Sun 21 Mar: CC1: Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls KO 15:00 (BBC Sport)

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Enjoyed that, been a decent afternoon of rugby league overall. Thought this one might have been a big closer but Fev do look really strong, they're gonna be a force in the championship this year. 

[Futtocks]

41:16 in the end. Featherstone look like they haven't sat out a season. Bradford do.

[paulwalker71]

Pretty much as I expected, Featherstone a cut above, and our lot looking very much not at the races.

Definitely some issues around physicality for the Bulls, a few players need to get on a diet! Despite that, some really soft defence and impotent in attack as well. We're going to struggle to finish top half on that showing.

As for Fev, as most of us expected, one of the favourites for promotion - and probably plenty of improvement to come when they get their full team on the field

[bird]

This commentary on red button is diabolical. Who and why is this woman with verbal diarrhea who can't shut up, contributes nothing and thinks its a radio programme. And then disappears at half time when there is a window.

[Hela Wigmen]

Statement of intent from Fev. Neither game a classic by any stretch today but it’s nice to have rugby back again. 

[paulwalker71]

6 minutes ago, bird said:

This commentary on red button is diabolical. Who and why is this woman with verbal diarrhea who can't shut up, contributes nothing and thinks its a radio programme. And then disappears at half time when there is a window.

She usually commentates on York's games on BBC local radio. I think she comes across well on the radio - but needs to learn that TV commentary is a different skill

[Chris Taylor]

If you would have said 41 - 16 before the game, I'd have taken that result. 

Both teams look scratchy, Bradford more so. It's going to take another month at least for players getting back into it. 

I'd say a good, steady overall performance from Fev. 

[Cardypaul]

Think both teams can take something positive and negative from the game but remember it is the first competitive game for both sides 

[EssexRL]

Was very impressed with Fev. Some bright spells from Bulls which bode well if they can build on them. Enjoyed the coverage and commentary (nice that my Tweet was read out too!) #BBCRL ended up being second highest trending hashtag this afternoon. 

[spanishknight]

37 minutes ago, bird said:

This commentary on red button is diabolical. Who and why is this woman with verbal diarrhea who can't shut up, contributes nothing and thinks its a radio programme. And then disappears at half time when there is a window.

She is Radio Yorks commentator 

[JohnM]

SNAFU

In previous years, would there be several live first round games on any of the main channels?  

In previous years would we have been happy with maybe Ray French commentating?

Far better in my view that the commentator talks too much than not enough. That way, turning the volume down/off will help.  If the commentator doesn't talk enough, turning the volume on/up won't help.

Of course, the ref was not up to much, so no change there either. 

All so bloody predictable...and the season hasn't really started yet!

God know what this forum will be like next weekend!

 

 

[JohnM]

46 minutes ago, bird said:

This commentary on red button is diabolical. Who and why is this woman with verbal diarrhea who can't shut up, contributes nothing and thinks its a radio programme. And then disappears at half time when there is a window.

I bet Sharon Shortle can spell, though!         

You can contact her and offer her your advice here:

Sharon Shortle (@RYSport) / Twitter

[tms]

what pleased me most was that  after a years inactivity FEV looked lean and fit

[sentoffagain2]

22 minutes ago, JohnM said:

I bet Sharon Shortle can spell, though!         

You can contact her and offer her your advice here:

Sharon Shortle (@RYSport) / Twitter

I thought Sharon did a good job it's not easy at the start of the season with so many new players.Dave Woods gave her licence to hog the mic and she does need to learn to take a breath now and again.She didn't detract from the performance on the field.

[Ullman]

3 minutes ago, POR said:

what pleased me most was that  after a years inactivity FEV looked lean and fit

That struck me too. They looked in really good shape while Bradford's big lads were blowing for a tug.

[OL14.yeds]

The play-by-play commentary was good and better (in my opinion) than one or two of Sky’s commentators. Dave Woods rambled on a bit too much at times though, but overall I thought she was decent.

It’s a shame the overall production looked like it’d been done for 45p, but I imagine it’ll get better for the next rounds.

[redjonn]

1 hour ago, sentoffagain2 said:

I thought Sharon did a good job it's not easy at the start of the season with so many new players.Dave Woods gave her licence to hog the mic and she does need to learn to take a breath now and again.She didn't detract from the performance on the field.

she was OK when just commentating on the actual play... it was all the other chatter, I guess learning off the SKY chatterbox chuckle partners... I would guess she will improve with some BBC TV commentary coaching and good to hear someone different...

[Trojan]

I thought Fev went to sleep, thinking they'd done enough, and then realised they hadm't.  Can't see James Harrison being long at Fev.

[sentoffagain2]

1 hour ago, Trojan said:

I thought Fev went to sleep, thinking they'd done enough, and then realised they hadm't.  Can't see James Harrison being long at Fev.

His dad wasn't, i was in the club house one night after training and Karl had been in to see the commitee.As he came out after about 20 min a supporter near me said is it enough Karl.Harrison replied it's never enough.I think he is right our players dig deep and put their bodies on the line compared with some other sports they do deserve more.I think most clubs would agree but they simply can't afford it.

[The Phantom Horseman]

11 hours ago, Trojan said:

I thought Fev went to sleep, thinking they'd done enough, and then realised they hadm't.  Can't see James Harrison being long at Fev.

He's under contract to Fev this year and it's hard to envisage any scenario where he might leave in 2021, he's a valuable part of the hoped-for promotion push and he wouldn't be worth the transfer fee (plus salary) that would be needed for a SL club to pry him away.

Equally, though, it's hard NOT to see him being in SL in 2022, whether or not Fev get promoted, as he's out of contract after this year.

[JonM]

15 hours ago, redjonn said:

she was OK when just commentating on the actual play... it was all the other chatter, I guess learning off the SKY chatterbox chuckle partners... I would guess she will improve with some BBC TV commentary coaching and good to hear someone different...

I thought she was pretty good, a lot, lot better than some of the BBC commentary we've had in the past.

Must be difficult to do the commentary when you're not there in person. In the WWR vs Widnes game, none of the interchanges or WWR players going off injured was commented on, because the camera wasn't showing it. 

[Spidey]

 

4 minutes ago, JonM said:

Must be difficult to do the commentary when you're not there in person. In the WWR vs Widnes game, none of the interchanges or WWR players going off injured was commented on, because the camera wasn't showing it. 

 Yep BBC need to up their game now the RFL have set up the Our League coverage

[The Phantom Horseman]

9 minutes ago, Spidey said:

 

 Yep BBC need to up their game now the RFL have set up the Our League coverage

I must admit, I'm hoping to pay £5 for the OurLeague coverage of the Fev game next week rather than watch on the Beeb for free based on this weekend.

[Spidey]

1 minute ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

I must admit, I'm hoping to pay £5 for the OurLeague coverage of the Fev game next week rather than watch on the Beeb for free based on this weekend.

I agree and heard this said a lot

[gingerjon]

37 minutes ago, JonM said:

Must be difficult to do the commentary when you're not there in person. 

There's been a good example of this on Sky Cricket this summer where the commentary has been from a studio by people who are normally in the ground. It's quite telling how little they are able to talk as they now can't see it. So they often are just guessing that there should be a fielder there (or not there) but have to wait to see on the screen like the rest of us.