Sat 27th-Sun 28th May: The Betfred Championship Summer Bash Match Thread

[Piggy's mate]

Appalling commentary & camera work on the Fax vs Bulldogs game!

[Piggy's mate]

Two great offloads for Fax 

[Wolfey Rovers]

Lost commentary for a few minutes there! I suspected fax second try was forward. Good game so far

[Piggy's mate]

Jouffret the difference at the moment, decent game though

[Fevrover]

10 minutes ago, Wolfey Rovers said:

Lost commentary for a few minutes there! I suspected fax second try was forward. Good game so far

Don't let Oxy or Ovenden hear yer say that lol.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Woodburn-Hall has been one of the best players in the comp this season but he's having a nightmare today, 3 absolute howlers trying to field kicks.

[The Phantom Horseman]

3 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Woodburn-Hall has been one of the best players in the comp this season but he's having a nightmare today, 3 absolute howlers trying to field kicks.

And another howler from Woodburn-Hall sees Batley take the lead 

[Piggy's mate]

Batley turning the screw, but Fax still dangerous

[Billy King's Boots]

8 hours ago, Szymala said:

Was it a good day out ? Anyone sit through all 4 games ? Great to see Barrow get up.

Yes and Yes.

Pros: Decent seats for not a lot of money, fan zone was good (bands, food, drinks, Ice-Cream and a lot of good natured banter), parking was cheap and dead easy, Three ok games and one real contest (London/Toulouse).

Cons: Poorly supported by participating teams' fans - essentially a York home game, but their fans barely filled half a block / no more that 150 Widnes fans / about half that number from Whitehaven and Swinton / about 100 or so from Barrow / 25 disproportionately noisy fans from London and no more than a dozen from Toulouse. Fev the best supported - probably five or six-hundred.

When the bash kicked-off there can't have been more than 750 in the ground. Over the day, there can't have been more than 3,500 in/thru' the ground (e.g. All the Widnes fans left after their game). We were sat in a virtually empty West stand all day - and were able to sit anywhere we liked. None of the West stand concessions were open, so if you wanted a brew or a bite, you had to exit into the fan-zone - and go through the rigmarole of showing your ticket and having your bag checked again (which we did three times). Also, we parked about 100m away, but there were no signs/banners/indications that there was an event happening. Having not been to the LNER Stadium before, some event signposting would have helped.

 

Did we enjoy it? Yes. Four games of RL for £40 - can't complain at that: and we enjoyed sitting in the sun between games in the Fan zone (the band, espacially  were very good). Having done two previous Bashes at Blackpool, this one lacked the big-weekend / big-event gathering feel of Blackpool. And there wasn't much between games for kids TBH.

Would we do it again? Yes, most probably - a chance to watch four games and eight teams we'd never usually watch is good. Would we do it again in York? That's just a 'maybe' TBH, it's stuck out on a trading estate miles from anywhere and, while I might find a stroll round Decathlon a good way to kill 20 minutes, I appreciate that most people wouldn't.

Should the RFL do it again? That's the 64 thousand dollar question. They took it to smaller capacity venue this year (presumably to try and 'right-size' the stadium to the anticipated 'crowd') - and interest still fell way short. Which is a shame, because it deserves a bigger audience.

The Solution? Take it back to Blackpool? Find an even smaller venue somewhere 'interesting'? Or concede that, as a concept, the Championship just doesn't have the critical mass of support to make it credible/viable?

Fnally: if all those people complaining that 'it looked empty on the telly' had got off their sofas and supported our great sport, then it would have been considerably less empty. Fans have a role to play in supporting/promoting our game too.

[Wolfey Rovers]

I had fax the main challengers to Fev in the playoffs. But Batley. Never write of Batley! Fev Vs Sheffield/Batley final for me

[Fevrover]

29 minutes ago, Billy King's Boots said:

Yes and Yes.

Pros: Decent seats for not a lot of money, fan zone was good (bands, food, drinks, Ice-Cream and a lot of good natured banter), parking was cheap and dead easy, Three ok games and one real contest (London/Toulouse).

Cons: Poorly supported by participating teams' fans - essentially a York home game, but their fans barely filled half a block / no more that 150 Widnes fans / about half that number from Whitehaven and Swinton / about 100 or so from Barrow / 25 disproportionately noisy fans from London and no more than a dozen from Toulouse. Fev the best supported - probably five or six-hundred.

When the bash kicked-off there can't have been more than 750 in the ground. Over the day, there can't have been more than 3,500 in/thru' the ground (e.g. All the Widnes fans left after their game). We were sat in a virtually empty West stand all day - and were able to sit anywhere we liked. None of the West stand concessions were open, so if you wanted a brew or a bite, you had to exit into the fan-zone - and go through the rigmarole of showing your ticket and having your bag checked again (which we did three times). Also, we parked about 100m away, but there were no signs/banners/indications that there was an event happening. Having not been to the LNER Stadium before, some event signposting would have helped.

 

Did we enjoy it? Yes. Four games of RL for £40 - can't complain at that: and we enjoyed sitting in the sun between games in the Fan zone (the band, espacially  were very good). Having done two previous Bashes at Blackpool, this one lacked the big-weekend / big-event gathering feel of Blackpool. And there wasn't much between games for kids TBH.

Would we do it again? Yes, most probably - a chance to watch four games and eight teams we'd never usually watch is good. Would we do it again in York? That's just a 'maybe' TBH, it's stuck out on a trading estate miles from anywhere and, while I might find a stroll round Decathlon a good way to kill 20 minutes, I appreciate that most people wouldn't.

Should the RFL do it again? That's the 64 thousand dollar question. They took it to smaller capacity venue this year (presumably to try and 'right-size' the stadium to the anticipated 'crowd') - and interest still fell way short. Which is a shame, because it deserves a bigger audience.

The Solution? Take it back to Blackpool? Find an even smaller venue somewhere 'interesting'? Or concede that, as a concept, the Championship just doesn't have the critical mass of support to make it credible/viable?

Fnally: if all those people complaining that 'it looked empty on the telly' had got off their sofas and supported our great sport, then it would have been considerably less empty. Fans have a role to play in supporting/promoting our game too.

I can't believe there were no signs advertising the fan zone we didn't have a clue till coming on here today.We did have a good day out but think it's had its day. York at home and their  support was poor,probably thought/ knew they would get beat. Far too long for most supporters yesterday to travel and they certainly aren't going to stop to watch a game kicking off at 730. 

[kiggy]

37 minutes ago, Billy King's Boots said:

Yes and Yes.

Pros: Decent seats for not a lot of money, fan zone was good (bands, food, drinks, Ice-Cream and a lot of good natured banter), parking was cheap and dead easy, Three ok games and one real contest (London/Toulouse).

Cons: Poorly supported by participating teams' fans - essentially a York home game, but their fans barely filled half a block / no more that 150 Widnes fans / about half that number from Whitehaven and Swinton / about 100 or so from Barrow / 25 disproportionately noisy fans from London and no more than a dozen from Toulouse. Fev the best supported - probably five or six-hundred.

When the bash kicked-off there can't have been more than 750 in the ground. Over the day, there can't have been more than 3,500 in/thru' the ground (e.g. All the Widnes fans left after their game). We were sat in a virtually empty West stand all day - and were able to sit anywhere we liked. None of the West stand concessions were open, so if you wanted a brew or a bite, you had to exit into the fan-zone - and go through the rigmarole of showing your ticket and having your bag checked again (which we did three times). Also, we parked about 100m away, but there were no signs/banners/indications that there was an event happening. Having not been to the LNER Stadium before, some event signposting would have helped.

 

Did we enjoy it? Yes. Four games of RL for £40 - can't complain at that: and we enjoyed sitting in the sun between games in the Fan zone (the band, espacially  were very good). Having done two previous Bashes at Blackpool, this one lacked the big-weekend / big-event gathering feel of Blackpool. And there wasn't much between games for kids TBH.

Would we do it again? Yes, most probably - a chance to watch four games and eight teams we'd never usually watch is good. Would we do it again in York? That's just a 'maybe' TBH, it's stuck out on a trading estate miles from anywhere and, while I might find a stroll round Decathlon a good way to kill 20 minutes, I appreciate that most people wouldn't.

Should the RFL do it again? That's the 64 thousand dollar question. They took it to smaller capacity venue this year (presumably to try and 'right-size' the stadium to the anticipated 'crowd') - and interest still fell way short. Which is a shame, because it deserves a bigger audience.

The Solution? Take it back to Blackpool? Find an even smaller venue somewhere 'interesting'? Or concede that, as a concept, the Championship just doesn't have the critical mass of support to make it credible/viable?

Fnally: if all those people complaining that 'it looked empty on the telly' had got off their sofas and supported our great sport, then it would have been considerably less empty. Fans have a role to play in supporting/promoting our game too.

Good résumé of the day...totally wrong on the Toulouse fans though. There were at least 28 of us.

[David Shepherd]

51 minutes ago, Billy King's Boots said:

Fnally: if all those people complaining that 'it looked empty on the telly' had got off their sofas and supported our great sport, then it would have been considerably less empty. Fans have a role to play in supporting/promoting our game too.

This.

A bunch of our fans from one of the local pubs rented a coach and went to Blackpool. 

To watch it on TV.

Bizarre behaviour.

 

The problem as I see it is that 99% of fans treat it as just another away game (even at Blackpool, hardly anyone attends games their team isn't involved with). It's pretty dispiriting how few are interested in it as a day out.

I think it's run it's course and should be quietly laid to rest.  It's clear that there just isn't the interest to sustain it.

Edited May 28, 2023 by David Shepherd

[sentoffagain2]

    Well Fax  0-16 points second half.And they can't complain about playing uphill.Well done Batley a good result.

[Piggy's mate]

Bradford still on the bus!!

[Piggy's mate]

Is BFD fullback, Walker the same lad who was lauded at Leeds Rhinos??

[paulwalker71]

6 minutes ago, Piggy's mate said:

Is BFD fullback, Walker the same lad who was lauded at Leeds Rhinos??

You mean "Young" Jack Walker? Yeah, that's him. Been out injured most of the season, as is his way

[Billy King's Boots]

1 hour ago, Fevrover said:

I can't believe there were no signs advertising the fan zone we didn't have a clue till coming on here today.We did have a good day out but think it's had its day. York at home and their  support was poor,probably thought/ knew they would get beat. Far too long for most supporters yesterday to travel and they certainly aren't going to stop to watch a game kicking off at 730. 

We did. Got home at 11pm, but had a good day of Rugby League. Seems most fans' interests don't extend much beyond their own club.

 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

When first announced it was quoted at the launch that the Bash would provide the fans with 'a day out at the seaside'. (Un)fortunately we've moved on from the 1950s and 60s when there were far fewer car owners and the local Working Men's Club's day trip to the coast was a highlight of the year.......

Time to kick it in to touch.

[Billy King's Boots]

1 hour ago, Fevrover said:

I can't believe there were no signs advertising the fan zone we didn't have a clue till coming on here today.We did have a good day out but think it's had its day. York at home and their  support was poor,probably thought/ knew they would get beat. Far too long for most supporters yesterday to travel and they certainly aren't going to stop to watch a game kicking off at 730. 

We saw mention of the Fanzone in the matchday info on the Summer Bash web pages, but when we arrived at the Stadium there were no signs - just a huge area fenced-off and we couldn't work out how to get to our turnstiles. We only put two and two together when we had to walk round half the ground to get access (the gates weren't even open 45 minutes before kick-off of the first game, so a bunch of us had to stand around like lemons until someone came to open the gates to the fan-zone, so we could use turnstile 13!).

Overall, it was a bit low-key for sure - but the fan zone concept was ok and the day was worth the trip. Shame another 5,000 fans didn't feel the same.

[The Blues Ox]

2 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Woodburn-Hall has been one of the best players in the comp this season but he's having a nightmare today, 3 absolute howlers trying to field kicks.

Yeah unfortunatley 3 errors from him that lead to tries, can hardly remember him dropping a ball this season and he has had a total mare today. The 3rd batley try is not given if we have a video ref with the incorrect grounding but that is clutching at straws for 55 minutes we really didn't deserve to be in the game and batley did exactly what they do whenever you play them and that is fight for each other and never go away. The frustrating thing for us is that they only broke us from our own errors and the discipline in giving Batley 12 tackles every set at the back end of the 1st half from us was just abysmal.

[The Phantom Horseman]

52 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

Yeah unfortunatley 3 errors from him that lead to tries, can hardly remember him dropping a ball this season and he has had a total mare today. The 3rd batley try is not given if we have a video ref with the incorrect grounding but that is clutching at straws for 55 minutes we really didn't deserve to be in the game and batley did exactly what they do whenever you play them and that is fight for each other and never go away. The frustrating thing for us is that they only broke us from our own errors and the discipline in giving Batley 12 tackles every set at the back end of the 1st half from us was just abysmal.

For me Fax played like a team that left today's game behind in the Challenge Cup. Looked more talented and more incisive but couldn't put Batley away, how often have we said that in this division? Great effort by Batley, doing what they do so well yet again.

[DEANO]

I didn’t go(York fan). Find the concept ridiculous which can affect relegation/ playoffs depending who you play and couldn’t justify my team having home advantage. Kick it into touch

[OriginalMrC]

I see sacking their coach is going well for Cougars. 

[Szymala]

8 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

I see sacking their coach is going well for Cougars. 

One of the most bizarre sackings of recent times. What did they expect of him after all he achieved last year ?