GoldDog

Yeah, well done Widnes for getting over the 2500 attendance threshold for SL without cheating (4500 to take Fax over in their last home game V. Batley, less than 2000 in their elimination playoff v. the Eagles) . Well done for bringing so many young players through to the first team (how many have Featherstone, in a winning side ? Manning, Smeaton, Hardacre . . shall I carry on ?). Well done for losing the NRC final against a team with far fewer resources, and well done for finishing fifth in the league before getting hammered (to nil) by a coachless Barrow. I'm astonished how Rover's didn't get it, and how achievments on the field seem to have been ignored. But I do (seriously) congratulate Widnes for jumping through the right hoops and getting the almost inevitable SL licence.

The Aussie's 3/4s are absolutely streets ahead of us. If Keith Senior and Michael Lawrence (the worst of some very good English backs at Hudds - but he can still improve, unlike Keef), are the best we can do then God help us. I reckon high kicks to the corner are about number 8 in the 'things to worry about for Steve Mc and our 3/4s when we play the antipodeans' list.

Northern Rail were supposed to be putting one on from Batley to Blackpool for the Northern Rail Cup Final this year, which would have been filled by Dog' supporters. Unfortunately, they we're unable to do this due to 'essential maintainence' on the line 'just outside Blackpool'. Imagine my amazment when I managed to get on a train on the very morning of the game at Dewsbury (which is a mile and a half from Batley's station), change at Picadilly, and be in Blackpool just 2 hours later, in time for the pubs opening. Farce!

Fev - 22 at 4/5. Bet of the week!

That's a well reasoned response that addresses all the issues. Certainly shot me down in flames! We should have been playing Gateshead today or had a free week. Roll on Thursday!

Bob, Richard from Batley / Carlsberg here. Keep on trucking big man from all Bulldogs fans everywhere!