Plusses and minuses for both teams as I saw it:
Fev plusses: Scrambling defence and team spirit excellent. Looked by far the more slicker and more dangerous side when we moved the ball wide. Had far fewer attacking opportunities yet scored four tries & had two more under the posts disallowed - Moore's offside one was the correct decision but Bostock clearly looked to have grounded the ball over the line (witness the Fev players close to him who immediately celebrated simultaneously) but Stokes seemed to be unsighted. Sykes looked more comfortable at centre and could have had a huge game if he'd been given the ball on a couple of occasions when seeming to be in a gap. Away support in good voice once again given we'd shipped 40 at home the week before.
Fev minusses:
Still too many penalties conceded and dropped balls in our own territory (two from kick offs!) gifting Fax good attacking positions. First time in a while against Fax that we haven't dominated the collisions (though Wood made consistent yards after contact). Kicking game up and down. Allowed too many offloads. Can understand the decision to play Sharp at FB again, but Hitchcox looks a bit wasted on the wing given how threatening he's looked in previous games.
Fax positives:
Forwards more than held their own, especially in defence where line speed looks improved from previous years, and the offload game (especially in the first half) was by far their most productive attacking tactic. Fairbank is a very good player at this level and Callahane adds some grunt to the pack and looks a decent signing. Saltonstall looks lively and should cause defences problems if he can get some service (though his attempts to buy penalties when playing the ball will soon get sussed out and after giving him two penalties Stokes wasn't falling for the really obvious milking attempt for the third one). Maneely looks an upgrade at hooker.
Fax negatives:
Two tries a very poor return for so many opportunities in the opposition 20, especially as one of them was a gift from a poor kick. Looked more likely to lose ground than gain it when trying any sort of passing movement, everything very pedestrian. Still seems to be the same grind-them-down game plan as in previous seasons, will be productive against lesser teams in the League but more needed against the better defenses (and Bradford had opened Fev up at will the week before). Late hits proved expensive in 2nd half (thought Murrell unlucky to be sin binned but there were two or three other late pushes on Irwin, Moore & Godinet and the apparent attempt to harrass our pivots backfied in terms of penalties, though it did get Moore off the field).
