Wandering pete

oops ...sorry Ron..not a classic.maybe watch the Batley highlights again..and again

..big result from the LNER stadium tonight York 16-20 Bulls.So with the top 2 places looking nailed down the interest is on places 3-6. Fax 34,Bulldogs 32,Barrow 31,York 30 Fax have Newcastle,Bradford,Fev(H) Widnes(a) Batley Bradford(H)London,Dewsbury,Leigh(A) Barrow Fev,Dewsbury(H)Newcastle,London(A) York Sheffield,Worky(H)Leigh,Newcastle(A) Fax look a cert for 3rd but could Barrow take the 4 th spot ahead of Batley and secure a Home playoff??

Always one of my favourite grounds to visit but happy memories rare..Dave 'Bomber'Brown surging up the slope "inviting "the home team to stop him and Aron Conlon scampering down the slope spring to mind.This was as complete a performance as I've seen from a Barrow side..the only try conceded on the uphill defence in 2nd half being a ball steal.This side are creating new memories ..bring on Fev.

..big result from Odsal tonight.. Bulls 12-30 Broncos

Good to see Matt Costello and Greg Burke in the 21 man squad..they are also in the Salford squad for the Magic Weekend..when does the 21 man squad change to the 17 man match day team..is it an hour before ko?

..oui oui monsieur homme d'ours..un triste jour

..and then there were none..now that Catalan have recalled le Cam and Rouge (to cover suspensions) and with Cozza's departure and Hakim's ban there will sadly be no French influence on the Cumbrian derby..Quel Dommage

..it's there..probably the result of the season and a team performance that was well worth the win..York beaten by the better side.Nearly matched by Haven at Batley..a great result..but beware the Jam Eaters next week with their Catalan lads..le Cam and Rouge..should be a cracker.

After that disappointing result and performance against a very good Halifax side on Monday perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised. The top 5 teams in the Championship look to be a class apart from the rest..to date the only defeats suffered by the top 5 against lower ranked teams Being Halifax's home defeat by Widnes(8-9) and Batley's loss at Bradford(20-21)..both by the narrowest of margins.To date the Raiders have only lost to Teams above them ..hopefully they can bounce back at York and break the sequence but it's a big ask.

Newcastle Thunder have signed JC on loan from Wakefield with immediate effect...looked a promising prospect and with current mounting injury problems could leave the squad on the thin side for Monday night..and Sunday week.

Due to start Sunday 30 th Jan with fixtures out in early November?No International travel..not even a Welsh trip..but 7 trips to Yorkshire and a visit to Wimbledon to look forward to.

..sonny bill...!!??

..well the Ref was an ex RU official...thought Jarrad Stack won the line outs hands down. Ron..you should know RU could never match the entertainment we saw yesterday...

..yes..but with a win each next weekend would Barrow have not fallen behind Town with a draw today? Barrow..76.47%..12w/2d/3L Town.....76.67%...11w/1d/3L Thankfully Barrow should finish with 79.41% with a win over West Wales

What a kick...not seen a better pressure kick.So the season didn't just come down to one match..it was one kick.If Ryan Shaw misses its second place for the Raiders if Town and Barrow both win next week..dear reader..he didn't.

Skolars v Town could be very interesting..if the Skolars continue with last Sunday's second half form they could cause an upset.Then there's the Thorman connection..big brother Chris v Neil . Sunday's whistleblower at the Crown Oil arena is James Jones..he has a fascinating back story..former top Welsh RU ref..now seen the light!

Just 10 League 1 games left before the playoffs and surely the Raiders season comes down to one match...a win at Hornets and promotion is secured( no disrespect to West Wales ..but hey!).This could be some game..Hornets need to win both their remaining games to have a chance of the playoffs. Only beaten once at home(by Cougars) they still have the Bears to come.Never a happy hunting ground for the Raiders but so much depends on Sunday's result ..and Town's visit to Skolars the day before !

66 games played..20 to go assuming the 4 postponed games are cancelled.All teams with 4 games left in the regular season and barring meltdowns the top2 places look sorted..probably Town top/Barrow 2nd.Big games on sunday with Crusaders visiting Town and Barrow at Donny.Donny could drop out of playoffs if they don't arrest their slump..still to play Bears/Cougars and Town at home..no away games left. The other 4 playoff places look to be Cru/Cougars/ Hornets with Hunslet possibly sneaking ahead of Donny? Amazing that Donny won 68-0 at Cru(13th June).Then it's the playoffs..over 4 weekends starting week after last league match..sep 18/19 !

..and the merry whistle blower...it could only be....yes.. .......it's Gareth....

Yes..a stunning 24-18 win against the Cougars gives the Bears a chance of making the top 6 playoffs.Maybe a tall order with 6 away(2 home) games to go..assuming their trip to Town is off. The Bears let plenty of points in..284 in 9 but will be full of confidence. Probably 5 teams chasing 3 playoff spots assuming Barrow,Town and Donny should qualify.Hornets have 6 home(2 away) and are unbeaten at home,having won at Cougars and taken Town very close they should make the playoffs.Cougars..yet to win away and with 5 away(3 home) should have enough quality. That leaves Hunslet,Crusaders and the Bears for the other spot...???

Just after halfway through the regular season...47 games played/43 to go. The race for the top 3 places probably down to 4 teams,have to include Cougars now although with only 3 home games(6 away) left they need to start winning away from home.Workington at home and Don's away are key games..crucial visit to Bears on friday.Due to unveil major NRL signing this week. Donny have 6 home/3 away left and entertain Raiders/Cougars and Town. Workington with 4home/5 away must visit Cougars and Don's with Barrow to come at home. Barrow..4home/4 away ..travel to Donny and Town Could be a tight finish maybe decided by points difference..or is it points ratio?

Kick off now 14.00 Just in case people don't have facebook/Twitter access.Could be a points fest.. Cougars have scored 290 points in their 8 games(average 36)..won 4 from 5 home games including a 44-18 triumph against Donny.Not to be taken lightly.

..next up..Stebonheath..sadly looking like behind closed doors.Talking to the Cru fans yesterday they weren't expecting to get to their game in Colwyn Bay v The Bears.No Welsh Government announcement expected to relax measures either.Unless anyone knows otherwise..?

Challenge Cup(rounds 1 and 2) 20/1 and 27/8 march Oldham away ..presumably at the Vestacare stadium(aka Whitebank)..as someone once said..its not white..theres no bank and it's not a stadium Win that and another away day to either Swinton or ....Newcastle the following weekend.

Georgy Gambaro..now at Carcassonne playing on right wing .Anybody missing live RL can tune into the French Elite league ..today (10.1.21)Carcassonne are at Villeneuve and Georgy is playing. Arnaud Bartes...no sign of Arnaud this season..last seen at Lezignan? Mendy Saloty is in the Avignon squad Paul Seguier..in the Catalan Dragons squad with a new one year deal.