Batley turned over Haven at the rec tonight , the Championship , the most competitive division in RL

Shhhhhhhhhhhh


You can't go around saying that. Bet Red Hall have already despatched their secret agents to seize you if they've just read that. They'll come swinging through your bedroom window dressed in black balaclavas in, lets say, ten minutes or so. Deny everything, even if they stick smouldering matchsticks under your fingernails.

Got to say though, well done Batley.

People used to say things to provoke us like "enjoy Batley" as if to say, enjoy life at smaller clubs in the second tier because you wont be going to Bradford and Leeds et al.

Today I think, sure, I will. These clubs are great. As much as I want to be a part of the elite, I don't ever want to become "elitist". Life down here needs to never be ignored again. This league is treated shabbily but the clubs down here make a bloody good go of it all the same.

Up the Bulldogs, Batley are always a tough nut to crack at home and seem to be hitting a decent patch away from home.

Haven are with out Leroy (broken ankle) Cougers beat them last we also I think they might struggle a bit this season although getting a win at the Rec is no easy task

I said before the season kicked off that haven wouldnt be up to much this year. Mcnally was worth 20 a season alone and setup more than his fair share, i realise he went off the boil a little towards the end but he will be a massive loss.

Only because the crowd tend to give the decisions up there.

Agreed our league is very competitive, the salary cap being so low means its a fairly level playing field ( except Batleys which slopes quite a bit ).
Or teams with an unbelievably large squad with a number of high profile players somehow manage to get around this ( brown envelopes and a control freak chairman ).

Mention no names please.

"Agreed our league is very competitive, the salary cap being so low means its a fairly level playing field ( except Batleys which slopes quite a bit ).
Or teams with an unbelievably large squad with a number of high profile players somehow manage to get around this ( brown envelopes and a control freak chairman )"





Squad of 24 (smaller that Widnes' squad I believe).

I agree that it will be another very competitive season. There was virtually nothing between the top 6 last year and with a change in luck either way the season could have finished very differently for most of those 6.

I reckon Batley are have replaced Haven in the top 6 for this year, but think Leigh will struggle again to take points of yourselves, Fax, Fev, Sheff, Batley and Barrow.

Good luck for Sunday, but I hope you don't get too many opportunities to wave those brown envelopes.

Let me know what you have on the coupon each week please.