glemiln

Looking ahead ...from the link below including a rumoured basis of a 14 team SL, a 16 team Championship and a newly aligned 3rd tier! Naturally, much will depend on how many clubs come out reasonably intact from this current situation. It’s certainly difficult to envisage the existing set-up being in place, whenever some normality returns. ‘’The sport now has an opportunity to really consider if a national semi-professional third division, stretching from Newcastle to Llanelli, Workington to London, is a sensible thing. A new third tier could end the anachronistic divide between the amateur and professional game. The best National Conference League teams already challenge the weaker League 1 teams on the pitch and many are vastly stronger off it: many amateur clubs run dozens of teams, have hundreds of members, better facilities, bigger crowds and had flourishing income streams. Regionalised conferences with national play-offs seem a far better idea, perhaps playing from autumn to spring, leaving the summer to the pros again.” https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2020/mar/25/super-league-challenge-cup-england-coronavirus-pandemic-rugby-league

When I brought my wife to Rochdale for her first taste of Northern England “life”, she couldn’t believe her eyes, to put it mildly, when I bought the Pink and even more so when I straight away opened it to check Hornets’ result! No Pink now, but little has changed, over many years, in keeping tabs on Hornets from afar- and informing the wife - loss or win! She’s enjoying the peace, for now - alas, it will be much later than sooner before it changes.

So near, yet so far...agony....I was standing behind the goal posts watching Les Jones' kick going agonisingly wide and that try by Italian Ferdi Sarterato (I read playing under the pseudonym Fred Corsi to avoid persecution by rugby union authorities?). We even beat York to get to the semi! https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rochdale_Hornets

A short, but satisfying clip from the Regal Trophy, 1995 https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=73&ved=2ahUKEwjRyeD17q3oAhVBhlwKHcxnDs84RhC3AjACegQIBBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedayfm.com%2Fvideo%2FljKmI7Gx13E%2F&usg=AOvVaw1qDl_IwAed0C_UrT_hruua Classic RL on YouTube - on main forum includes priceless Alex Murphy’s Rant, Another Bloody Sunday and not least Go with Noakes, when he interviewed, trained and played with Castleford.

Perhaps someone has access to and can post video from past glory, especially the Athletic Ground days? There are some of Oldham at Watersheddings on the main forum - if you dare to wander to the dark side!

On Netflix from Wednesday next, “ Curtiz” winner of best film at Montreal World Film Festival in 2018. Features Hungarian-born Director Michael Curtiz grappling personal problems while shooting “Casablanca” in 1942. Apparently, America’s position on the brink of war is reflected on set and disaster piles on disaster. “Here’s Looking at You, Kid”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/japanese-flu-drug-clearly-effective-in-treating-coronavirus-says-china We can only hope it’s a start. Our schools close this week to add to pressures.

Hope this is a genuine start of something to help the worsening situation. Our schools to close this week increasing pressure on families, especially with some grandparents unable to back up. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/japanese-flu-drug-clearly-effective-in-treating-coronavirus-says-china

BBC: Leeds Rhinos have said eight members of their first-team squad and backroom team are in self-isolation after showing possible symptoms of coronavirus.

https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/1349/covid-19-statement-season-suspension

Following the game on Twitter, I had hopes at 40-12 of making it respectable after the 34-0 half time score. Despite York’s current league form Deano, I guess your team will be top six material ( if the season finishes!). It’s early days in the step-up for many of our lads still fresh from amateur clubs and they will hopefully benefit long-term, but will be sore just now.

Sadly, humiliated again by York ............70-12.....conceding 13 tries. Perhaps now a break from action to lick our wounds, reflect and prepare for the league 1 campaign.

‘’Action to isolate the UK's over-70s for an extended period to shield them from coronavirus is planned in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed.” Could be 4 months isolation.....good luck upholding it!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/14/wakefield-michael-carter-fears-coronavirus-impact-on-some-rugby-league-clubs?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR3kixTgYE-TNcureaRZRVmh40LNG5jak1umMLcKO7drSadhAsrCWrNX-10 Andy Mazey shares the fears, especially for some clubs outside of SL. Hopefully concentrated, professional planning across and for the future of the whole game as the situation unfolds. Thankfully, we seem now to be in a better position than before the takeover.