Sat 28th May: 1895 Cup Final: Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Centurions KO 12:00 (Premier Sports/BBC iPlayer)

[Snowys Backside]

2 hours ago, Steven Grason said:

Just re-watched the game on BBC I-Player and I don't feel as deflated as I did yesterday and I'm certainly not thinking that Leigh are so far ahead of us that we are out of it. It was a game full of incident - mistakes on both sides, marginal decisions, poor choices and game management, near misses etc. I think on balance we probably were on the wrong side of one or two more marginal decisions than Leigh but the ref certainly had no shocker. Some of them we re-wound a few times and still couldn't decide such as the Ferguson try - it might have been a forward pass but equally would have been a big call to give it. The ref gets a split second to make up his mind. Locky was harshly called for a high tackle in the first half and the commentators questioned it at the time and their first try came from that set with a well executed kick and catch. (Reynolds did have a decent game tbh for a player who I've never really rated much). But these things happen and I'm not feeling robbed by either of the calls because they were pretty marginal. Leigh did not roll us in the second half anyway near as much as it felt when at the game yesterday. For me there was about a ten minute spell when they got their 2 tries in the second half when they really upped their speed both in attack and defence and that was the difference. But after that we created openings. The frustrating thing was that we didn't capitalise on them - mainly because rather than taking the tackle and playing territory with 5 more tackles in a dangerous position - instead we panicked and went for panic low percentage plays. On another day we might pull some of those off but it wasn't to be yesterday. Twice on the first tackle in their 20 we went for broke and each of our wingers were caught in touch. The Hall one was close and had he released it a fraction earlier Jacks (I think) was in. Fine margins. Both teams lost the ball at key times early in the tackle count perhaps showing the pressure of the occasion and the pressure of both teams being up against such good opponents. Obviously we regret ours the most (Ferris from the scrum in prime position in first half - Wildie dropping a perfectly good offload when in space in the first half too). Ipape definitely had a big game and changed the momentum in that crucial ten minute period, but we had Jones out and he might have done similar things for us had he been available. I'm not saying Leigh didn't deserve to win, but in my opinion the margins were not as much as it felt yesterday and their pack didn't dominate ours as much as it felt either. I went in to the game thinking that they were two well balanced sides but was worried their pack might be too , big and fast for us. I came out of it feeling that yes their pack is much too fast and big for us. I know feel that yes they are bigger and faster in the middle but not massively so - we were only rolled for that ten minutes. We are at least as good a match on the backs and potentially better in the halves. I hope we can sign a big brute for the front row but they won't be easy to find but even if we don't we aren't out of it and it is still all to play for. UTR!!

A bit long winded but I ain't getting carried away. Leigh have played better and so have Fev. Hard to say with ball in hand as Fev was chasing the game, but they had chances. 

5 tries to two says it as it is, but it was a great game. JL looked liked he was running in treacle but that's Fevs issue. If Leigh had Fevs half backs, there wouldn't be a 10 page thread as they would have been blown away. Reynolds and Mellor 'ordinary'. Marathon it is, but Fevs pack got smashed around a bit. 

[clogdance]

I doubt any supporters have got got carried away or are too downhearted after yesterday's game. Slightly flattering scoreline for us Leythers, Featherstone could and should have scored more tries, but at the end of the day they didn't. It's 1-1 in the current series between the teams, and roll on game no. 3. 

[Steven Grason]

9 hours ago, GUBRATS said:

It's certainly not done and dusted , on the Fergie try , yes it was forward , but so was Halls 

Massive game in 2 weeks , we have to win that one if we want to finish top , looking forward to it 

If Fev lose at Leigh but beat the,m at the summer bash and win all others Fev will finish top
 

[GUBRATS]

13 minutes ago, Steven Grason said:

If Fev lose at Leigh but beat the,m at the summer bash and win all others Fev will finish top
 

Best not to look too far ahead , including the 2 difficult games we have before we face Fev at the LSV 

[Harry Stottle]

12 hours ago, Steven Grason said:

Just re-watched the game on BBC I-Player and I don't feel as deflated as I did yesterday and I'm certainly not thinking that Leigh are so far ahead of us that we are out of it. It was a game full of incident - mistakes on both sides, marginal decisions, poor choices and game management, near misses etc. I think on balance we probably were on the wrong side of one or two more marginal decisions than Leigh but the ref certainly had no shocker. Some of them we re-wound a few times and still couldn't decide such as the Ferguson try - it might have been a forward pass but equally would have been a big call to give it. The ref gets a split second to make up his mind. Locky was harshly called for a high tackle in the first half and the commentators questioned it at the time and their first try came from that set with a well executed kick and catch. (Reynolds did have a decent game tbh for a player who I've never really rated much). But these things happen and I'm not feeling robbed by either of the calls because they were pretty marginal. Leigh did not roll us in the second half anyway near as much as it felt when at the game yesterday. For me there was about a ten minute spell when they got their 2 tries in the second half when they really upped their speed both in attack and defence and that was the difference. But after that we created openings. The frustrating thing was that we didn't capitalise on them - mainly because rather than taking the tackle and playing territory with 5 more tackles in a dangerous position - instead we panicked and went for panic low percentage plays. On another day we might pull some of those off but it wasn't to be yesterday. Twice on the first tackle in their 20 we went for broke and each of our wingers were caught in touch. The Hall one was close and had he released it a fraction earlier Jacks (I think) was in. Fine margins. Both teams lost the ball at key times early in the tackle count perhaps showing the pressure of the occasion and the pressure of both teams being up against such good opponents. Obviously we regret ours the most (Ferris from the scrum in prime position in first half - Wildie dropping a perfectly good offload when in space in the first half too). Ipape definitely had a big game and changed the momentum in that crucial ten minute period, but we had Jones out and he might have done similar things for us had he been available. I'm not saying Leigh didn't deserve to win, but in my opinion the margins were not as much as it felt yesterday and their pack didn't dominate ours as much as it felt either. I went in to the game thinking that they were two well balanced sides but was worried their pack might be too , big and fast for us. I came out of it feeling that yes their pack is much too fast and big for us. I know feel that yes they are bigger and faster in the middle but not massively so - we were only rolled for that ten minutes. We are at least as good a match on the backs and potentially better in the halves. I hope we can sign a big brute for the front row but they won't be easy to find but even if we don't we aren't out of it and it is still all to play for. UTR!!

Hi Steve and thankyou for your thoughts, my opinion if I may.

I wasn't at the match and only watched it on TV - long arranged circumstances prevented me from attending - I got the impression that both teams were equal in the first half, both making calamitous errors and not having any patience. But I will strongly suggest that both teams would have been given the same instruction by their respective coaches at half time in that they would have been told to raise the game and put the opposition on the backfoot, Leigh accomplished that side of it quite well in my opinion and Fev did very well in containing them somewhat but it was only a matter of time that Fev would/could not keep them out, Fevs best period for me was when they had no option but to throw the ball about in desperation of being so far behind on the scoreboard a situation we has fans have all witnessed and sometimes it comes off, but Leigh did cope with it quite well. Earlier in this thread I said how important the defences would be Leigh have conceeded just 92 points in 12 games and nearly a third of those at your place in one game with 10 strangers coming together and on a quagmire of a pitch, I would also suggest Fev have not come up against an organised defence like this all season and most certainly not had a pack against in opposition who have not buckled. 

We can both talk about incidents that we would have interpreted somewhat different to the officials, but is there any point in doing that? 

I agree with you that Fev will learn and improve from that showing, BUT so will Leigh and to tell you the truth I am more confident of Leigh beating Fev in two weeks at the LSV than coming through our next two games intact, we still have a relitvley small squad and play Barrow away this Thursday then Fax at home on Sunday, 3 games in 8 days, but anyway it is what it is, I doubt it will be anyone else contesting the Grand Final other than Leigh and Fev whatever happens in the forthcoming fixtures there is just the matter of where it will be played and whether home advantage is an important element.

One last point yes we both need new blood, Fev with a younger bigger more dynamic forward or two and Leigh having a good organising half or preferably a couple, we has fans can see that it is now up to the respective coaches to persuade the owners to dig a bit deeper into their pockets.

[Wakefield Ram]

There would have to some major miracles for the GF not to be Leigh v Fev. 

[Futtocks]

 

[Cheadle Leyther]

On 29/05/2022 at 23:45, clogdance said:

I doubt any supporters have got got carried away or are too downhearted after yesterday's game. Slightly flattering scoreline for us Leythers, Featherstone could and should have scored more tries, but at the end of the day they didn't. It's 1-1 in the current series between the teams, and roll on game no. 3. 

I thought 24-16 flattered Fev. before the last try confirmed our dominance. The horrendous conditions in the first match and our new team not gelling explained that loss. Can only see one outcome now with the firm grounds.

[clogdance]

1 hour ago, Cheadle Leyther said:

I thought 24-16 flattered Fev. before the last try confirmed our dominance. The horrendous conditions in the first match and our new team not gelling explained that loss. Can only see one outcome now with the firm grounds.

I'm not counting any chickens yet....

[Fevrover]

7 hours ago, clogdance said:

I'm not counting any chickens yet....

No and i  don't think a lot of fan's will,a lot can happen between now and October-  a lot!