Crown Flatter

Trouble there is that the referee tends to call “held”, even when the player is still moving, even when the defence is keeping it that way. Remember the defence cannot drag the ball carrier; push, yes, drag, no. Liam Moore likes to call held too soon.

If you think we deserved that score then you’d be wrong! It should have been greater, but the Widnes goal kicking was, well, inept and boy, did our supporters deride the pair who struggled, even with easy kicks. Having said that, Widnes produced some great attacking skills, fast running, neat long and short passes and a well drilled defence. On the other hand, Dewsbury were the usual ponderous souls, often driving hard, but getting nowhere. Final tackle run on one set might have brought a try if the pass hadn’t been intercepted and the Widnes player ran 90 metres to score. The rest of the best of our moves came from breaks by Lumb and Jack McShane, both getting close to the line and a couple of times we forced a drop out, but again, we hadn’t the ability to score. A poor day out for we Dewsbury supporters, only enlightened by the laughable Widnes goal kicking. At least Hookem didn’t miss any! As usual the penalty count went Widnes’ way, 9-2, as did the set restarts 2-1. I wasn’t enamoured by today’s referee, Matty Lynn, allowing Widnes to be offside constantly at the ptb and missing forward passes. Obviously we can’t blame him for our performance, but he has been a busy man this weekend, reserve ref at one match and running the line at another; must have been tiring for him, allowing concentration to wane. Couldn’t name an MoM; I think the whole team deserves that accolade. The stadium sound system was very LOUD, echoey and rendering it useslss for normal mortals.

Having checked some old programmes, it would appear that 1971 was indeed the final match on Christmas Day against Huddersfield and in that year we visited Fartown on the 27th, which was a Monday, probably because we didn’t often play on Sundays, although I think we played the first ever Sunday match, at Leigh on Sunday 17th December 1967 (open to anyone for correction). in 1972 we played Swinton On Christmas Eve, with the next match played on Boxing Day. 1973 saw us play Leeds on 23rd December, then Salford away on Boxing Day. The 23rd was again the date in 1974, this time playing York, then at Thrum Hall on the 29th. I always had in my mind that we played our Old Enemy each Christmas Day and Bicung Day, but this was not so, as can be seen from above. In the following years we tended to play either Batley or Huddersfield over the Christmas period.

I thought an enjoyable game throughout, but were unable to turn runs into points early on (about five times we nearly scored and the 10-6 HT score flattered us a bit. In the second half it was good to see the moves and runs bring tries. Joe Summers had a good game, as did Craig.McShane (as usual), but Lumb, with his two tries (that’s four in two matches) was very active, as was his Huddersfield teammate Algar. When Galea broke away I was impressed with the chase by Lumb and the help from McShane to end his run. Town never gave up trying, but our defence was resolute after their try. Penalties went Town’s way 9-5 and set restarts were one apiece. The Town fans in the Royal Suite after the match were in good form and not a bit despondent.

Our home form has been somewhat erratic, but I would hope that with this fixture we can lay that poor home form to rest. My team selection would be: McShane; Delaney, O’Connor, Senior, Rayner; Sykes, Hookem; Nelmes, McShane, Bateman; Bentley, Graham, Collinson; subs: Lumb, Algar, Tomlinson, Roberts. 18th man: Coates. I somehow think the coach will decide otherwise in a couple of spots. Dewsbury 32-18 Workington FTS: Rayner MoM: O’Connor Att: 563

I think Paul Sykes would want to play each week, even at his age.

I think we could have done with Paul Sykes in the team today to lead us; an old head was needed.

For those supporters who only watch home matches and went to Halifax today, it would have felt like a home match. For those supporters who only watch home matches and stayed at home today, I bet they were pleased they didn’t go, it was like a home match. If PM thought last week’s performance was our worst, what did he think of today’s? Unfortunately we didn’t play our usual “away” game today and were always playing catch up. For sixty minutes we in the game and then lost our way, or tired, but whatever it was Halifax saw it and scored some easy tries. In fairness our passing was slow and and when running often chose to run up a blind alley, whereas Halifax’s passing was good and swift, but thanks to some good defensive work kept them out. Halifax scored first, in the right hand corner from what appeared to be a forward pass, with our supporters letting the ref know. Then Senior equalised in the far left corner, away from where we were standing. They touched down for a second, but this was disallowed for a forward pass, which to me, looked less so than the try awarded. Half time and we were all square at 4-4, but down on the penalty count, 6-3. Throughout the match we never managed to get in front, but continued to match the home side with tries (2 by Lumb) and Hookem’s conversions, but when they got to 22 and then won and kicked a penalty goal to take them eight clear, I knew then that we wouldn’t win. It seemed to take the wind out of our sails and had nothing left. Had we taken a kickable penalty earlier, in front of the posts, it could have been so different. I made the penalty count 8-4 and Halifax also won the set restarts, by my reckoning, 4-0. Not our day.

Unlike many others, I’m not so sure about us winning today, we rarely do well at The Shay. Halifax 21-18 Dewsbury FTS: Collinson MoM: Bateman Att: 1108

Oldham 24-18 Doncaster Rochdale Hornets 12-56 Newcastle Thunder Goole Vikings 44-6 North Wales Crusaders Halifax Panthers 21-18 Dewsbury Rams Keighley Cougars 18-26 Batley Bulldogs Salford 12-44 Widnes Vikings Swinton Lions 18-24 Whitehaven Workington Town 24-30 Sheffield Eagles London Broncos 60-10 Midlands Hurricanes

I think Jordan Weir is a very good commentator and BBC Radio Cumbria offer commentary to all three Cumbrian clubs. When Whitehaven play Workington, both commentators (Dave Parkinson for Workington) share the match; each time one side has the ball, that team’s man explains the progress and then the other takes the microphone when the opposition has the ball. I find that the method works really well.

When asked about Brad Graham, PM said he was absent because his wife was due to give birth and he was given time off to be with her.

Considering the poor conditions thrown upon us today, the match rose above the weather and was entertaining throughout. Whitehaven played far better than that which belies their league position and the battle for dominance didn’t end, in my view, until Delaney scored his second try and that was around the 70 minute mark. The visitors opened the scoring in the first ten minutes when hooker Holgate scored a try, converted by Walker, but O’Connor was on hand to score his second (and third) Dewsbury try in consecutive games and Dewsbury were ahead 12-6 at half time. The second half continued with the play going from one end of the pitch to the other, but Dewsbury extended the lead when Delaney dived in at the corner for a concerted trysome ten minutes after the restart. Haven weren’t done though and ten minutes later Burns went over, again converted. Then followed a long period of toing and froing with neither side dominant until Delaney scored his second, late in the game, with a pass from his captain, Senior. Surprisingly, Hookem failed to improve this one. We won the penalty count 5-4, but the set restarts went Haven’s way about 4-2. I enjoyed the aftermatch element with many Whitehaven supporters in attendance and both sets of players mixing.. I only wish the sound system was better so that all could hear better the announcement.

I don’t know if the three loanees from St Helens are decent players or not, but it’s likely if they are with Saints. With that in mind, we have to be aware that they could enliven the Whitehaven team, in which case I will use a bit of cautious optimism in my prediction. I doubt we will score 50 in this encounter because we are at home. Dewsbury 32-18 Whitehaven FTS: Coates MoM: Hookem Att: 649

Well WR, we played some good rugby last Sunday, not afraid to throw the ball about, even in tight situations.