Even if Webb's injury is 'serious' at least we have the options of BJB to full back or even Lee Smith there, with the other moving in the backline.

What I did notice or didn't notice as the case may be were many penalties given away, I may be wrong but didn't see any statistics for this. Maybe someone else can help out?

They we're all outstanding. Its unbelievable thinking we had Ali, McGuire and JP sitting in the stands before the game kicked off.

Leeds lost the penalty count pretty heavily (or were at least well behind the last time i saw it)
Mr Silverwood doesnt seem to agree with the new interpretation for 2011 as much as the other refs, let both sides get away with things they couldnt have done in front of another ref at Cardiff

Thanks, I must just of been oblivous to the penalties tonight.

Well I'm confused in round 2. If you ask me the tempo was pretty good tonight. Silverwood didn't allow any wrestling but wasn't enforcing super quick play the balls like we saw at MM. Sure players took it a bit far at times and Silverwood let them get away with it, but it wasn't wrestling all the way though like last season.

This one is for Keith but they looked very "refreshed" tonight.

I thought Hull slowed it a lot, especially Fitzgibbon but thats me probably being blinkered.

The game was refereed at exactly the correct pace IMO so congratulations to Mr Silverwood.

We were much improved, and we don't look weak in any area now, not with BJB and Watkins looking the part. Delaney is as good in the 2nd row as he is bad at centre. His yardage is excellent and he hits hard in defence. He has no rugby brain but as a biff baller who cares? I thought Hauraki looked very promising.
Add Cross, Bailey, JP, McGuire and Ali to that lot and you have got a serious team.

We also seem to have gained that Bradford esque steel that they had during the late 90s and early 2000s. If we're on the back foot, stick it in touch in the corner. If the game's tight, take back to back drop goals. I used to f**kin hate it when Bradford used to do it to us back then, but it worked. No suprise to see us doing that under the regieme of B Mac and Lowes. Lowes was a master at seeing a game out.

Actually impressed with our style of play, and now optimistic for the rest of the season.

The first successful drop goal made perfect sense to put Leeds three scores in front, the second made no sense whatsoever (not that the game was now in doubt at that stage) as it lifted the pressure allowing Hull back to half-way and the chance to regain possession.

I think Leeds lost the penalty count 8 to 5 (3-2 first half) and conceded the first five of the second half in the opening twelve minutes then nothing for the rest of the match while receiving the final three.

2 - Interference
2 - Offside
1 - Obstruction
1 - Not Square
1 - Tackle in air
1 - Ball Steal

Despite losing the penalty count, the fact that is was only eight must be considered an improvement, even on last week?

one of the best improvements for me was the players just getting on with it, rather than challenging the refs calls

You are quite correct on the drop goals tvoc, had the game been at say 7 points difference I am in no doubt we'd have booted it into touch. I just liked the boring ruthless nature of sticking another point on the board to rub a bit more salt in.

The only penalty that annoyed me was when we were penalised for interference at the PTB when our player was trying to get back onside & their guy lost the ball, then IMV Fitzgibbon (who had hands on the ball nearly every time he was involved) did exactly the same causing our guy to drop the ball which led to Silverwood giving them the scrum for a knock on.
Otherwise no complaints.
I've not re-watched the game so can't recall the players involved except Fitzgibbon.
Tvoc will no doubt correct my misconceptions.

IMO both drop goals were sensible and professional. It allowed us more time to regroup the defence.

The season hasn't started for Leeds yet.

It doesn't start until Round 4.

Last week we drew the penalty count (12-12) this week we lost it but conceded fewer. I think discipline was pretty good last night but penalties always have and probably always will be in large part determined by the man with the whistle rather than the players actions. Silverwood is trying hard to allow the game to flow while the new interpretations around the tackle area bed in with a stream of advice coming rather than too much whistle. I'm fine with that but we need all the referees to act as one.

Hull have 'won' the penalty count in the opening two rounds but lost both the games.



Point taken re the difference between a 7 and 13 lead. In this instance though I'd have liked to see Leeds attack the line, grubber into the in-goal, gain a repeat set or turn the ball over with Hull 100 meters or so from our line. I'm all for rubbing salt in the wound and the more of it (4 or 6 points) the better.

The short kick off option came up trumps for Hull two out of three times from memory (albeit one was a poor call from Child on the touch-line.)

___________

Anyone of a certain age with a reasonable memory will recall Leeds almost (and probably should have) lost a Challenge Cup Final through taking a second drop goal, conceding possession from the following short re-start and ended up relying on Derek Noonan dropping the try scoring pass with the line at his mercy on the 6th tackle of that set.

A re-run of the whole game was shown on BBC4 last year.

Had the final two minutes altered?



The good old days where 40 minutes of rugby actual took 40 minutes in real time to complete (give or take a minute) and all the physio had was a bucket of iced water, a wet sponge, some smelling salts and his own ingenuity.

Phil Clarke would have loved it.

Give me a clue... despite the fact that I attended that Final and watched it on BBC4 last year



I've still got the matchday programme from that CC Final stashed somewhere. Weren't those Saints players back then a bunch of good looking fellas, eh? Some cracking shaped noses amongst em, LOL.



And he'd be right if he did too.

I loved it.

No players back then would have missed a minute of action with a fat lip, a few stitches or a tummy upset either.

And frankly, when I comes to winding up Hull and their fans, our boys can kick as many drop goals as they like ...



(Where's Lynn Hallett when you need him ?

)

It's more or less as I recalled it above, until someone states otherwise and then I'll go and have a look to make sure but these things are hard to forget.



You're not wrong although I remember Steve Pitchford once being out with a boil on his backside.

Only TVOC could look back nostalgically on the 1978 cup final and put a negative slant on it.

Unfair. Ellery Hanley could as well.

I recall vividly the Derek Noonan knock on late on. Can't recall the build up to it though. I'll take your word for it.