Hopping Mad

Christ, this is dull.

Almost went (as a neutral) to the game. But thought 'no, Sheffield will walk it'. How wrong can you be?

There is a balance to be struck - as we saw, in Britain, during the 60s, 70s and 80s. With the odd exception, that style of play wasn't hoof ball.

Headed to Wyke Recreation Ground, this afternoon (13/7), to watch a Yorkshire League fixture between Division Three rivals Wyke and Bramley Buffaloes. A stroll for the visitors - the divisional leaders - who ran in 11 tries (six in the first half, five in the second) and kicked nine conversions (four in the first, five in the second) in a 62-6 victory. A ninth win from 10. Some well-worked tries, some 'soft' ones. Credit to Wyke, who didn't give up, and crossed for a consolation try, converted, in the 69th minute. About 135 (including 30 or so away fans) watching. Despite a forecast indicating showers, it stayed dry.

"Hunslet is a massive club." Good grief.

Actor Shelley Duvall, 75. theguardian.com (11/7): Shelley Duvall, the much-loved US character actor and star of films such as The Shining, Annie Hall and Popeye, has died on her 75th birthday. Duvall died in her sleep of complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas, according to Dan Gilroy, who had been her life partner since 1989. Gilroy told The Hollywood Reporter: “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley.” https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/11/shelley-duvall-best-films-ranked

First game (Eng v Ned) of this tournament I've summoned the enthusiasm to watch. My, modern elite football is tedious (and I've been watching football since 1971). It has become an extended game of 'attack-and-defence'. Square passing or pretty triangles - nothing over 20 yards! - and keep-ball. Spreading to all levels, unfortunately, because coaches do the same FA courses. That penalty decision was a joke. No wonder today's players throw themselves to the ground every time they get in the box. Guess I'll have to watch on Sunday evening. Not much else to do!

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Drive down the M1 this afternoon (6/7) to watch Ossett Trinity Tigers beat, 14-6, Yorkshire League, Division One rivals Bradford Dudley Hill. Physical, close contest marred by too many handling errors. The only score in the first half was an 18th-minute Ossett (sixth in the table) try in Hill's left corner. Hill's left wing was found isolated by a high kick, and Ossett, up in numbers, were able to gather and touch down. A superb touchline conversion, from the scrum-half, made it 6-0. Hill (placed fourth) drew level in the 53rd minute. A line break on halfway led to an inside pass and run to the line, for a well-worked try, close enough to the posts for the extras to be added. In the 66th minute, Ossett made a spell of pressure pay with a close-range try. Ossett's scrum-half landed the conversion before, in the 72nd minute, sending across the posts a 45-metre penalty. After a 79th-minute red card - dissent, I think - for Hill's stand-off, Ossett's scrum-half put the outcome beyond doubt with a penalty, awarded in front of the posts, in the second minute of stoppage time. About 145 watching on what was a designated Family Fun Day. I imagine Ossett were pleased the forecast heavy showers stayed away. Sunny throughout. Tidy set-up in the public Ossett Park: railed pitch, clubhouse at the north end, and floodlights. I was told Ossett hope to raise the money to build a larger clubhouse. In the last couple of years, Tigers have added, to their open-age XIII, an 'A' team, a women's team and four junior teams. The existing clubhouse can no longer cope!

Confirms the guy as a fantasist, then. From the same mould as Paul Faires (Kent Invicta) and Dave Parker (Mansfield Marksman).

Dropped to about 120, a few weeks later, when I went.

According to the chairman (related via a third party) of Anglian Vipers, they're proposing to instal temporary seating at their Wymondham ground - an unenclosed pitch. The guy reckons, apparently, five or six East Anglia-based players will be up to the required standard. The balance, most likely, will comprise London-based overseas players. Recently, the same source advises, Vipers gave debuts to two South Africa internationals.

Rather nice tribute to Geoff: https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/former-canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs-rugby-league-cult-hero-geoff-wildman-robinson-dies-aged-66-c-15224309

Which NCL clubs do you think might be interested? There's probably only Millom (and, at a push, Beverley) that don't have a semi-pro or pro club almost on their doorstep.

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Ceaseless rain swept across Barnoldswick's Victory Park, where I watched (15/6) West Craven Warriors beat, 30-12, Yorkshire League, Division Four rivals Underbank Rangers. Five tries to one in the first half as Warriors built up a 26-4 half-time lead. Better from Underbank (celebrating in 2024 their 140th anniversary year) after the break. Rangers 'won' the second half, 8-4. A remarkable intervention - think John Pendlebury on Mark Elia at Wembley in 1987 - denied Warriors a try from the last play of the game. Forty-two hardy spectators present.

Open, entertaining game last evening (14/6) at Frank Middleton Park, where Sharlston Rovers beat Mirfield, 38-18, to deny their hosts an opportunity to go top of the Yorkshire League's First Division. Helped by a Mirfield sin-binning, for dissent, between the 44th and 54th minutes, a strong second half from Rovers, who eased away, to win comfortably, after a 12-12 half-time deadlock. Mirfield came back from 0-12 down to level with two superbly-worked tries, each from distance. Sharlston scored seven tries to Mirfield's three. About 135 watching, including a good turnout from the visitors. Thankfully, the rain kept away until the last few minutes, and then it was merely a few drops. Chaos on the M62, between junctions 23 and 26, because of an accident. I reached Mirfield via the M621 and a bumper-to-bumper A62. What should have been a 50-minute drive took two hours!

While Carlisle RLFC were going, the Carlisle & District ARL comp, at its peak, extended to two divisions.

When I was a kid, in the 70s, a Rotherham-based uncle, injured in a pit roof fall, had one of those cars. He never dare drive over the tops, to visit us on the moors above Halifax, if the breeze was described as anything but 'gentle'. Always enjoyed watching games at Fartown. Even when Huddersfield were poor, and their crowds small, the ground retained a sense of occasion.

The printed programme, covering the three main games - men's and women's Challenge Cup, and 1895 Cup - at Saturday's (8/6) Wembley Stadium Finals Day, has been put together by Curtis Sport. Described as a limited edition. Available, for a tenner, through curtis-sport.com. https://www.curtis-sport.com/online-store/2024-Betfred-Challenge-Cup-Final-Warrington-Wolves-v-Wigan-Warriors-p661686737

Planned revamp of Throstle Nest - The Citadel, as it's called now - includes a synthetic pitch, which could work in Bramley's favour. https://farsleyceltic.com/2024/03/chairmans-update-new-pitch-planning-permission/

Supporters of Super League Catalans have been producing eight-page, unofficial, printed programmes this season. No price on the cover. Copies are being sold on ebay.co.uk.

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The 27-page digital programme (free to download) issued by Anglian Vipers for a 1/6 visit to Wymondham by East Rugby League Premier Division rivals Bedford Tigers 'A'. https://online.fliphtml5.com/spifr/efyv/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1-7j7Cj3TcrLAUqP-PL3VEcNZgz6boA8Mo6HE0Rys_koyILxtCbE5LlSM_aem_AWYGTkkbxbJrpVVsm5B06qK0q-Wcm7HgoSsziTUDXZp_Wf7sZh5_9W04I-9Eq3DePwChMRyROFAfz_KWXpK6qa0v#p=1

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