Match 5: Leigh (Away - Championship)
fevnut's musings
The Big One
It almost seems strange to recall
that there was a time when matches between Fev and Leigh were just a matter of
playing another Lancashire club. But in the 2010s we have been the two most
dominant teams in the championship so a lot of spice has been added to our
encounters. In the last three years Leigh have dominated us and become our
number one bogey team. In fact, they currently stand at nine successive victories so fevnut, like all Fev fans is desperate
for a win against them!
And there is another reason for
wanting to win this one. As things stand right now the clubs have met 112 times
since the first matches in the 1921-22 season. Four of those were draws and Fev
were ahead on victories until Leigh’s nine match run but now the tally stands
at 54 victories each. We need the win to re-establish our overall superiority!
Leigh have made an awful start to the
season with losses to Toronto, Barrow and Toulouse, their only win being
against Batley. It appears that they fell apart last weekend against Toulouse.
Shortly after halftime they were 20-6 up and were playing against 12 men after
Eddy Pettybourne had been sent off. Then, in the final seven minutes Toulouse
scored 3 tries to win.
One thing is for sure. There are 3
factors that will make Leigh’s resolve much stronger on Sunday. First there is
the added determination of players who have put in such a humiliating
performance. Then, there is usually a positive reaction when there is a change
of coach. Finally, there can be no doubt that the decision of Micky Higham to
come out of retirement will galvanise others in the squad.
We have to ask why a team that were
in super league last year and received a bonus £500k bonus parachute payment
have made such an awful start. Maybe it lies in the fact that there are so many
new players in their squad who will take time to learn how to play together.
Us
So, there must be no complacency in
the Fev squad. Those former Leigh players in our squad will be well motivated
but need to stay calm, professional and focused and make sure they don’t lose
their heads. Always a danger in these circumstances. If they deliver for us on Sunday they will
bring such joy to the Fev faithful after enduring all those losses over the
last few years. For us this truly is the big
one. Well, it will be if the match goes ahead. As we write the M62 is
closed!
Conspiracies
There’s nothing that many RL fans
like better than seeing conspiracy in every decision. fevnut is not one of
those but here’s some grist to the mill. The draw for the 4th round of the
Challenge Cup has been hugely beneficial to League One clubs. There were 10 L1
teams in the draw. Seven of those were drawn at home and of the three who got
away draws two of those were to L1 opponents. The only L1 team to get an away
tie against Championship opposition was Oldham who travel to Halifax. Maybe the
L1 clubs have different shaped balls!!
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