Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:43 pm  

Good luck to Keighley next season. As probably the biggest club in Championship 1, you should expect to come straight back up.
In terms of the dual registration fiasco, you need to place the blame firmly at the RFL's door. Did anyone really expect Batley not to appeal when there was a whole raft of unpunished precedent? It's unfortunate that the bungling of the RFL has impacted so badly on your club, but Kevin Nicholas was absolutely right to protect the interests of his club when he discovered that others had previously been allowed to break the rules.
If I was the Keighley chairman, I'd be sueing Nigel and chums for all I could get.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:46 pm  

Batley still cheated.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:07 pm  

HalifaxCougar wrote:

Batley still cheated.

Seconded.

CHEATERS

Stayed upp by cheating.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:42 pm  

My views

1st the game V Fev as a game of Championship second tier Rugby League: Great game, If there was an neutrals in the ground (I know there was as I spoke to a few leeds fans) it was some spectacle the general speed in the first half especially was very good, I think it possible was the best game of RL for some years at Cougar Park, obviously the circumstances of it for both teams were massive but as a game great game.

Obviously from a cougar point of view not good and the fact we got no favours obviously sent us down. Lets not forget Featherstone are a great side the second best outside of Super league to be exact and we had them almost in a game that was MASSIVE for them too. I could not knock the effort and commitment of any one player today obviously there were some errors but fev did too. Defensively goal line wise we were immense for the most part id love to see a possession stat and time in opposition quarter as I think we spent a long time defending in our own quarter. Lynam and Linday especially just looked like tackling machines. Going Forward Haley looked a threat all the time and all the Props did great hard yads.

The Batley situ Again something that has been going round and this was always going to happen with either us or Whitehaven, Batley were always gonna get out of jail. Quickly as a clean looking table rightly we go down everyone knew 5 would go and I think the home defeats to leigh and NYC were telling ones. What happens now in the whole batley fiasco from the clubs point of view needs to hot on the agenda - I don't think for one minute the RFL will do owt or will indeed care what they have done. Batley did cheat and I do belie it was unknowingly but they still have cheated and got away with it because of the RFL's failingings on the same subject in the past. The club itself cant afford a big legal battle for 1 and that might leave them no option just to move on with more bitterness from the famous old foe and if that's the case a statement from the club to the fans needs to come soon stating that and its fully committed to winning championship 1 next season and yes will be the biggest club in that division I have no doubts. I don't know how a battle for compo etc goes but working with the RFL wont get us owt and that's sad lawyers or the CoAS might be the way but again drawn out and expensive. Its not good for the club at all. as the Bottom line is a team has cheated and have been told its all Ok from the people that run the sport meaning this club has been relegated as a result and that is wrong

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:46 pm  

I was proud of the lads today, they put in the sort of effort I would have liked to have seen in quite a few other games this season. Shick's try was a cracker and what a player he's been for us! I doubt I'll ever meet the lad face to face but if he reads this - thanks Shick, it's been a pleasure watching you play for our team.
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Anyone who's watched the Cougars for any length of time must have seen Fev's try coming in the dying minutes, it's always the way with us. Another kick in the teeth to add to the never-ending list. Another 'what if' to round off a season of 'what ifs...'
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What if Marchy had kept his gob shut at Donny in the dying seconds and we'd got that bonus point?
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What if the ref v Leigh at home had known the rules and not penalised us for a one-on-one ball steal?
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What if Luke Haigh had stuck the ball up his jumper v Batley in the last minute rather than spill it?
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What if DJ's conversion attempt had gone over today instead of hitting the post?
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What if the RFL weren't such a bunch of inept, incompetent cretins? (some hope!)
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Any one of those things would have kept us up, and I'm sure there are more examples, it was that close.

So, we'll be back next season then. I hope a lot of the players think they've a point to prove and sign back on to help get us back up again. I just worry about the revenue side of things. We'll now miss out on some big money and visiting support at Cougar Park will be non-existent for quite a few games. Meanwhile, Batley's bag of money will look pretty healthy...

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:55 pm  

st wrote:

I don't know how a battle for compo etc goes but working with the RFL wont get us owt and that's sad lawyers or the CoAS might be the way but again drawn out and expensive.

To take a claim for compensation to the CoAS is not expensive (if you fill the form in yourself and avoid paying a lawyer to do it for you).

You can request urgent relief - which will stop the RFL distributing 2015 SKY money before a CoAS decision is made. Assuming Cougars just claim for compensation (not to reverse relegation).

Would be interesting to see how Cougars go in 2015 go if they get the SKY money Batley are expecting as a Championship club and Batley get Championship 1 money!

Sheffield got £30m compensation awarded from West Ham by CoAS when W Ham fielded ineligible Teves which resulted in West Ham avoiding relegation at the expense of Sheff Utd who went down. Batley seemed happy to argue "precedent" - so Cougars should.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:21 pm  

Cross Hills Cougar wrote:

To take a claim for compensation to the CoAS is not expensive (if you fill the form in yourself and avoid paying a lawyer to do it for you).

You can request urgent relief - which will stop the RFL distributing 2015 SKY money before a CoAS decision is made. Assuming Cougars just claim for compensation (not to reverse relegation).

Would be interesting to see how Cougars go in 2015 go if they get the SKY money Batley are expecting as a Championship club and Batley get Championship 1 money!

Sheffield got £30m compensation awarded from West Ham by CoAS when W Ham fielded ineligible Teves which resulted in West Ham avoiding relegation at the expense of Sheff Utd who went down. Batley seemed happy to argue "precedent" - so Cougars should.

I like the sound of that. Batley are indeed fond of 'precedents'.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:34 pm  

From A neutral I thought your guys were phenomenal and deserved at least a draw or even nicking it. On paper even though Rovers were down to the bare bones of a team, they still looked on paper too good for keighley, but as we know games are not won on paper. Reading between the lines the cougars appear to have let a number of games slip in the dying seconds of games and it happened again today with a bit of class and quick thinking on the last tackle. You could hear a pin drop in the main stand when fev went over and the devastation in the club house afterwards was clear to see. Relegating 5 teams is an absolute joke and especially after the reverse decision of giving points back to batley. I am sure that if you can keep the team together you will be favourites to return and I hope you do. good luck

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:41 pm  

Cheers mate.

Re: Featherstone game : Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:59 pm  

In an earlier post, I urged Cougars fans to consider directing their vitriol at the RFL - as opposed to Batley. However, I've just remembered that they hauled you out of the brown stuff a few years back by buying your ground from you.
Looks like directing your anger at Batley is the best option after all.