Match Thread: Championship Round 18, Featherstone Rovers v Batley Bulldogs, Sunday 4th August 2024

[The Phantom Horseman]

A 20-man squad has been named on the RFL website. Danny Addy is included though whether that means he's fit and available remains to be seen given previous comments. Jimmy Beckett and James Lockwood are in line for their "re-debut" appearances, Albert & Bussey also included. Mo Kamano isn't in the squad, can't remember if he picked up a knock last week.

https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre/match-preview/2266994

I'd imagine we'll have the same line-up in the backs as last week and another 80-minute stint for Bowes. Based on the update from Jamie Bell last week, we can expect Bussey to play but perhaps not Albert or Addy. So perhaps Bussey, Lockwood and Beckett replacing Kamano, Silk and Tennison.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Important game this weekend. We're probably going to be second favourites in our three following games (Widnes & Bradford away, Toulouse at home), and if we can get two wins from those 4 games we will have done very well, before the last five games which on paper might look more winnable. However, we have proved vulnerable whatever the opposition at times this year and Batley will absolutely fancy their chances of turning us over again this week.

[jamescolin]

Hopw do you see the line up out of the 20 mentioned.

[fevnut]

fevnut has published ‘Fev v Batley Bulldogs: 21 man squads’.

We find it quite difficult to see the potential shape of the teams in the form in which the clubs publish the squads, so we choose to use guesswork based on last week’s teams to set them out in the traditional manner running from fullback to loose forward and then subs.

We also include a chart showing the leading scorers for both teams.

Access the page by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/3WLtAwT

[Featherstonerovers2000]

Eden

wynne

barkey

minkin

jeffery

aekins

reynolds

springer

bowes

Nakumbwai

hardcastle

day

Beckett

subs

arnold

Bussey

lockwood

Kibula

miss out

addy

albert

harris

 

 

[sentoffagain2]

   Not a bad pick have you seen them working out in training?.   I had the same team apart from Nakunbwai at 10.I thought he would be on the bench.It makes sense for Beckett to play 13 as he is a very good passer as i stated in my earlier post.Addy is still injured and you couldn't start Locky after a long lay off.It looks obvious that Barley will play as a loan player or i would have played Hardcastle in the centre.Minikin has been defending well lately and Josh is solid on defence wherever he plays. 

[jamescolin]

Bussey in second row and Hardcastle at centre otherwise a very good selection

[Featherstonerovers2000]

2 hours ago, jamescolin said:

Bussey in second row and Hardcastle at centre otherwise a very good selection

Bussey only just coming back from injury so I wouldn’t want him in second row till match fit so would bring him on for Beckett at loose 

[coolie]

However much it breaks my heart I actually think you will beat Batley this afternoon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiss of death hopefully

Good luck

[bigbaldnmad]

Todays team

[fevnut]

fevnut has updated the ‘Championship Table, Results and Fixtures’ page.

For the first time this season we have included our own special version of the table which shows the possibilities open to each club.

There is also a chart for results and match dates and another for next weekend’s fixtures.

You will also find a ‘Current Form’ league table based on each club’s last five championship matches.

While on the page you will find other pages that would be of interest by clicking on ‘Archive’ near the top left of the page.

Access the data by clicking on link below.

https://bit.ly/3vvl6zb

Edited August 4 by fevnut
Correction

[The Phantom Horseman]

A much-needed and hard-fought win, rarely pretty and still very clunky in attack but I think we deserve some credit for grinding out the win and nilling Batley in the 2nd half.

I thought Batley were the better team in the 1st half, even allowing for the combined advantage of the slope and the wind, but we gradually got on top in the second half, inspired by Josh Hardcastle's best performance of the season, and were well on top for most of that second half, even though we lacked any sort of attacking fluency near the line.

But the key aspect to winning today might have been the improved discipline. We've been conceding double-figure penalties (and 6 agains) on a regular basis lately, but I made it only 3 conceded today, a vast improvement and it makes a massive difference to the outcome when you're not marching your opponents towards your own tryline.

It would have been pretty grim if we had lost today with 3 very tough fixtures coming up, being honest we'd have been looking nervously down the table rather than up it, but this win gets up back into the top 6, and as I said in the initial post in this thread, if we can find a win (or more!) from those 3 tough games we'll be in a reasonable position for the final run of games in September.

Ford said on radio Leeds that Connor Jones will be back for next week's game at Widnes, and with Gaz Gale back the week after, and Patton the week after that, play-offs still aren't out of the question.

Edited August 4 by The Phantom Horseman

[J Phil Loxton]

Batley played really well in the first half and they certainly know how to boot the ball in the air. It looked ominous for Fev at half time but they came out with a different attitude that had been lacking in a few games recently. Apart from Wakey and Toulouse at the moment you can't predict who is going to beat who. Hardcastle had his best game since his recovery and Bowes quickened up the play the ball. When Patton comes back it will pave way for Aekins to revert back to his ideal position too. The news that Jones could be back next week is a bonus for a tough match at Widnes.

[fevnut]

fevnut has posted ‘Fev v Batley Bulldogs (Championship Round 18): Match Details’.

We don’t yet have the men of the match or attendance but we will add them as soon as they become available.

Access the page by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/4d9fpHI

 

[haskey]

A game of two halves, as PH says we are still clunky in attack, and far too much one man rugby down the middle. when we move the ball ie the the second half we look a much better team, and in the last 2o mins or so Batley looked shell shocked although it took some class to open their defence. It will be great for Jones to be back in the mix .

[jamescolin]

Great to see Hardcastle back and great goal kicking from Reynolds 

[Fevrover]

1 hour ago, fevnut said:

fevnut has updated the ‘Championship Table, Results and Fixtures’ page.

For the first time this season we have included our own special version of the table which shows the possibilities open to each club.

There is also a chart for results and match dates and another for next weekend’s fixtures.

You will also find a ‘Current Form’ league table based on each club’s last five championship matches.

While on the page you will find other pages that would be of interest by clicking on ‘Archive’ near the top left of the page.

Access the data by clicking on link below.

https://bit.ly/3vvl6zb

The stats look better this week, we definitely needed this win.

Edited August 4 by Fevrover

[sentoffagain2]

1.        We deserved the win after a strong second half performance.Batley well on top in the first half and looked to be heading for another win at POR although to most supporters it would not have been a great surprise.As mentioned Hardcastle had a strong game and although he has been missing all season i thought Locky had a decent first game back.Always willing to take the ball up.Reynolds despite some average kicks out of his hand did well to brush three defenders aside to score his try.And despite a slowish start Beckett stormed in for his try.As i said earlier in the season i really like him and i am pleased Silk managed to score for Dewsbury.He probably lacks a few pounds in weight but but there is a player in him.Bussey backed up for his try and although a bit rusty he can only improve.If we are to win only one of our next three games i think Bradford away will be our best chance.For once Brad Day had a quiet game and although he tries Aekins as we know is clearly not a stand off.Eden was ok at full back.When Patton returns where does Eden play if Aekins reverts to full back.

[Michael Bates]

1 hour ago, sentoffagain2 said:

1. When Patton returns where does Eden play if Aekins reverts to full back.

Dewsbury?

[haskey]

Cant fault you MB

 

[sentoffagain2]

17 minutes ago, Michael Bates said:

Dewsbury?

  If you read my earlier posts i was the first to say why have we brought in Eden.we just didn't need him.Another one of Fords signings a lot of supporters didn't understand.

[Wolfey Rovers]

1 hour ago, sentoffagain2 said:

1.        We deserved the win after a strong second half performance.Batley well on top in the first half and looked to be heading for another win at POR although to most supporters it would not have been a great surprise.As mentioned Hardcastle had a strong game and although he has been missing all season i thought Locky had a decent first game back.Always willing to take the ball up.Reynolds despite some average kicks out of his hand did well to brush three defenders aside to score his try.And despite a slowish start Beckett stormed in for his try.As i said earlier in the season i really like him and i am pleased Silk managed to score for Dewsbury.He probably lacks a few pounds in weight but but there is a player in him.Bussey backed up for his try and although a bit rusty he can only improve.If we are to win only one of our next three games i think Bradford away will be our best chance.For once Brad Day had a quiet game and although he tries Aekins as we know is clearly not a stand off.Eden was ok at full back.When Patton returns where does Eden play if Aekins reverts to full back.

Oldham?

[fevnut]

fevnut has COMPLETED ‘Fev v Batley Bulldogs (Championship Round 18): Match Details’.

We have added the men of the match and the attendance.

Access the page by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/4d9fpHI

 

[sentoffagain2]

35 minutes ago, Wolfey Rovers said:

Oldham?

 That would be a sensible shout as they are likely to be in the Championship next year.And money seems to grow on trees in Oldham with the players they have this season on Championship contracts.9.5 out of 10 for the suggestion.

[The Phantom Horseman]

15 hours ago, J Phil Loxton said:

 The news that Jones could be back next week is a bonus for a tough match at Widnes.

As confirmation that he should be back in time for a couple of training sessions before the Widnes game, Connor posted on Instagram from the departures lounge at Brisbane International aiport yesterday.