Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.
Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.
Summer
Bash lessons
WITH
a record crowd of 16,444 - including a bumper 11,557 on day one - and plenty of
cracking action on the field, there was much to admire in this year’s Summer
Bash.
Here’s five things we
learned.
1.
Bradford Bulls aren’t done yet
It
might have been another loss for the Championship’s bottom club in Blackpool,
but after a tough recent run of form, their 20-19 defeat to table-toppers Hull
KR was filled with hope.
The Bulls - still on minus two points
and currently eight adrift of safety - pushed the high-flying Robins all the
way in a thrilling day one finale.
Dane Chisholm - making his second
debut for the club - produced a hugely encouraging display that should boost
the side’s
confidence.
But they will be well aware that this
weekend’s
clash with Dewsbury is even more important.
2.
Rochdale-Oldham matches rarely disappoint
Rochdale
Hornets pulled themselves two points further clear of the relegation zone by
overturning an 18-point deficit against their local rivals in the first
Championship game.
The two teams had already played out a
nail-biting draw this season, and often contest captivating games.
With four cards - one red and three
yellows - some spectacular tries and that remarkable turnaround, this was one
of the games of the weekend.
3.
London Broncos are firmly back on track
Arguably
the most impressive overall performance of the weekend came from Andrew Henderson’s
Broncos in their 42-16 demolition of top four rivals Featherstone.
After a shaky spell earlier this year,
the capital club have now won six in a row to move back up to third in the
Championship table.
With props Eddie Battye and Tom
Spencer due back from injury imminently after being out since round two, they
look well placed to secure a Qualifiers spot and then kick on.
4.
Dewsbury enjoy playing Batley
Dewsbury
Rams have only won four matches this season - three of them against local
rivals Batley.
The latest triumph was not one for the
purists, but they edgy 13-12 win on the west coast keeps their survival hopes
firmly alive.
Coach Neil Kelly has lost what some
would see as some key members of his squad in recent weeks - but on this
evidence those that remain have the heart for the battle ahead.
5.
League One is worthy of its Summer Bash slot
The
Blackpool action kicked off with the League One Cup final - and Barrow and
North Wales served up an absolute cracker.
Underdogs Crusaders were level going
into the closing stages of a see-saw clash, before Danny Morrow’s 75th
minute try sealed matters.
It was a terrific way to start the
weekend and provides third tier clubs with a deserved day in the spotlight.
No comments:
Post a Comment