Match thread: 1895 Cup. Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers. Sunday 4th February 2024.

[marklaspalmas]

A good first hit out at Hunslet considering all the new players we had out. Just four lads who'd played in our previous game against London last October. Just seven who were in our 2023 squad. And of the ten new players we had, eight on club debut (plus Reynolds and Massey returning). Of those eight, two, Wacokecoke and Kamano made their professional RL debuts, so congratulations to them.

We now need to beat Batley to be sure of progressing to the quarter-finals of the 1895 Cup.

They will be a different proposition altogether on their own ground. It'll be their first official game of 2024.

From the Hunslet game, Reynolds went off at half-time as a precaution, and Arnold's injury didn't look too good.

No signs as yet as to whether we will see Yei, Bussey or Albert on Sunday.

All to play for.

Up The Rovers!

[POR]

52 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

We now need to beat Batley to be sure of progressing to the quarter-finals of the 1895 Cup.

Just a couple of tweaks  in the starting 13 for me Massey for Kamano and England for Josh  

[roversspud]

3 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

 

From the Hunslet game, Reynolds went off at half-time as a precaution, and Arnold's injury didn't look too goo

 

Also Gadwin reportedly had a tight calf and didn't turn out for the second half.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

8 minutes ago, roversspud said:

Also Gadwin reportedly had a tight calf and didn't turn out for the second half.

He was definitely stretching it for a while when he came off

[Rovers fev]

1 hour ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

He was definitely stretching it for a while when he came off

Had a calf issue back end of last season aswell, he’s the leader of our pack we can afford to loose him, 

hopefully Arnold’s injury isn’t too bad he looked solid in his limited minutes 

[Michael Bates]

Don't forget it's a 2pm start to save Batley putting 50p in the floodlights! I realise the irony of a Featherstone fan joking about floodlights...

[marklaspalmas]

I'm trying to do a bit more with my Xitter account. Just posted about prop Nathan Massey pulling on Rovers jersey a while after his last game for us. 5,677 days ago. Easily a record between Rovers appearances. More than 15 years. Ben Reynolds' 4 and half year absence feels like last week in comparison.

Brad England and Wellie Albert's 2nd debuts to come.......

 

[The Phantom Horseman]

1 hour ago, marklaspalmas said:

I'm trying to do a bit more with my Xitter account. Just posted about prop Nathan Massey pulling on Rovers jersey a while after his last game for us. 5,677 days ago. Easily a record between Rovers appearances. More than 15 years.

 

 

A record that's probably going to stand for some time. Who would be second and third in that list of "longest gap between appearances"? I'm going to guess Terry Clawson and Pete Bell, but they're just two that I can remember from my time following Rovers.

[POR]

1 hour ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

A record that's probably going to stand for some time. Who would be second and third in that list of "longest gap between appearances"? I'm going to guess Terry Clawson and Pete Bell, but they're just two that I can remember from my time following Rovers.

I would have thought Terry held the record started late 50's and came back in 78

[marklaspalmas]

43 minutes ago, POR said:

I would have thought Terry held the record started late 50's and came back in 78

TC left in 1965 and came back in 1978. Thirteen years.
 

[marklaspalmas]

1 hour ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

A record that's probably going to stand for some time. Who would be second and third in that list of "longest gap between appearances"? I'm going to guess Terry Clawson and Pete Bell, but they're just two that I can remember from my time following Rovers.

good calls. Jamie Rooney was another with a twelve year gap I think.

Way back when, John Willie Higson left Rovers, who were then a junior club, to play at Hunslet. He came back in 1921 when Fev joined the league. That'd be a similar time span to Massey, but different circumstances

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

3 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

good calls. Jamie Rooney was another with a twelve year gap I think.

Way back when, John Willie Higson left Rovers, who were then a junior club, to play at Hunslet. He came back in 1921 when Fev joined the league. That'd be a similar time span to Massey, but different circumstances

Although he didn't actually make it onto the field, didn't Allan Agar sit on the subs bench after an injury to (I think) Tex Hudson* away at HKR around '83/4 after last playing in '68?

*from memory AA commented that TH was rushing to get off the coach for a last pre-match fag and twisted his ankle

[marklaspalmas]

1 hour ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Although he didn't actually make it onto the field, didn't Allan Agar sit on the subs bench after an injury to (I think) Tex Hudson* away at HKR around '83/4 after last playing in '68?

*from memory AA commented that TH was rushing to get off the coach for a last pre-match fag and twisted his ankle

I have a vague memory of something like that. I know Allan Agar played a game for Carlisle whilst being Rovers coach in 1983.

I also have a memory of Arnie Nicholson sitting on the bench for a match as an unused sub. In Cumbria?? Or maybe it was an A team match. Lost in the mists of time.

Official records are not kept on non-playing subs although I've done my best with Fev's.

[lingaro]

I still hope Paul Newlove will make an appearance 

[marklaspalmas]

Just one change to the 21 man squad.

Arnold out, Bussey in.

https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre/match-preview/2267366

[The Phantom Horseman]

31 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

Just one change to the 21 man squad.

Arnold out, Bussey in.

https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre/match-preview/2267366

You'd think Farrar, Tomlinson and Harris will miss out again, perhaps England too. Could be Bussey straight back in to right back row and Hardy on the bench, though there are a couple of other options there.

Fordy said that there were a couple of players against Hunslet who "weren't where we need them to be", looks like they'll get a chance to put things right this week with no DR inclusions.

[marklaspalmas]

5 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

You'd think Farrar, Tomlinson and Harris will miss out again, perhaps England too. Could be Bussey straight back in to right back row and Hardy on the bench, though there are a couple of other options there.

Fordy said that there were a couple of players against Hunslet who "weren't where we need them to be", looks like they'll get a chance to put things right this week with no DR inclusions.

If Bussey is good to go and not just making up the numbers, he needs a run, maybe off the bench interchanging with Addy.

If there's a change to be made at second-row, I think we need to look at Brad England and see what he can do there.

Wacokecoke ran well and I enjoyed his debut, but maybe Ford is looking at some of his defensive decisions and will put Hardo at centre and Wynne to wing?

Otherwise, I don't think we'll see many changes. If we want a Cup run we have to win this, so giving the others a run out is not an option.

[POR]

Massey in the front row for Kamano England who's already had 3 games for the Bulls so should be up to speed in 2nd row for Josh

That leaves the subs  Bowes Bussey Kamano Shepherd 

 

[marklaspalmas]

10 minutes ago, POR said:

Massey in the front row for Kamano England who's already had 3 games for the Bulls so should be up to speed in 2nd row for Josh

That leaves the subs  Bowes Bussey Kamano Shepherd 

 

Random sub mate

[Rovers fev]

I wouldn’t leave kamano out he’s been solid and had a good motor, for me I’d be moving hardy to centre for better defence on the right edge with bussey at right back row, then either wacokoke or wynne on the wing the other one missing out alongside Harris farrar and Tomlinson, 

[The Phantom Horseman]

1 hour ago, marklaspalmas said:

Random sub mate

[POR]

49 minutes ago, Rovers fev said:

 bussey at right back row, 

Jack not played a minute R  so better on the bench

 England played 3 games for bulls  so better pick for 2nd row

[marklaspalmas]

Maybe I'm out of step given that Bussey's got the 12 shirt for 2024, but when he's fit and well I think his best position is as a ball-handling middle. He has the skills and the bulk, and the defensive qualities.

[The Phantom Horseman]

3 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

Maybe I'm out of step given that Bussey's got the 12 shirt for 2024, but when he's fit and well I think his best position is as a ball-handling middle. He has the skills and the bulk, and the defensive qualities.

I'm inclined to agree, but it looks like Addy's going to play big minutes for us in that role this year, and Jack's probably as good as any other option we have at the edge back row position. It's handy that he's versatile though.

[Phil Briscoe]

One of the mistakes I think Ford made in his  team selection for the London game was we were at least one specialist middle short in the 17. We used Bussey and JD as middles. Bussey is not a prop in my view, when you put him in the heavy traffic down the middle he’s much less effective as he’s not quite big enough. On the edge he’s quality. And I don’t think he’s  really got the hands for the old fashioned 13 role like Addy. Only my opinion of course!!