Yorks Tim

Part time supporter! Real fans go everywhere, every time.

Hunslet 28 v 22 Rochdale Hornets London Skolars 20 v 24 Swinton Lions West Wales Raiders 30 v 26 Cornwall Keighley Cougars 22 v 20 Oldham North Wales Crusaders 28 v 24 Doncaster

Directors, shareholders, players, coaches all come and go. The supporters are the ones who will always be there and so are the true 'owners' of the club. You don't choose your club, it is chosen for you etc and so forth...

Barrow were doing the same the last time I was there and I presume they still are. It was fantastic. Not easy to replicate though without the location, facilities and a local population eager to join the party.

When Leeds United were in danger of going bust I had a discussion with my mate about who we would support when we couldn't go to Elland Road. Despite us both being from York and having gone to City games back in the day, the only conclusion is that we would have to support the phoenix club in Leeds as there was no other option. Sticking a pin in a map of Canada three years ago to decide where to go on holiday, I ended up in Winnipeg and went to a few Goldeyes baseball games where I had a brilliant time. Lovely stadium and a great team at that time. Had no intention of becoming a fan because I wanted to visit as many other baseball teams as I could. Nope.....now I'm a fan and have to face up to returning to this less-than-lovely City if I want to go back to Canada. Got into RL because going to York games was a way to get out of the house on a Sunday afternoon (in 1977-79). Then left for university in Coventry and lost touch with the game - York went bust soon after of course, emerging as Ryedale York later. Got back into RL when Coventry Bears were formed and it was fantastic to be able to watch the game in my adopted home town. The launch of Midland Hurricanes started some interesting conversations because technically it is a new team and the Bears are still going. I have switched allegiance though because I think it's important to keep the League 1 project going with its importance (I believe) to expansion of the game. Ideally I'd like to be going to both games but age and infirmity has prevented me from catching the Bears yet.

I haven't checked but someone told me Oldham had at least 6 loan players. Hurricanes had Jose Kenga (Swinton) and Jack Townend + George Collins (Castleford) but were missing 8 first team lads. My guess is that Oldham had trained with their guests but we didn't get the chance. And Oldham did realy play exceptionally well.

Rather sub-optimal showing from a Midlands side missing various key players through injury etc. We had them pinned on their own line for about 10 minutes but they broke out to open the scoring and that's all the Hurricanes wrote. Oldham were awesome though and their strength and speed of thought was too much to hande. Fair play to them for sorting out their problems.

I miss the rivalries with the other 'Southern' teams, particularly Hemel Stags. There was fierce competition to avoid being the wooden spoon winners but also to be the club that broke away and joined up with the other half of the table. Pointless of course without that goal of eventually being able to compete with the Heartland clubs.

Skolars currently trailing at Stebonheath Park...and they score as I type to take the lead from West Wales.

West Wales Raiders 12 v 22 London Skolars - Skolars momentum should see them win this Cornwall 6 v 66 Keighley Cougars - Cougars tend to be merciless when points are up for grabs Hunslet 28 v 18 North Wales Crusaders - gut feeling tells me Crusaders won't recover quite so quickly Oldham 16 v 20 Midlands Hurricanes - Hurricanes playing well enough to take their first 'big' scalp Swinton Lions 22 v 20 Rochdale Hornets - dunno...home advantage?

The win takes Hurricanes above Oldham in the table and we play there next week. If we win that one I think it can be taken as a sign of good progress in the quest to get involved with the top half of League 1. Great start by James Phillips and a few others were contenders for MoM but a good team performance right from the start meant it was only ever going to end one way today.

Skolars will need to be better than today if they want to avoid getting beat in Llanelli. Returning players might help with that. Meanwhile at the other end of the table, Keighley are heading for a first half lead - currently 4-18.

Cornwall 16 v 28 London Skolars - I don't see Cornwall getting that first win just yet and Skolars reviving? North Wales Crusaders 26 v 22 Keighley Cougars - home advantage to count Doncaster 22 v 24 Hunslet - no real idea how this will go Midlands Hurricanes 52 v 16 West Wales Raiders - might be closer but Hurricanes to make Raiders pay for Keighley defeat Oldham 16 v 28 Swinton Lions - not sure about this one either.

Two games for the price of one or no price at all for Midlands familiy groups! CLICK HERE TO APPLY Only one group booking per household and applicant please, please choose Game 1,2 or 3 Terms & Conditions: Admits up to 2 Adults with children (please specific total group number below) Midlands postcodes & addresses only (Major cities and towns in the Midlands region of England) Signup to Eye of the Storm Newsletter & Hurricanes Socials Enter the event by 2pm (3pm KO) Use group booking form below to apply Please choose one game to request tickets per family name/ household We reserve the right not to grant a free ticket application Event includes: Street Food Vendors, Craft Beer Bar & Marquee for supporters Betfred League One Rugby League Match Music and DJ through the day Venue: Birmingham & Solihull Bees RFC, Forshaw Heath Lane, Portway, Solihull, Birmingham B94 5LH

I think that explains it - cheers!

A fleeing Taliban, desperate for water, was plodding through the Afghanistan desert when he saw something far off in the distance. Hoping to find water, he walked toward the object, only to find a little old Jewish man at a small stand selling neckties. The Taliban asked, "Do you have water?" The Jewish man replied, "I have no water. Would you like to buy a tie? They are only $5. "The Arab shouted, "Idiot Jew! Israel should not exist! I do not need an overpriced tie. I need water! I should kill you, but I must find water first." "OK," said the old Jew, "it does not matter that you do not want to buy a tie and that you hate me. I will show you that I am bigger than that. If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will find a lovely restaurant. It has all the water you need. Shalom. Muttering, the Arab staggered away over the hill. Several hours later he staggered back. "Your brother won't let me in without a tie."

They seemed to bring on a second runner after the innings had started but I may have just missed a walk.

I presume there is no way back to Skolars for him. Wonder what will happen to the players who made the same move.

I'll go for Skolars 16 Roughyeds 28. Tempted to go down for this one with no Hurricanes game this weekend.

Talking of the Brewers, just been watching them lose to the Padres. Something confused me though. Bottom of the 10th, Padres at bat. They seemed to be bringing on men to load the bases without them having to actually face the pitcher. Is there some kind of special rule for tied games and extra time?

I hope you can make it and you'll be very welcome. We're not apologising though

People on here have been supportive and complementary by and large. I think MrC's complaint is aimed at (some) clubs' official social media accounts which are hardly ever as generous as the fans they cater to. Everyone we spoke to today at Keighley had good things to say about the Midlands performance. As they did at the Crusaders game a few weeks ago. Hunslet mebbe not so much

Big fat hairy burger. So close to a win here at Cougar Park today.

Yeah. Not sure there's a gap in his position but I was a bit annoyed when I heard that he'd signed for Cornwall and not Midlands. If he's still on it he could change things up a level there.

Someone has to beat Cougars at some point and, if no one else is going to do it, might as well be Hurricanes. Rochdale Hornets 28 v 14 Doncaster Swinton Lions 28 v 12 Cornwall West Wales Raiders 16 v 30 Hunslet Keighley Cougars 32 v 33 Midlands Hurricanes