HamsterChops wrote:
Gave too many penalties IMO, but didn't have any effect on the game itself. Was just a little quick to penalise anything and everything, but as long as it's same for both sides (which it was), I generally won't complain at that.
On the flip side, he was fairly lenient with Josh Barlow who could have spent about 50 minutes in the sin bin. Nutcase that lad.
Tend to agree with most other comments about the game. Clare proved he is undoubtedly the best fullback option in our squad. Whilst I'd still rather sign a specialist one and play Clare elsewhere, he is definitely the best option currently available to us. I think it also showed when we have our best props available, our pack has a much better chance of dominating the game and giving the backs the space to play off it. Keeping Clough, Sidlow & Kavanagh fit is a big thing for us, especially if Mitch Clark is then the 4th option to do the "come off the bench, knock some bodies flying" role.
Defence much much better than previous weeks, although I won't get too carried away as Swinton didn't offer a whole lot. Blythe was the exception to that rule though, and I would very much point at him for those tries. They were obviously going to run at the side where the young lad was, and Blythe did very little to help him out, other than leaving him stranded. The try he bombed when he was over the line too was ridiculous. Had that been a close game, his complacency could have lost us the match.
Barlow's brother Sam is also a raving lunatic. Can't help wondering if it's nature or nurture, or maybe both.
