smash and grab similar to Dewsbury last season probably should have lost but AGAIN showed that under Calland nothing is a lost cause. Like said Barrow will win playing worse and were excellent but I fully expected them to be on home soil so it is just a vital a victory as ever there was one. Thought some poor play from players like Govin, Frank and Mark Roberts gave them opptomism to pull off the win but lets hope they learn from that and come back stronger on Friday. Even Said couldn't break the defensive line which is testement to them. Good tense atmosphere which I like makes Rugby much more thrilling than most sports.

it was 18 nil to toulouse after 20 mins, they showed they will be no mugs this season once they get a couple of players back,

Is interesting that our fans have come back saying we were poor apart from 20 minutes and their fans are rejoicing about how well they played yet we still won.. Can only bode well. Barrow away will be the falling of many teams this year so lets be positive about this result. You can't play 100% every week.

Now then....We played poorly overall and were, at times, shocking. The defence was back to last seasons standards and we looked lost at times with the ball. All this talk, by MC among others, about it being hard/a long trip/all big lads up in Cumbria (lancashire actually

) is balderdash. It's only a couple of weeks since we did 'em by thirty! But.... to be positive, we played nowhere near our best, we have won away at what could be one of our main rivals and it is the sign of a very good team that can do that whilst not on top form. This result should be a confidence booster and we will only improve as the lads get to know each other. MOM for me was Penky but his display summed up 'Fax on the day, one minute brilliant, the next not so good. When we put it all together for the full eighty minutes we will take some stopping.

I agree.

I remember your comment, Haighy, when we played Barrow earlier this season saying they were "the worst team we've played for years". I said at the time I disaggreed with you - you must have been watching a completely different match to me. Barrow looked very useful on that occasion and the 40 point scoreline totally flattered us. I've said it before and I'll say it again, NL1 this season will be very tough. And those who rubbished Batley v Gateshead should think again.

I don't think Barrow looked useful the other week, far from it, they were only interested in slowing the game down. The only time they looked like scoring was from the 2 interceptions we threw them.

Got to agree though that this season will be very tough with anyone probably capable of beating anyone.

At the end of the day we got the three points we wanted, and that is good enough for me!

It will be a tough place to go for teams this year and not many will win, so for us to beat them with a couple of players out, I am happy. Bring on Widnes!

They were simply awful at the Shay, I maintain that, and they were extremely good last night. Like my comment said, they were 'a completely different team.'

Well done on your win last night and good to see a decent turnout from your fans. It certainly added to the atmosphere. I do feel like we were mugged of the points though - we certainly should have won, but lacked a bit of composure.

I thought your halves and hooker played well - kicking in particular, but I though our forwards were more than a match and we only actually played 15 players - with our 2 academy lads staying on the bench.

It seems like we've been waiting forever, but when we get Catic and hopefully the 3 Fijians in our squad we should take it up another level. on top of that we were missing prop Dutton, Bracek and record points scorer Holty. I know guys were missing a few, but I'm just making the point that we SHOULD be able to remain competitive all season with those extra bodies available.

Anyway, we've got Wigan next Sunday in front of a sell out of 6,000-ish, so it doesn't get any easier. Followed by Haven at home on Good Friday (should be a cracker) and then Leigh away on Easter Monday (should be a real test).

What are the odds of a repeat match in the NR Cup semi ????

Ask Howard Posner!!



I thought your three Fijian players were definately NOT coming now . . .

Hell of a game last night ,well done Halifax, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask ...................... only joking! Fax looked after the ball a bit better than us at the right times, the amount of chances we bombed down the left was daft, but thats rugby! Cant see many more sides getting the 3 points of us this season at home, so like i said, well done again. I bet your lads were ting themselves everytime Ian Bell (3) ran at them, what a crowd pleaser he is turning out to be. Good luck for the rest of the season!

Bell and harrison both had good games, both big and strong centres

Barker hasn't been good in any games so far doesn't do owt. When Goddard is fit can see him dropping out of the 17 totally.

Its strange how Barker doesn't seem to be fitting in too well. I am sure he will come good soon.

Winning games like last night is what we need to do if we want to win the Championship this year. We were poor with ball in hand last night and had no fluidity at all. All credit to Barrow though. They tackled hard and took the ball up strong. Their winger Bell? was a real handfull last night and i thought Brock had a good game for them.

There wont be many teams going to Barrow this year and come away with the points. So its a fantastic result for us.

I think last night goes to show that he is a back rower and it cant help him playing in the centre.

wouldnt play him over smith,roberts etc. Can't believe he's from SL

So why isnt he playing 2nd row and Roberts at centre?

You will have to ask Matt Calland - To be honest i dont think Roberts is great in the centres either - but goes well in the back row.

i noticed that we had 3 props on the bench.I know we are short of players but do people think perhaps MC could have picked Andy Bowman instead just to add variety from the bench or was it correct to go with the bench he picked.I suppose because we won the end justified the means.

We certainly haven't seen the best of Dwayne yet, but I would rather have Roberts, Smith and Larder in the back row to be honest.

Maybe give him some game time at stand off?

Barker has had more clubs than tiger woods, the lads not very good.

Wouldn't quite go that far VM, he was playing regular Super League rugby with Quins lasy year . . . he can't be too bad.

I take your Barker and raise you Toa Kohe Luuuurve.