fevnut's musings
World Club Series and High Tackles
It was so very good to
watch Warrington and Wigan beating the Aussies in their World Club series
matches. In both matches I sat there expecting the Aussies to come roaring back
but the Super League sides’ defences were good enough to hold them at bay. It was
nearly as good as watching Fev’s heroic defence in action!
However, I have to take
issue with several commentators (television and press) who I have heard
suggesting that these results augur well for an improvement in our
international team. Well, I think we must all be able to remember periods when
SL clubs have dominated the World Club Challenge but it has not been carried
over to success by the English national team. The reason for the difference is
so obvious.
Looking at the Wigan team
that took to the field against Cronulla we find a French International at
fullback, a New Zealand born Cook Islands international in the centres, New
Zealanders at scrum half and prop forward, and a Welsh international filling
the other prop position. Added to that, Wigan had Australian, Taulima Tauta, on
the bench.
The Warrington side was
much more ‘English’ with just an Australian at full back and an Australian
born, Fijian international, at prop. Andre Savelio is of Samoan/New Zealand
descent but I think he was born here, and the way he is progressing, I hope the
day will come when he decides to play for England.
I have no truck with
assertions that individual referees are biased against particular teams.
Generally I have admired Gareth Hewer, but I though he had a very poor game at
Batley. It wasn’t the penalty count, which despite the fact that early on was
5-0 in Batley’s favour, ended up 12-11 to Fev. I couldn’t see the incident
which led to Michael Knowles being sin-binned but have to concede that Hewer
was much nearer to it than I was. So, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt
over that. My disgruntlement with Hewer on Sunday was not over penalty awards
but his lack of priority in taking action over one particular type of
misdemeanour.
Of those 12 penalties
awarded to Rovers, a staggering half (18th, 24th, 25th,
34th, 38th and 61st minutes) were for high
tackles. How is it possible for a team to be penalised six times for high tackles
without more serious action being taken, especially when five of those occurred
in a twenty minute spell? The only team warning issued by Hewer was to Fev for
those five penalties in the first ten minutes. I consider that the tem warning
was probably the right action to take but not to use the sin bin, at least, for
persistent high tackles was inexcusable.
T'Other Side: Swinton Lions
 |
| John Duffy |
John Duffy took over
as coach of Swinton Lions in June 2014 following Ian Watson moving to Salford.
Although suffering relegation that year, he led them to promotion back to the
championship in his first full season. As a player he was a halfback, starting
his career at Warrington but making most of his appearances for Leigh. He
played 12 times for Scotland including the 2008 World Cup.
Captain: Andy Thornley
 |
| Andy Thornley |
Having
made his first grade debut for Salford in 2009, he then went on loan to
Whitehaven and then signed for them for the 2010 season. This was followed by
four seasons playing for Leigh Centurions. In his final season at Leigh he had
loan spells with Swinton and North Wales, signing for Swinton for 2015. This is
his first year as captain. In Swinton’s last match against Bradford, despite
losing, Andy scored a hat trick.
New Signings for 2017
t Anthony Bate (Barrow Raiders)
t Oliver Davies (Saint Helens)
t Chris Hankinson (Barrow Raiders)
t Sean Kenny (Salford Red Devils)
t Jack Murphy (Workington Town)
t Matthew Sarsfield (Salford Red Devils)
For
2017 Swinton Lions have made two signings from Barrow Raiders. Anthony Bate can play anywhere in the
pack. He began at Leigh before moving to Barrow in 2015. The other arrival from
Barrow is Chris Hankinson who
usually plays at centre but can also fill in at halfback.
 |
| Anthony Bate |
 |
| Chis Hankinson |
There
have also been two arrivals from Salford Red Devils. Sean Kenny is a 22 year old hooker who only got to make appearances
off the bench for Salford but has now been giving starting chances at Swinton.
With far more experience, there is Matthew
Sarsfield, a second rower who has played for Dewsbury, Leigh and Halifax as
well as an earlier spell with Swinton in 2013.
 |
| Matthew Sarsfield |
 |
| Sean Kenny |
Jack Murphy
is primarily a fullback who can also play in the three-quarters. He started at
Wigan and had loan spells with South Wales and Salford before signing for
Workington in 2014. He played for England Academy in 2010.
 |
| Jack Murphy |
The Fev Connection
It doesn’t happen very often, but there are no members of the Swinton squad who have ever played for Fev!
Today: Previously - February 26th
Rugby League
February 26th has not, traditionally, been
a great day for Rovers and they only won one of the first six matches played on
that date. The win (22-6 at home) was against Rochdale Hornets in 1966. It was
a first round Challenge Cup tie. Amongst the scorers were Tommy Smales (loose
forward) with a try and 5 goals and Mike Smith with 2 tries. It wasn’t the
start of a great cup run as they were beaten by Warrington in the second round.
Rovers fans had to wait another year for the magic to happen.
Another match on February 26th took place
in 1949 when they were away to Liverpool Stanley in the league. The teams
fought out a 3-3 draw. Unlike Rovers, who despite their name have remained
constantly at Post Office Road throughout their history, Liverpool Stanley were a
team who roved all over the place during their history from 1922-1997. Thy
played under at least 8 different names and were based at various times in
Wigan, Liverpool, Runcorn, Prescot and, for just one year, London.
The last time that Fev played on February 26th
was in 2012 when they edged out Halifax, 34-32, in an away pool game in the
Northern Rail Cup. In an exciting match Ian Hardman scored a hat trick. Andy
Bostock scored a try in the 77th minute to bring the scores level
but Liam Finn was unable to convert. Then, heartbreak as an unconverted try by
Ben Heaton put them 4 points ahead with the hooter imminent. But back came
Rovers and as the hooter was sounding Greg Worthington scored and Liam
converted to give us the victory.
On the international scene, England and Wales drew
9-9 at Wigan in 1944. There was a double-header in Auckland as part of the
Pacific Cup in 2006. Fiji beat the Cook Islands 40-18 and Tonga beat Aotearoa
Maori by 42-14.
World Events
In 1616,
The Roman inquisition demands that Galileo renounces his belief that the earth
orbits the sun.
In 1797,
The Bank of England issues the first £1 note.
In 1848,
Publication by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels of the ‘Communist Manifesto’.
In 1912,
The first national miners strike begins in Britain.
In 2006,
The 20th Winter Olympics ends in Turin.
1361 “Good”
King Wenceslas of Bohemia
1802 Victor Hugo, French Author of Les Miserables and The
Hunchback of Nôtre Dame
1829 Levi
Strauss (of jeans fame)
1946 William
“Buffalo Bill” Cody, American Wild West hunter and showman
1932 Johnny
Cash, country singer
1985 Ashton
Sims, Warrington Wolves and Fiji
No comments:
Post a Comment