Why shouldn't he have a soft spot for Halifax RLFC, these are his players ?

Or, If you listen to the clowns on here, the players are his drinking buddies. Well cheers Matt, your legacy will never be forgotten by some of us.

Sheff Utd have a home game next Saturday, wonder if this will affect the timing of the game if they beat Widnes?
Just wondered why they are playing Friday night this week?

Totally agree, MM. Matt must be spitting chips reading some of the stuff on here. I mean .... his record speaks for itself ...... but then we have the likes of some geek with a bugs bunny avatar saying he was "bad". How disheartening is that .....

Preece is a good player but made some crucial errors tonight. He threw two poor long passes out tonight that only found the touch judge.he didnt deal with a poor kick for bannisters try. Looked dangerous in attack tho. Well done the boys great effort , fair play to batley they just dont go away.

Nice to see the usual bitter comments on the Dogs forum. Always like to go to MP and did have a soft spot for them. What have we done to upset them so much. And seems some of them thought the ref made some bad calls against them. But they didn't mention what seemed to be clear use of another player to obstruct that the video ref allowed; the outrageous forward pass that set up the break which led to their final try; and video ref not awarding try to Fairbank when ball seemed to have touched the line (only slightly but that's all it needs). I guess they also didn't like the fact that we were prepared to stand up to and match their rough, slowing down tactics this time.

Yes, can't believe vid ref gave the 'Hide and Seek' try.

Maybe their coach chose the wrong tactics & our caretaker coach got his players to stick to our gameplan.

I'd disagree Diztempo , all those calls were correct , you managed the win , the game could easily gave gone either way , can the play offs be all away wins with a Leigh - Fax final ?

Oh how I would just LOVE it if we beat Fev away .... again

Quote ="Norman Bates"Sheff Utd have a home game next Saturday, wonder if this will affect the timing of the game if they beat Widnes? Just wondered why they are playing Friday night this week?'" Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php

Quote ="Norman Bates"Sheff Utd have a home game next Saturday, wonder if this will affect the timing of the game if they beat Widnes? Just wondered why they are playing Friday night this week?'" Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" No. Away at the higher placed team. Sheffield or Widnes!

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" No. Away at the higher placed team. Sheffield or Widnes!

No we're away all the way until the final. It's how the league table looked at the end of the season

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" Don't think so as doesn't the 'higher' placed club always get home advantage?

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" Don't think so as doesn't the 'higher' placed club always get home advantage?

Great win by the lads, I DID believe and so did they tonight!
The Bulldogs can have their 4 wins (if you include that Friendly) but we won the one that mattered.
Get in

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" I thought that too as when we finished 3rd in SL and Saint beats us in Play off they then became the 3rd placed team, I realise the RFL changes the rules to suit anyone but Halifax.....but as we have beaten the 3rd placed team aren't we technically now higher than Sheff/Widnes?

Quote ="marillion man"Don't we get the home draw, now we're the 3rd place team ? www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/playoffs.php'" I thought that too as when we finished 3rd in SL and Saint beats us in Play off they then became the 3rd placed team, I realise the RFL changes the rules to suit anyone but Halifax.....but as we have beaten the 3rd placed team aren't we technically now higher than Sheff/Widnes?

Totally agree , batley can take those 4 wins for the one that really matters. Boom

As far as I know it's always been the same format in the playoffs apart from changing from top 5 to top 6. At the end of the league seaso we finished 6th so means all are games will b away and that doesn't change no matter what the results in the playoffs.

Correct

Way back in 2000 when we beat Dewsbury away in the first round if the play offs we took their top place and home advantage , this all changed a couple of years later

Not saying this because its us but this is what annoys the hell out of me about the RFL they constantly TINKER with the game and you don't know where you stand from one season to the next, how can clubs make decisons when you don't lknow what you are working with?
Its what makes a mockery of our great game.

Anyone else think the crowd was very poor tonight?
I thought more fans from both clubs would be there, at least 50% of the crowd were Fax fans. Hopefully no more Thursday night games next year - PLEASE.

How bitter are the Batley fans? Its a good read on their forum, just need that guy to turn up on ours spouting off about how us Fax fans always think we should beat Batley. What has made them so bitter towards us, like i said before i think it can only be jealousy but god knows why after the season they have had, competing with the best teams in the league, just a shame they ran in to the best team in knockout rugby in the competition.

Awesome performance by the boys. Plenty more rugby left in this season yet.

That performance wouldnt be enough to beat either Fev or Leigh, because Batley were rudderless to be honest. Mennell is poor, his kicking game was dire, every single one straight to the full back and when Handforth didn't come out for the second half,the writing was well and truly on the wall.
If I was a halifax fan I would know that the performance against a Leigh or Featherstone would need to be 50% improvement, and also would need to be better to get through the next round away to Widnes or sheffield

we will be playing friday night in the next round

Now come on, don't read ' the Batley fans' as all of us. I think you will find that most accepted defeat as it should be. You played well, deserved the win, and will still worry whoever you play next.

I have a theory that all posters of the losing team should not be allowed to post until at least the day after. Read the thread where the guy moans about the ref, and how he eventually, over time, changes his mind!!

It's how it is. Personally, I am delighted with our season, thought we gave you a game last night, and am really looking forward to next season.

Good luck in your next match!

You are probably right there DD, I have posted with emotion in the past only to have to retract later. I have even decided not to post until the dust settles and then get drawn in....

My only worry about last night was the number of missed tackles. The stats at half tine showed we missed 12 to Batleys 1. I don't know if this improved in the second half, just going to watch it now.