A great opportunity to promote the club missed. Not good !

Agreed. The weather clearly impacted on the game but they came out a little more energised in the second half and that just got them over the line. For those who weren’t there it was scrappy. We missed an absolute sitter of a kick in front of the sticks. They nailed two. We had three genuine attacks at their line. Bombed one, scored one and a speculative pass led to their length of the field intercept try from Walmsley who had spent the first half scratching himself and had been well marshalled but when he got it he went. Two observations. To step up next year we need some real pace and we need a better kicking game: too many wafts. I wonder if this will take the air out of our balloon for the rest of the season. It has mine. On the plus side I didn’t fall through a hole in the newly un-named main stand (one assumes the sign has fallen down). So that’s good.

Very flat performance from us I thought which was a real shame given the energy and confidence we have been playing with recently.



We seemed to really struggle to get the ball into Olis hands and were happy to sling it Norman in the hope he'd come up with something on the last. Some uncharacteristic errors from some of our more reliable performers hampered us too.



Ultimately Halifax were the better team and they handled the pressure of the day and the conditions better.

I thought Fax were deserved winners with Lachlan Walmsley getting us over the line with one of his specials. Unfortunately I couldn't get down and watched the game in a pub in Sowerby Bridge but i've got to say I thought the referee/linesman got three or four decisions badly wrong in London's favour, any of which could have swung the game towards your lads. Fortunately for Fax we had just enough to overcome it and gain the victory. Does anyone have the attendance figure as you couldn't tell owt from the TV pictures.

Is appearing at a final,one of 4,played in London on the same day,with a not hugely significant financial reward a better opportunity to promote the club,or would it not be better to focus on reaching the play-offs and really going for promotion to Super League?



I understand your frustration but looking at your remaining fixtures I think I know where your club priorities may be.



Keep the faith.The year could end a good one.

I think we could have done with Butler, who was cup tied or at least one of Napoli, Waine or Albert who were all injured to give the other forwards a rest. Bringing Stock off for Davies is not a like for like although could work but as you say we seemed a little flat or devoid of attacking ideas. Didn’t think Norman was as dominant as he has been. Defence wise neither side could be faulted but very little attacking threat. We didn’t come out the second half as fired up as them and they clearly had the better of the first twenty without being amazingly threatening but it got them the two penalties which gave them. Cushion. I Remain unconvinced by Ranalui although he seemed more involved. I thought he was going to be a big player for us but I’m sure that’s happened. Did Whare come on? If so, not sure he was influential. We have quite a few big units amongst our younger recruits but I assume we felt this was too much of a risk.

I think you were definitely the better side second half but it was a war of attrition. Not sure it was either teams finest hour but ultimately we were the home side and should have made that count and didn’t. As you may have seen from they’ve coverage,it’s a very odd and delapidated ground. Difficult to say how many. It was pretty full but how many that is - probably 700. There was a train strike. It was raining and most fans don’t come from the immediate area so it is what it is. The atmosphere was pretty flat Ithink because the layout of the ground doesn’t lend itself to allowing a significant number of fans to congregate in one area. Anyway good luck in the final.

The number of games being played on CC finals day is symptomatic of the RL heirachy’s inability to think clearly. As one of only about 5000 people who stayed for the Sheffield/Widnes final a few years back I take the point about the level of impact of the 1895 final but it would have been nice. Coming sixth and getting turned over by Rovers or Toulouse I’m not so energised about. In any event I think we might be too far back to get in the six.Hopefully we will win majority of our remaining home games which at least will help to stabilise attendance rates-although the much touted 5,000 remains, sadly, pipe dream.

Yeah I think we missed the size and impact of Ethan and Rob and Emmanuel to an extent. I thought Halifax controlled the ruck pretty well and it had an effect on our energy and concentration levels.



I think Whare was on at the end, played the last 20 mins or so. Probably wise in the conditions and on that pitch not to risk it too much.



Agreed on Rawalui. I was excited when he signed but I was also unsure he was the dominant 7 we needed. Pretty telling he's been shoveled out to the centres and I'm not sure he'd be my first choice if Ethan or Emmanuel were fit. Could see him as a utility off the bench maybe, or to 13 if we needed to.

Disappointing result yesterday but the priority has to be the championship.

Despite a dodgy start we’ve picked up really well and are only a point behind Fax. At the start of the season I’d have been happy to have avoided relegation!

Lots of home games to come, and while I’m not normally given to optimism I’m in no way ruling us out from a playoff place- apart from Fev perhaps we can beat anyone on our day, in the case of Toulouse we’ve done it twice.

Our league form is good of late so I’m going into the final games of the season with hope!

COYB!!

"A great opportunity to promote the club missed. Not good"

1895 cup will get zero press interest.



Arguably our last Wembley appearance cost us our best investment opportunity in Branson and Virgin,

True.

But it might have been nice to see the team on the big stage.

Might even have enticed a few former fans out - if it went well they might even have considered a return to the fold.

Oh well……