Halifax v Fev:
Teams and Scorers
Championship
Round 19
Sunday, 30 June 2019
Friday, 28 June 2019
Halifax v Fev: 19 Man Squads
Thursday, 27 June 2019
fevnut's musings #25: Why did it happen and Transfer Deadline
Depressing
It was very
sad to see so many Fev fans leaving last week’s match early. fevnut never, ever
does that mainly because we note down stats and also because of memories of
very late huge turnarounds. We wonder how many Fev fans missed that amazing
last six minutes against Batley in 2015. We certainly know of quite a few who
were really upset to have missed it.
Maybe if we
had left on Sunday we would not have ended up feeling so depressed for the next
couple of days.
Trying
to answer the question … ‘Why?’
a)
Barrow
We do suspect
that everyone (players, coaching staff and fans) had underestimated the threat
that Barrow would pose. All teams have blips and maybe we thought that their
win against Halifax the week before was a blip from Halifax. But looking
further, Barrow have been scoring a lot of points recently. Sunday made it 167
points in 5 games and that is not what you would expect from a team fighting
against relegation.
They have
also strengthened their team with new signings, they had Luke Cresswell back
from injury and we suspect that there is a strong bond in their squad because
of the number of local lads in it.
We also
should not forget that we struggled against them in the second half back at the
end of April - 22-0 at half-time but 26-12 at the end.
b)
Fev
In our team
we were missing Ashton Golding and Luke Briscoe from the team that had been
playing so well in recent weeks. Calum Turner and Jack Render, their
replacements, are talented youngsters but just didn’t seem to be anywhere near
their best on Sunday. That undoubtedly had an effect on both the incisiveness
of our attack and the organisation of the defence.
The
forwards seemed unable to find the dominance they had shown over opposition
packs in the last few games. We thought that the spirit that John Davies gives to
the go-forward was a real loss.
Perhaps we
have become too reliant on dual reg and loans. The problem there is that,
although the players have made big contributions, we have little control
over who is available and the consequent changes unsettles the team. As we saw
last year that can become a very acute problem at the end of the season.
Transfer
deadline
We keep on
hoping that we win the EuroMilions lottery and a definite priority would be
investing a good proportion of any such win in our beloved Fev. Just imagine
the scenario. We make it into the play-offs and our investment enables to strengthen
the team and we finish as champions. But of course that can’t happen because there
are rules in place in many sports to prevent last minute spending buying
promotion.
For the
last few years our transfer deadlines have been tied to the Super 8s but those
have now gone and talking to friends there seems to be a lot of confusion over
the rules for this year.
So we set
out to find out what the regulations are for this year and this is what we have
found.
1)
The
deadline date for transfers this year is Friday August 9th, several weeks
before the play-offs start in the third weekend of September.
2)
The crucial
date for dual registration is Monday August 12th. From then on players can only
continue with dual registration if they have played at least four games on dual
reg. In our case the players who have already qualified are: Luke Briscoe,
Ashton Golding, Harry Newman and Alex Sutcliffe. Jack Broadbent has played 3
times but is now on loan at Batley so probably won’t qualify.
3)
Any players
who haven’t completed 4 games would have to come in on loan and then would not
be available for their parent club for the rest of the season.
4)
The
deadline dates apply to all three leagues.
5)
The area we
have been unable to verify concerns players on loan. We assume, but cannot be
certain that after the transfer deadline any players on loan will have to
remain at their loan club for the rest of the season or return to their parent
club for the rest of the year.
Wednesday, 26 June 2019
Championship Talk: Raider's resurgence
CHAMPIONSHIP TALK
fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.
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.
fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.
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.
Raider’s resurgence
THE
Betfred Championship relegation battle is likely to have a few twists and turns
yet, with the form of Barrow Raiders throwing an extra dimension into the
scramble.
Paul
Crarey’s
side head into this weekend’s clash with Toulouse having won three of their
last four league matches, dragging them back onto terms with 12th placed
Dewsbury and just a point behind Swinton and Widnes.
Bottom
club Rochdale start the weekend seven points from safety ahead of a must-win
match against the Lions that probably represents their last chance to try and
save themselves.
But
above them there are now five teams separated by just three points, up to
ninth-placed Batley Bulldogs.
The
Vikings’
position is something of a falsity, given that they have won 11 matches this
season and had 12 points deducted for entering administration.
But
Kieron Purtill’s
side will be fully aware they still need to chalk up the victories required to
survive, and Barrow’s resurgence has put a bit more pressure on everybody.
It
started with a thumping home win over Rochdale that restored some confidence,
and after defeat at Purtill’s Widnes, they have produced superb wins
over Halifax and Featherstone.
The
away win at Rovers on Sunday was particularly impressive given the form of the
opposition, who were swept aside in the second half by Paul Crarey’s side
in a 38-16 win.
The
experienced and popular Crarey has always maintained his belief in his squad
despite one of the toughest runs with injuries in the competition.
The
club has also stuck firm to its stance of not using dual registration despite
most of the clubs around them utilising it, and that faith now appears to be
paying off.
Papua
New Guinean pair Wartovo Puara and Stargroth Amean have been outstanding
of late, while local fullback Luke Cresswell scored a hat-trick at Featherstone.
In
Jamie Dallimore they have a halfback who knows how to win at this level, and
they have a host of experienced forwards that are helping to lay a platform.
The
board has shown a willingness to back Crarey as well, bringing in new signings
that could be crucial for the run-in, in halfback Ben White and back row or
centre Liam Paisley.
There’s
plenty of rugby still to be played in a battle that could go right down to the
wire - but Barrow and Crarey have certainly given themselves a fighting chance
now.
Tuesday, 25 June 2019
Sunday's Referee: Halifax v Fev
Sunday's Referee
What a contrast! Last week we had a first time referee and this week it is one who will be doing his 58th Fev match.
We had calculated that he had driven over 8,000 miles between his home in Whitehaven and Post Office Road so we do wonder what his total mileage has been getting to all his total of 439 matches (not including internationals).
There is one amazing stat here - just look at the total penalties he has awarded to Fev and to our opposition teams!
We had calculated that he had driven over 8,000 miles between his home in Whitehaven and Post Office Road so we do wonder what his total mileage has been getting to all his total of 439 matches (not including internationals).
There is one amazing stat here - just look at the total penalties he has awarded to Fev and to our opposition teams!
T’Other Side: Halifax
T’Other Side: Halifax
2019 Matches
LAST TIME OUT
Head Coach: Simon Grix
Simon Grix is in his first job as a head coach having
taken over from Richard Marshall in late April, initially in a caretaker role
but was appointed on a permanent basis in late May.
His playing career began with Halifax (where he was born)
in 2003. He was signed by Warrington in 2005 but missed out on the whole of his
first year because of injury. He returned to Halifax in 2016 both as a player
and as a member of the coaching staff. Although he has played for Fax this year
he has only made one appearance since taking over as head coach.
Simon is what one would describe as a utility having
played at fullback, centre, stand-off, scrum-half, second row and loose
forward! He is an Ireland international.
Captain: Scott Murrell
Some teams have halfbacks with great
pace others have players who are brilliant organisers (like Liam Finn!). Scott
Murrell definitely comes into the brilliant organisers category. He is without
doubt the real controlling force on the pitch for Halifax, commanding huge
respect from the rest of his team. He began his career at Leeds Rhinos but made
his first team debut for London Broncos in 2004 whilst on loan from Leeds. In
2006 he moved to Hull Kingston Rovers who were then in National League One.
After securing promotion to the Super League at the end of that season he
remained with Hull KR for a further 6 seasons before signing for Halifax in
2013. In 2010 he made an appearance off the bench for England.
At the back
Chester Butler, centre or
second row, has been a stand-out performer for Halifax this year which has led
to a move to Super League for him next year with Huddersfield. He has been with
Halifax (his hometown club) since making his professional début in 2016
although he did play a couple of games with South Wales Scorpions in 2017 on
dual registration. In 2017 and 2018 he played for Wales including an appearance
in the 2017 World Cup against Papua New Guinea.
Scott Grix, fullback,
started as a Halifax player but made his first team début while on loan at
Doncaster in 2003. In 2005 he spent a season in France with Limoux. On return
he joined Leigh in 2006, moved on to Widnes in 2007 and Wakefield in 2008.
Since 2010 he has been a Huddersfield player and younger brother, Simon,
brought him back to Halifax in May. He has played for Ireland 16 times.
James Saltonstall, centre or
wing, is yet another Halifax born member of the team. He began with Warrington
in 2013. In 2014 he had a loan spell at York and then joined Halifax in 2015.
In 2011 he played for England Academy and has played for Italy (he has an
Italian mother).
Will Sharp, wing or fullback,
was born in Nigeria and made his début with London Broncos (then known as
Harlequins RL) in 2008. In 2011 he joined Hull FC and then had three years at
Fev from 2013 to 2015 moving to Halifax in 2016.
Shaun Robinson, wing, began with Oldham in 2011 and then joined Oxford in
2013. In 2014 he became a Dewsbury player but spent most of the year at
Rochdale on loan. In 2015 he moved to Swinton from where he joined Fev last
year. He is Halifax’s leading try scorer with 11 tries.
In the halves
Ben Johnston, scrum half, made
his début with Castleford in 2012 and also played on loan with York that year.
In 2013 he went on loan to both Dewsbury and York and joined Halifax in 2013.
He is another Irish international.
Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e is best known
as a fullback but since the departure of Ben White to Barrow he has been
playing at scrum-half as the regular partner to captain, Scott Murrell, at
stand-off. In 2011 he came over from Australia to join Sheffield Eagles and in
2012 scored 35 tries for them. In 2017 he joined Toronto and then in 2018 he
started the season with Toronto, moved on to Halifax in April but after 4 games
was signed by Castleford. He returned to Halifax at the beginning of this
season.
At Hooker
Ben Kaye has been at Halifax since 2014. He
started with Leeds in 2008, moved to Harlequins RL in 2009 from where he went
on loan to Fev in 2010. That same year he also played for London Skolars on
dual reg. In 2011 he became a Fev player where he remained until his move to
Halifax. Back in 2007 he played for the England U17 team.
Brandon Moore made his début
with Castleford in 2015 and has been a Halifax player since 2016.
In the pack
Ed Barber, second row or loose forward, was
born in Halifax and started his professional career with Dewsbury in 2010. In 2011
he played for Western Suburbs in Australia and then came back to Dewsbury in
2012. In 2013 he played Rugby Union, returning to League with Swinton in May
2013. He joined Halifax in 2015.
Daniel Fleming, prop, came
through Halifax as a junior but had to wait many years before he made his début
for his hometown team. His first professional game was on loan with Rochdale in
2010. In 2013 he joined Castleford and played on dual reg for Batley (2013) and
York (2014). In 2015 he joined Bradford and played for Oxford (dual reg - 2015)
and Swinton (loan - 2016). In 2017 he became a Toronto player and then
(finally!) he re-joined Halifax in 2018. He is a Welsh international.
Ben Kavanagh, prop or
second row, has added Super League experience to the front row having played
121 times for Widnes (2008-2015), Wakefield (2015) and Hull Kingston Rovers
(2017-2018). In 2016 he played in the Championship with Bradford. He also played
on dual reg for Workington in 2013. At representative level he played for
England U18s in 2005 and he has played 17 times for Scotland. He joined Halifax
this year.
Another
international added to the Halifax squad this year is Frenchman Kevin Larroyer, second row, who has
played in Super League with Catalans (2012-2013), Hull KR (2014-2015) and
Castleford (2017). He played in the Championship with Toulouse in 2010 and
2011. He played on dual reg with Newcastle in 2016 and on loan with Bradford in
2017. He must have bitter memories of a previous game playing for Toulouse
against Fev in France in 2011, a game that Fev won 90-10!
Adam Tangata, prop, came to
England from Australia to join Halifax in 2015. This year he was signed by
Widnes but released when they hit financial problems and re-joined Halifax in April.
He is a Cook Islands international.
Dual Registration and Loans
Halifax have dual registration agreements with Castleford
and Hunslet this year. Will Maher
has played a couple of games for Halifax this year and Mitch Clark played for
Halifax last weekend. Will Calcott, Harry Kidd and James Saltonstall and James
Woodburn-Hall have played for Hunslet.
They have Liam Cooper on loan from Saint Helens and Scott
Grix from Huddersfield.
Conor McGrath is on loan with York and Frazer Morris with Oldham.
The Fev
Connection
There
are four players in this year’s Halifax squad
who have previously played for Rovers. Ben Kaye was a very popular
hooker at Post Office Road for three years. Will Sharp was a
great favourite during his time with Fev from 2013 to 2015. He scored many
crucial tries including the last minute ones against Sheffield which took Fev
into the play-offs in 2013 and the one which beat Batley in 2015 when Fev
snatched victory by scoring 22 points in the last six minutes! Shaun Robinson moved from Fev to Fax
during the off-season. Mitch Clark who
played 11 games on loan for Fev last year played on dual reg from Castleford
last weekend.
Last year there were 3 players in the Fev squad who had
played for Halifax. They have all now left Fev. Richard Moore to Hunslet (now retired), Anthony Thackeray to
Sheffield and Sam Brooks to Leigh. Morgan Punchard is the only one of our
current squad who has been at Halifax but he never got to play in the first
team there.
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