Northern Eel

I think this sums up how many of us are feeling today. Thanks Martyn. RIP John and thoughts with his family and friends.

I mistakenly assumed this could only be done by the couch potato. Darn.

I will be down there with my group of 70 from Bassetlaw. You’ll have to find someone else!

Keeping plenty of grass on the pitch is the number one aim in these circumstances. Those clubs who prioritise this rarely have cancellations. The RFL issue regular guidance around warm weather protocols. Clubs use a fork-test method and record results as to how a decision has been reached. A garden fork is dropped from a horizontal arm position. It is intended to stick in the ground on contact. However, there is not an immediate fail from the fork not sticking in the ground. A dynamic assessment of all other factors contributes to a collective decision.

I would, for balance, add that the vast, vast majority of kids games are played and watched in tremendous spirit. Happily, poor parental behaviour is not the norm, but it is definitely creeping in. Some kids like to dish out a bit of chatter to refs too, but that gets sorted with a sit down.

'Cause them women singers make a right screeching noise you know. And them women violin players.

The worrying thing for Bradford is that Wakey are only having to do the basics well. They are dominating the middle, and therefore can exploit the edges.

Hattrick for Johnstone at 17 mins and the gap between the two teams is laid clear for all to see.

Wakey have demolished Cas. They can only beat what is in front of them. Cas have served up a right buffet and Wakey have feasted on it. It'll be a long season for Cas if this continues.

Lovely try that. Great hands and running lines.

For all that Cas have a couple of dangerous runners in attack, they would have to score a truck load of tries to compensate for this very, very poor defense.

I had the need to drive there from Notts. Parked at Maghul and did the Park and Ride to Sandhills. £4.80. I left on the final hooter and was home again for 7.30pm. The stuff that was in the hands of the RFL, such as merch etc was exactly the same as other venues; almost anonymous. The outside area of the stadium has so much potential for a proper fan zone, although I’m not sure what arrangement would be available with Everton. Not sure it is any better than SJP for Magic Weekend, but it is certainly a no brainer for future big internationals and possibly the GF whilst OT is being flattened.

Exactly my conversation leaving the ground. We had a couple of half breaks, but nobody could quite find the illusory step or acceleration. So close again.

Whilst it is being flattened, I mean.

There is no debate in my mind where the grand final needs to go…