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Post by newby on Mar 17, 2024 11:55:27 GMT
78-17 win for Leeds Tykes against Lymm yesterday in another one-sided game. Le Crunch next week when the top two meet down in Rotherham.
The only good news for Hull FC is that London Broncos and Castleford are probably even worse than they are.
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Post by newby on Mar 20, 2024 21:53:42 GMT
RL Challenge Cup 6th round this coming weekend.
Friday: Hull KR v Salford, Leeds v St Helens, Wigan v Sheffield Eagles. Saturday: Huddersfield v Hull FC, Leigh v Featherstone Rovers, Batley Bulldogs v Castleford, Warrington v London Sunday: Halifax Panthers v Catalans.
BBC I had read were signed up to show 3 of the 6th round matches, however that seems to have been reduced to the Leeds v St Helens game only on Iplayer and the Website.
Leigh v Featherstone Rovers on the Sportsman YouTube channel.
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Post by davemorton on Mar 20, 2024 23:40:37 GMT
Meanwhile, I am jeopardising my amateur status by accepting £50 to photograph Sedgley v Cinderford, for The Rugby Paper. I'm not sure whether to choose the city landscape of New York, or the warm waters of the Maldives.
Saturday also sees the crunch promotion game between Rotherham and Leeds. One of them will be playing Sedge next season. If Rotherham win, every game thereafter - 3 remaining - will be a battle for bonus points; if it's Leeds, then game over.
In Sedgley's league, Taunton look doomed, but Cinderford will be desperate for the points to leapfrog Bishop's Stortford, which will make them dangerous opponents for SP, the hammering we gave them earlier this year notwithstanding. Two relegated only, because of Jersey's demise.
In Nat. Two North, Huddersfield have had their chips already. Billingham and Ionians will be seeking not to join them. I assume, but don't actually know, that it's two down at that level, also.
Looking to replace Huddersfield are Heath and Harrogate, with the latter 2 points behind with a game in hand. In the equivalent North West league, Macclesfield are three points clear of Rossendale, with just two games remaining, including this Saturday.
I love this time of year, when the ambition (and a little fear) of promotion meets the jeopardy of relegation and doom. Anything can happen.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Mar 21, 2024 8:02:25 GMT
I share the same excitement Dave, but for hockey rather than rugby. Last weekend of the league season in the Yorkshire and North East coming up this weekend. Promotion and relegation spots up for grabs in most leagues (mens and womens of course).
My own club have already seen one team win their league and another gain promotion as runners up last week so hopefully some celebrations in the clubhouse post games.
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Post by newby on Mar 21, 2024 12:52:34 GMT
It's been a strange season for Rotherham and Leeds Tykes with so many games without being really stretched.
A bit of a late improvement from Sheffield and Wharfedale to test them recently, but otherwise turn up and get the points, often with embarrassingly one-sided score lines.
I presume the top team goes up from each of the North, East and West groups so one of them is going to be disappointed, no offence Rotherham but I know who I hope it is.
It's certainly the squeaky bum time of the season for a lot of teams across a lot of sports.
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Post by davemorton on Mar 21, 2024 13:22:22 GMT
Yes, it's definitely just 'one up', where three leagues feed into one, as in this case. It should, therefore be 'three down' but Jersey's demise at the still level higher, has meant only two, this season. Otherwise Sedge would now be getting nervous.
One would have expected that Fylde, Hull RUFC and Hull Ionians would all have been pushing for the title, which was very much a 'four-horse race' when Sedge won it in 2022/23, but they have all fallen away quite drastically this year.
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Post by davemorton on Mar 22, 2024 11:30:27 GMT
The end of the Six Nations signals the continuation of the Premiership, with Leicester v Gloucester on TNT tonight, and Saracens v Quins tomorrow, which game is being played at Tottenham Hotspurs, the best football stadium in England? Presumably Sarries have sold many tens of thousands of cheap tickets, and marketed the game brilliantly.
Come on you Quins!
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Post by newby on Mar 23, 2024 8:49:29 GMT
Disappointing and fleeting visit to the RL Challenge Cup for Leeds Rhinos last night. I was hoping for better but St Helens were superior in all departments unfortunately. Frustrating, I think Leeds have the players, they just can't play together yet.
No such problems for Hull KR who managed a big win against Salford, the Robins look to be the flag bearers for Yorkshire this season.
Sheffield Eagles went in at half time on level terms with Mighty Wigan 12-12. They naturally fell away in the second half and lost 44-18.
Huddersfield and Castleford I expect will go through to join Hull KR in the quarter-finals from todays games.
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Post by davemorton on Mar 23, 2024 9:00:14 GMT
Cracking game at Welford Road last night, as Gloucester built up a lead - led by brilliant Zach Mercer - but Leicester bashed away with three tries all from the line-out / maul routine. Okay, if it works... In the end, the good guys won with a brilliant late try. Great game, and their first win away at Leicester for 16 years, I think the man said.
In the other match, Bristol stuck 50 points on league leaders Northampton. Brilliant end of season anticipated.
Meanwhile, there is wind, cold and hail ahead of this afternoon's clash at Park lane. Spring is decidedly unsprung. Presumably, it will be similar for the big game in Rotherham.
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Post by newby on Mar 23, 2024 15:59:40 GMT
Sounded like a cracker of a game at Clifton Lane, possibly spoilt a bit by the very strong wind.
Leeds Tykes tasted defeat for the first time this season but came back in the final quarter to end within 7 points of Rotherham and also score a 4th Bonus point try. Final score 32-26 to Rotherham.
The all important Try Bonus point and Losing Bonus point keep us 2 points clear in the table.
3 games to go and all the opposition in the top 6 so it's not done and dusted yet.
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Post by davemorton on Mar 23, 2024 21:53:08 GMT
Very similar to last season, when it was Sedgley and Fylde who led the way, and Sedge (having won the home game) found a draw at Fylde was enough.
Today Sedge won their first game in 2024, 30-25 against Cinderford, who drop into the relegation zone. There was nothing to chose between the teams. Not a great game, to be honest, apart from the closeness. Awful weather, freezing wind, and a horizontal rain downpour. Perhaps it should be called an acrosspour.
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Post by hawke on Mar 25, 2024 17:10:42 GMT
I can't recall a worse start for the season for Hull FC though when I first started watching them in the sixties they were falling from being a leading side winning championships in the fifties to one of the weaker sides in the NRL and I think a Boxing Day match against Doncaster attracted barely over a thousand. Thankfully they did revive and become a major force in the game again. Three 'recent' Challenge Cup wins have been highlights, including two at Wembley where the had never previously before won!
Ilkley RU are ending the season in a slump though some of their opponents are amongst the leading ones. I was looking up the definition of a Community Amateur Sports Club, which Ilkley are, and you can pay coaches and groundspeople whilst an alteration is that you can now pay up to £10,000 in total to the playing members which might work out at about £25 a match. I assume Heath of Halifax are a CASC so all credit for them pushing Harrogate, who I assume are not, all the way in the promotion race.
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Post by newby on Mar 25, 2024 17:17:18 GMT
I expect a parting of the way for Hull FC and Head Coach Tony Smith, perhaps as early as this week. They were very lucky to get the win against London Broncos a few weeks ago or the position would have been worse.
They have a competitive squad I would say but they are obviously not listening to the Coach any longer.
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Post by newby on Mar 25, 2024 21:27:33 GMT
Rugby League again. Challenge Cup Quarter-final draw this evening.
St Helens v Warrington Hull KR v Leigh Catalans v Huddersfield Castleford v Wigan
I fancy Hull KR to go through, perhaps an outside chance for Huddersfield.
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Post by newby on Mar 28, 2024 19:09:56 GMT
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos tonight. Castleford yet to notch a point this season coming into the 6th game, though they are still in the Challenge Cup. Hoping the two losses to St Helens hasn't blunted our confidence.
Hull derby tomorrow at midday at Craven Park, I fear for Hull FC. Huddersfield play on Sunday down in London.
Looks like a blank weekend for Recreational Rugby Union.
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