Sandy

When I was a youngster in the early 60's, they used to play the Hull Kr v Hull Derby on a Christmas Day and the Dad's and Grandad's had usually been given those small cigars, those in a tin, was it Mannekins, as a present and it was that smell that I remember.

Our Son used to live in Melbourne, met a NZ lass and he now lives in Christchurch NZ. We've been over to both to both cities and are going to Christchurch in December for 2 months. Melbourne is a great city. Great layout and easy to get around. Melbourne Storm ground is walkable from the city centre but they have a great tram system. If they choose these cities for World Cup venues we would recommend them to anyone. Christchurch is a rugby union area but it's a great area to visit. New Zealand is a fantastic country to visit.

Rovers lose Hadley to a HIA in the first half and Ryan Hall off second half with calf injury. Kept scoreless in the second half but they defended and somehow won it. Great battling spirit by Rovers.

Lead story on our local Look North about Lachlan Coote and his decision to retire. Speaks about how he was starting to forget things and after a scan, they found a bleed on his brain. Very emotional when he sat in front of the specialist, with his wife, and he was told, that's it, you have to finish. He's done the right. He comes across as such great bloke but as he said, he has to think of his and his families future.

Rovers have announced Fouhad Yaha on a 2 week loan deal, Ryan Hall going for minor knee surgery and out for at least a week. Zenon played a good, steady game and it was announced that he is the first player in Rovers history to have a surname starting with the letter Z and score a try now. Really thought Salford would have had more about them and our crowd around us had them as favourites. Rowan Milnes had a very good game as well and it will be nice to see him have an extended run.

Whatever has been said by Griffin, personal to the ref or about the game, you do not carry on back chatting, especially when he has shown you a yellow card. With Griffin on the field, Hull could have won that game and this is coming from a Hull KR supporter who would have loved to have seen another Wembley Derby, because well into my 70's, I becoming fearful of seeing any chance of that again. My Brother in law and myself used to coach youngsters teams, 5 to 16 years of age, back in the 70's and 80's and we used to instill into them the discipline of that, once a ref has made a decision, he is not going to change his mind, be it right, wrong or a mistake and not to back chat and lose us 10 yards. It worked very well throughout our teams and we gave away very few penalties and 10 yards to refereeing decisions. This is not a post about referees always being right and consistency, it's about a player who today most very likely lost his team the game through not zipping it.

Blunderside/Hull Daily Fail have it between Goudemond and Bousquet or you could choose between any player on the pitch. I suppose at least we haven't been nilled.

It was Goudemond who was binned. It's going to be a long second half.

Catalans 20 - Hull KR 0. Half time. Abdull off, looks like his hamstring has gone again. Jack Walker off with HIA. Bousquet 10 minutes in the bin for the incident.

My Wife had booked our Son's christening and I found out that Rovers where at home to Leeds that day. This is 1976. I rang the vicar and cancelled it, without telling her and told her about 2 weeks later. Our son is 47 now and I still get reminded about it and she likes to tell everyone, that he was nearly 6 months old before she could get another date for the christening. She should have checked the Hull KR fixtures. They come first.

Just got back from the game. Rovers are a different team to what we have seen in the past, so tight together and playing for each other. I'm not saying that they are going to win the league or the Grand Final, after supporting them for over 60 years, I have seen so much disappointment but we seem to be going in the right direction. Huddersfield never looked like scoring. Connor was stealing a wage tonight, did nothing except mouth off and give away 2 tries. One, he threw out the ball, intercepted by Ryan Hall, who went 90 metres to score and even better, gathered the ball in front of his line, tackled by Opacic, who took it off him and scored. No wonder our neighbours got rid.

Nothing turgid about that win. Just got back from the game and the rain was pouring down and Rovers, especially in the first half, played the game to the conditions perfectly. Leeds could not handle the kicks from Abdull and every time they went up you expected Leeds to drop it. The game management was bang on.

Listened to Rovers podcast and they interviewed Derek Beaumont and what ever you say about him he's trying to bring in publicity for the club and he admits that's why he started the Leopards brand. Interesting listen if you haven't heard it.

As a neutral wasn't bothered who won. Brilliant first half and then Smith took over, with help from Moore and changed the game around. In all the years I have watched the game I cannot recall two 8 point tries in a game.

Wouldn't like to be tackled by Elsie.

Really enjoyed the game. Great energy and enthusiasm from Brazil.

So, so sad. Absolutely heartbreaking.

We are going to the game at Headingley on Saturday,the tickets came by email and it says that they have to be printed off.

It's been announced that Kenny Foulkes, ex Castleford and Hull Fc has died. Good player and servant to Hull Fc and later on the coaching staff.

It had to happen. The team not performing since his announcement. Mcguire has also extended his contract until end of 2025, as assistant to the new coach,which is good news

So very sad. Watched him play from his Colt days through to his first team appearances. A very powerful forward who gave his all for the team and part of the pack that had Mark Broadhurst as the other prop. The people of Hull knew that he had been battling against cancer but it is still awful news. He was also a very nice bloke to meet and a Fireman in the local brigade. Thanks for some great memories Zook. RIP.

Sorry if the full article hasn't shown. Not an expert on doing attachments.

Article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Mose Masoe and his move back to Australia. Sad to hear that he has been refused state medical aid for the next 10 years.

Always used to like just the one semi final on the day, the excitement of going a neutral ground and mixing with the other teams supporters. One of my particular memories is the 20th of April, 1963, my team Hull Kingston Rovers v Wigan semi final of the Challenge Cup at Headingley. I was 13yrs old and went with my Dad and Grandad. Before the game we had gone into Leeds for something to eat and went into a Chinese restaurant, my Dad had served in the Royal Navy during the 2nd World War out in the Far East and had picked up a taste for curries and spicier food and had got me onto them but not his Dad. We are sat in this restaurant, Dad and me had a curry but Grandad wasn't eating that muck, as he sat there, flat cap on, shirt sleeves and braces, wide leather belt around his trousers and a fag end stuck out of the side of his mouth. He finished up with some meat, Beef ?? and chips. Onto the ground, such excitement, what an atmosphere but the mighty Wigan of that time beat us 18 - 4 and the horrible disappointment walking away but great memories.

Been going to Hull K R since 1960. Met my future Wife through a joint love of Rugby League, she also used to go with her pals from 1960 and our first date was the Hull Derby in 1966. It's also the same people who you have grown older with, who stand in the same area and some who you only know during the season. They start to bring their children and Grandchildren and you see the new generation of supporters standing along side you, our eldest Granddaughter goes with us and she knows the supporters that we have known all those years. The final whistle has been blown for quite of our rugby league family but we know that when the whistle is blown for us, their will be someone in the same spot, watching those lads and lasses on the pitch, that is the rugby league family we love and admire.