: Mon May 04, 2009 6:04 pm  

maurice wrote:

Rudd injured?

Didn't see him get injured.

He came on off the bench and played second row for about 40/50 minutes today.

: Mon May 04, 2009 6:18 pm  

You won away from home, that's a mean task these days.

: Mon May 04, 2009 6:35 pm  

Started great, Durbin and Watson looked like a good pairing. Threw the ball from wing to wing and looked entertaining. And then........it got a bit scrappy after half an hour when the bits of fisticuffs started and went wobbly therein.

Second half, up hill and against a strong wind and we hardly had the ball for 20 mins. When we did we couldnt get out of our half with one man rugby and the wind stopping any kind of kicking game getting us out of trouble.

Never looked like losing until Morty (who had a good game particularly in the first half) spilled a long kick which bounced and bobbled all over and he ended up knocking on 10 yards out. Batley scored in the next 6 and it gave them the lift they needed.

Armisteads try was knocked off for fielding Watsons kick through in an offiside position. Given Watson had actually run past Armistead, it seemed strange to say the least. The ref hammered us with the penalty count and I thought our discipline wasn't too bad in all honesty.

The forwards played fairly well, whilst backs looked very sharp in the first 20 lacked any creativity in the second half. Donlan must be carrying a knock because yet again his input was average.

Not great, cold and windy, but a win.

: Mon May 04, 2009 6:37 pm  

Alexs Dad wrote:

Started great, Durbin and Watson looked like a good pairing. Threw the ball from wing to wing and looked entertaining. And then........it got a bit scrappy after half an hour when the bits of fisticuffs started and went wobbly therein.

Second half, up hill and against a strong wind and we hardly had the ball for 20 mins. When we did we couldnt get out of our half with one man rugby and the wind stopping any kind of kicking game getting us out of trouble.

Never looked like losing until Morty (who had a good game particularly in the first half) spilled a long kick which bounced and bobbled all over and he ended up knocking on 10 yards out. Batley scored in the next 6 and it gave them the lift they needed.

Armisteads try was knocked off for fielding Watsons kick through in an offiside position. Given Watson had actually run past Armistead, it seemed strange to say the least. The ref hammered us with the penalty count and I thought our discipline wasn't too bad in all honesty.

The forwards played fairly well, whilst backs looked very sharp in the first 20 lacked any creativity in the second half. Donlan must be carrying a knock because yet again his input was average.

Not great, cold and windy, but a win.

And we are 5th in the table!

: Mon May 04, 2009 6:48 pm  

Alexs Dad wrote:

Started great, Durbin and Watson looked like a good pairing. Threw the ball from wing to wing and looked entertaining. And then........it got a bit scrappy after half an hour when the bits of fisticuffs started and went wobbly therein.

Second half, up hill and against a strong wind and we hardly had the ball for 20 mins. When we did we couldnt get out of our half with one man rugby and the wind stopping any kind of kicking game getting us out of trouble.

Never looked like losing until Morty (who had a good game particularly in the first half) spilled a long kick which bounced and bobbled all over and he ended up knocking on 10 yards out. Batley scored in the next 6 and it gave them the lift they needed.

Armisteads try was knocked off for fielding Watsons kick through in an offiside position. Given Watson had actually run past Armistead, it seemed strange to say the least. The ref hammered us with the penalty count and I thought our discipline wasn't too bad in all honesty.

The forwards played fairly well, whilst backs looked very sharp in the first 20 lacked any creativity in the second half. Donlan must be carrying a knock because yet again his input was average.

Not great, cold and windy, but a win.

Good assessment.

We started like a house on fire and it was looking positive for us, Watson and Durbin were running the show and then we got caught up in the forwards battle and never really played 'good stuff' again. Our 3rd try was the first I've seen in a while were we swung it from one side to the other and score. It showed that we can play rugby at times and lets hope it continues.

: Mon May 04, 2009 7:07 pm  

Excellent first half, but poor discpline let Batley back in to the game and we were very, very lucky to get anything from today. We really our own worst enemies.

Durbin and Watson looked a handy partnership in the first 40, came only assume Durbin picked up an injury given his absence for most of the second half?

Also found it a little surprising to see both Rowley and Knox sat in the stand during the game - a little early in the piece to be giving Jukes full reign on the bench, walkie-talkie apart, surely?

: Mon May 04, 2009 8:14 pm  

radios are there for talking on, thats why coaches use them apart from actually going on the pitch how would you suggest messages are carried - carrier pigeon? plus Jukesy has more coaching experience than the two of them (Knox and Rowley) put togeter.

: Mon May 04, 2009 8:16 pm  

Leyther_Matt wrote:

Also found it a little surprising to see both Rowley and Knox sat in the stand during the game - a little early in the piece to be giving Jukes full reign on the bench, walkie-talkie apart, surely?

Anyone any idea who the other bloke was in the stand with them?

: Mon May 04, 2009 8:16 pm  

imleythbenter wrote:

radios are there for talking on, thats why coaches use them apart from actually going on the pitch how would you suggest messages are carried - carrier pigeon? plus Jukesy has more coaching experience than the two of them (Knox and Rowley) put togeter.

Just of the opinion that at least one of our senior coaching staff should be on the bench, rather than somebody who was only just joined the club on his tod. Would make sense if Rowley and/or Knox were sat on the halfway line, but they were virtually on the try line so would have seen bugger all of the second half anyroad!

: Mon May 04, 2009 8:57 pm  

Alexs Dad wrote:

Started great, Durbin and Watson looked like a good pairing. Threw the ball from wing to wing and looked entertaining. And then........it got a bit scrappy after half an hour when the bits of fisticuffs started and went wobbly therein.

Second half, up hill and against a strong wind and we hardly had the ball for 20 mins. When we did we couldnt get out of our half with one man rugby and the wind stopping any kind of kicking game getting us out of trouble.

Never looked like losing until Morty (who had a good game particularly in the first half) spilled a long kick which bounced and bobbled all over and he ended up knocking on 10 yards out. Batley scored in the next 6 and it gave them the lift they needed.

Armisteads try was knocked off for fielding Watsons kick through in an offiside position. Given Watson had actually run past Armistead, it seemed strange to say the least. The ref hammered us with the penalty count and I thought our discipline wasn't too bad in all honesty.

The forwards played fairly well, whilst backs looked very sharp in the first 20 lacked any creativity in the second half. Donlan must be carrying a knock because yet again his input was average.

Not great, cold and windy, but a win.

Agreed, very accurate report. However another referee incurs the wrath of the Leigh faithful.
Ian Mort goes clear in the 1st half but the the move gets halted due to crossing?
Brawl on half time clearly started by a Batley player, decision - blow the whistle to end play and take no action?
Knock on by Batley player followed by a Leigh player, decision - Batley feed?
Sin binning of Aaron Smith, please could somebody tell me what it was for?
Try by Armitstead, looked perfectly good but gets disallowed for offside?
Sin binning of Mort can't disagree with, but felt he had to do it.

Week in, week out we're getting hammered by these officials and i for one am of the opinion that Leigh should ask for an interpretation in regard to these decisions. The performance of the majority of officials in this division is inept to put it politely, and as such is seriously now becoming detremental to our enjoyment of Rugby League.
Myself and Mrs Optimist shamefully did berate the officials when they left the field at full time, wasn't helped by the 3 of them all wearing smug smiles. Mr and Mrs Optimist are pretty objective regarding officials, and we fully understand that it's not an easy job, but we are now of the opinion that the this current bunch are sub standard.
Having said all that, well done to Leigh.....Never was going to be easy, poor pitch, poor weather conditions, and an even poorer set of officials.