need Finnegan to return along with Hoppy ,and what about Higson ?Is he injured again ?Or was he rested of dropped ?Our last 3 League Games should be used to find out what our best 17 are , hopefully no injuries , are we capable of winning the GF , a simple answer is YES .Charlie knows .

Pownall's not slow! Showed a right turn of pace for Brierley's try.

I'd like to see that one on the DVD too. Also the 'free play' when they knocked on in our '20' and McNally hoofed it down the pitch. Was it a 40/20; did their guy step in touch with the ball. If either of those is correct, wouldn't it have been to our advantage to have been allowed to play on, and get the scrum/feed in their '20', rather than be brought back and have it in ours? Or is that not how it works? One of these days, someone is going to score from a 'free play'!!

Just highlighting a couple of crucial incidents, that may/may not have turned the game.

However, I'm sure Eagles' fans could also point to crucial events that went against them. And, whilst Thornley's knock on over the line was disastrous, they also had a try chalked off for a knock on over our line.

I agree with charlie. Our back line is painfully slow, and they aint getting faster next year for sure. Higson well what can you say, played 2 games back to back, then seemingly injured, good when fit, but that happens to infrequently for me. Harsh but if not on contract we have to off liad him imo. Duffy well seems to of gone backwards, again if rowley cant get him fitter he too will have to go.

The ball bounced on the touch line inside Sheffield's 20 but finnegan picked the ball up just inside the field of play surely that's a legitimate 40/20 with the advantage rule?

If the ball bounced on the touch line then it is in touch. If it didn't bounce inside the line first then it is ball back and scrum/handover where the ball was kicked from or, in the case of a free play, scrum/handover at point of original infringement.

What is the point of the advantage it's pointless & slows the game down. Is Higson injured or are people putting 2 & 2 together & getting 3? Regarding the lack of pace from 2-5 Pownall's quick, so is AJ & Gardner's no slouch either but admittedly Maden & Littler are possibly some of if not the slowest right wing in this division.

Charlie said our back line 2-5 probably the slowest in the League , put them in relay race and they would be near the back ,I realise Pownall is the fastest ,but the other 3 are not , and next year they wont be any quicker , just a year older .

As for Higson , the guy didn't play last night , was he injured ?If he was no problem , but if not why was he not playing , after a MOM game against Fax , in Brierley we have a bloke who always looks dangerous , and Riddy is the Maestro , but even Mantovani ,Burt Bacharach , and Henry Mancini , needed talented musicians playing for them to make them sound good .

Again last night Tom Spencer stood out as our best Forward the man is iconic , with good support from Tommy G , I thought Penky and Bob B both did OK , but Briscoe would never worry John Pendlebury , Alan Platt ,or even the Ageing Harry Pinner at 13 .

The seagulls have a speedy back line , our first choice forwards are better than theirs though , as are our Halves , we CAN beat them in the play-offs , hopefully with a fully fit 17 .

The ball definitely ended up in touch - either bouncing in from McNally's kick, or carried in by Finigan. The ref asked the tj what happened and then stated no advantage to Leigh - therefore scrum back. I can only assume that the tj said it bounced in and wasn't a 40/20 - therefore Sheffield would have had the feed and no advantage to Leigh. However, from the half way line, it appeared to me that the ball went into touch inside the Eagles' 20.

Of course, my Specsavers specs could be deceiving me!!

I agree with most of what you say Charlie but I would disagree with the above. If Higson is injured again [iand I say if[/i then that is a big problem for me.

He was dogged by injury during his first spell with us, He then had an injury hit season with Swinton, We re-signed him injured, he has been missing all year for us whilst injured, come back for just 2 games and now possibly injured again?

We can not persevere with players constantly sat in the stands no matter how talented they are and as WOLRAB says , you would have to release him.

I totally agree with you Charlie though on Briscoe. I know he is highly rated by the coaching staff and defensively he is sound but for me there are far far better players around at this level, IMO of course.

Harold im not knocking Higson , im just asking is he injured ?If not then why was not playing after the display against Fax .

Itcouldnt have been anything serious has he was down to play orginally I heard.

With Maden's suspension completed & Littler not featuring in the 2nd row this season it could just be down to Rowleys last minute decision to select that team. Or maybe PR didn't want to risk injury to AJ due to him only coming back in contention recently & playing the matches he has done in a short space of time.

Charlie has removed Fridays game from his system , we earned a Bonus Point , so it wasn't the end of the World , and wont make much difference in the Final League placings , I have plenty faith in PR and his coaching team , lets get Aspers back fit , hopefully Higson fit , chuck Pitman , Bate , and Bullock into the equation , hopefully get Parker back , and I feel we would have a squad ready to get to the GF and win it .Charlie Knows .

Whilst I think Pitman is a decent winger would you drop Maden or Pownall Charlie ?

You keep banging on about lack of pace in our backs.

Would you go for McNally Pitman Higson Gardner Pownall Riddy and Kez ?

Pack' if all fit I would go Parker Beswick Ostick Aspinwall Goulden Hopkins subs Penky Bate Spencer and Thornley.

Good job PR picks our team eh ?

That's not a bad Team Frank

I would give it a go anyway , see how it would run , as you say though , they are not all fit

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Sorry but Finnegan has earned his spot in the starting 13 for me personally

LG no need to apologise , you are quite right ,Charlie would also have Finnegan in his starting 13 , what does the Salfordlad know ?

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Young (he is only 20) Briscoe must be doing something right the game at Sheffield was his 50th, people don't appreciated his tackling and his leg drives I bet he is the longest yard makers whilst in the tackle in the club.