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Post by hawke on Sept 8, 2024 17:59:50 GMT
Yes an interesting conversation was had yesterday with a fellow supporter and Ilkley Tennis Club member who told me that as a young man he played tennis with the father of Jack Draper. That of course is Roger Draper, former CEO of the LTA, the RFL and Warrington Wolves. He grew up in Lancs.
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Post by davemorton on Sept 13, 2024 10:20:54 GMT
Derby Day round the national leagues tomorrow, some closer than others. In Nat 1, Sedgley travel round Manchester to Sale FC; almost door to door by tram, for me. The other two northern clubs are Darlington Mowden Park v Rotherham.
Lots of interest in Nat 2N, with the Hull and Sheffield clashes. Harrogate v Wharfedale and Otley v Leeds are the other all-Yorkshire games.
This is the final weekend with the National leagues in the (relative) spotlight, Prem and Championship starting next week.
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Post by newby on Sept 13, 2024 15:40:30 GMT
I expect to change focus from League to Union, though I am always optimistic, at the final whistle when Wigan play host to Leeds Rhino's at 8 pm tonight. Leeds have been pushed out of the top 6 after a fleeting visit, and they need to win tonight and hope for snookers elsewhere to stand a chance of taking part in the end of season Jamboree that leads to the grand final.
I can't find much love in my heart for Hull KR, but as the only Yorkshire team likely to be in the knock out stages, then rather them than anybody else.
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Post by hawke on Sept 14, 2024 20:23:04 GMT
Family etc delayed me today but I did manage the last half hour of Ilkley v Alnwick. A last minute penalty kick salvaged a draw for the visitors who, apparently, for long periods had dominated possession. Ilkley do defend well and have backs to counter. Around 200 again in attendance.
The league table looks odd with last year’s strugglers Scunthorpe top and Huddersfield, relegated down to this level, bottom. Perhaps Hudd players jumped ship…….to Scunny.?
Cricket was being played opposite at Ilkley CC in the Aire Wharfe League. Well it was more like cricket weather. Apparently their final match is next week. Wonder if it was moved from the start in April when it was so wet.
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Post by newby on Sept 14, 2024 22:38:57 GMT
Tight game at Cross Green where Leeds Tykes left it late to come from behind and beat Otley, 20-24 final score.
In Super league the Rhino's were made to look very poor and couldn't manage any score against a very intense Wigan side. Other results went Leeds's way but they need to beat Hull KR and hope for similar luck next week. Hull KR would need to rest half their first choice side for Leeds to get even close.
I wouldn't mind but that half mostly consists of players the Rhino's let go.
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Post by davemorton on Sept 14, 2024 23:10:54 GMT
Great atmosphere at Sale, where Sedgley hammered the home side everywhere except where it mattered - on the scoreboard!
We were under pressure in the first 10, had a kick charged down, and they scored. 5-0
We came back to score a converted try, then dropped the resulting kick off, and Sale scored again. 10-10 at half time.
We scored early in the second half, to make it 10-15. At this point it seemed a matter of how many we would win by, but we dropped the ball on our next attack and they scored. 17-15.
We attacked again, and this time they intercepted and scored; 24-15. We could still have won, but the handling errors continued and we had to settle for a penalty goal to earn a losing bonus point; 24-18. I still can't believe it. The mistakes were generally made by our best players, guys who go seasons without dropping the ball.
What a frustrating afternoon!
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Post by newby on Sept 22, 2024 7:45:01 GMT
In Rugby league the regular season is now over and the Rhino's and most other Yorkshire clubs were put out of their misery. Hull KR the shining light on this side of the Pennines finishing 2nd and getting a week off as they go straight into the semi-finals alongside league winners Wigan.
Salford play Leigh and Warrington play St Helens next week to see who joins them.
In Rugby Union wins for Doncaster in the Championship and newcomers Rotherham have started well in National 1. Fellow newcomers Dings Crusaders from Bristol did for Sedgley, I'll leave that story to DM.
In National 2 the winning start continues for Leeds Tykes, Wharfedale and Sheffield RUFC. Though it's been a tough start for Harrogate, Sheffield Tigers and Hull.
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Post by davemorton on Sept 22, 2024 9:24:24 GMT
Reality check for Sedgley as Dings - once from the wrong side of the Bristol tracks, the team from the slums - came to Park Lane and conquered, playing a wonderful brand of rugby. They will beat a lot of teams this season, but their next four are real toughies: Rams (H), Rotherham (A), Richmond (H), Rosslyn Park (A).
Sedgley will have that same sequence, at some later stage, but our next four are Leicester Lions (A), Bishops Stortford (H), Moseley (A), Plymouth Albion (H); hard enough, but do-able. [It looks silly without the hyphen.] We could just have beaten Dings with our second-half fightback, and we scored a try to earn a bonus point, 17-11 with 2 minutes left...only to throw it away by getting penalised, probably unjustly, but we should have kicked it off the park to end the game, rather than go for the miracle 80-metre try to win it.
I am going to miss part of the One Day final today and do a photo-shoot of a zillion kids at Park Lane, from U8 to U18.
Sale FC came unstuck 33-0 at Rams yesterday, not helped by their coach catching fire on the M6. Ha ha. Call that an excuse?
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Post by davemorton on Sept 22, 2024 9:44:04 GMT
Rugby is going the same way as County Cricket, in that games are increasingly appearing on YouTube. Sedge Media started last season, and now has 90 subscribers. I have not yet watched yesterday's coverage, but the camera work is usually okay, and the commentary exceptional. Whole game here. Scroll forward 10 minutes... www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS_SMYtwbYs
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Post by hawke on Sept 22, 2024 10:21:25 GMT
Yes Yorkshire’s RL hopes centre on the Red Red Robins. Hmm mixed feelings for Black and White fans. Very. Yorkshire RL seems to have a ‘strength’ in depth if you look at the Championship and National Conference Premier leagues where seven of the top ten in both are White Rose. But we can’t compete properly at the top. We even have Sam Burgess doing a good job for Warrington Wirepullers. I also note that Leeds RL have lost their best forward to……Hull KR.
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Post by hawke on Sept 22, 2024 10:25:26 GMT
Ilkley’s league is very topsy turvy. I think the adage ‘anyone can beat each other’ is a fair description. Ilkley lost up at Percy Park yesterday. Impressed with Rotherham’s start. We could do with another side in the Championship though I do hope one day it can include Leeds Tykes again.
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Post by davemorton on Sept 22, 2024 13:02:24 GMT
It's all in flux at level 2. The RFU want a fully professional league, a Prem II. They have made ridiculous conditions for entry to it, such as at least planning permission for a 10,000 capacity stadium, the requirement that brought down Jersey Reds. Ring-fencing by stealth.
The RFU accuse the Championship clubs of 'lack of ambition' for not having this, and other requirements, in place already. The solution will be to create new clubs - franchises effectively - beginning with resurrected Wasps, in Kent.
It stinks. Meanwhile, the semi-pro National Leagues are thriving., producing thrilling rugby for their members and fans, and also supporting the community game for kids and non-elite adults. Elite kids are hoovered up by the public schools, by the way. I watched Whitgift v Wellington the other day (YouTube channel Next Gen XV), and the standard was similar to National League, minus a bit of the physicality, of course.
I watched Sedge U13s this morning and came away feeling uplifted, even though they lost. Kids having fun, knocking lumps out of one another, whilst trying also to play to the patterns their coaches are teaching. There was a lovely supportive culture from the touchline parents, too. These things do not happen by accident.
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Post by davemorton on Sept 27, 2024 17:59:07 GMT
Lots of rugby this weekend, beginning with a West Country derby Friday evening: Bristol v Gloucester. With 4 teams from that area, there are 6 derbies. I will probably watch this rather than the ODI from Lord's.
Lots of choices Saturday. My plan is to go to Headingley, one last time, but if I don't do that there are two Sedgley teams at home (2nd and 3rd XVs) and also Sale FC v Rotherham a tempting tram ride away. Sedge 1st are at Leicester Lions.
Then it's wall-to-wall matches at Sedge Sunday, morning and afternoon, tiny tots to Senior Colts.
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Post by newby on Sept 27, 2024 19:59:59 GMT
In the other code it's nice and relaxing watching Leigh and Salford knock lumps out of each other in their quest to reach the play off semi-finals. I really have no preference who goes through, and it will be the same tomorrow when Warrington take on St Helens for the other place.
In RU league 2 North Otley take on Wharfedale tomorrow, or is it the other way round, and Leeds Tykes have another home tie, this time against Hull Ionians.
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Post by hawke on Sept 29, 2024 11:39:18 GMT
Family obligations prevented me from attending live sport yesterday, though dining in the sun on Bishopthorpe Rd York was splendid. Ilkley lost at home to Sandal and I see their outstanding attacking full back was missing again. Looking down and not up in a topsy turvey division.
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