doesnt look like mcnally is going to be playing super league for a good while yet then... when i saw him play last year against fax i didnt see anything special.. another hemingway

Last year we mullered Batley in this fixture and the likes of Fooey, Korky etc played, so I doubt it was last year you were moaning.

Yup I think you're correct. I remember coming out of the Batley ground though in the last few years saying something along the lines of 'The Giants team put out was an insult to paying spectators and Batley'

In 2008 you sent your entire JUNIOR Academy to play us in pre-season, which made that game a totally pointless exercise. The final score was 70-something - nil that day
It was slightly disappointing not to see at least one or two SL players in the Giants side today, however the game was still a decent and enjoyable contest.

I'll second that.

The point of the excercise from a Giants point of view was to see how the young lads were progressing.

To face a strong Batley team was a good test and I thought they came out of it OK.

We didn't pose much threat on attack but I thought we defended well considering the difference in age and therefore size and power. That period of defending 3 or 4 sets early in the second half with the slope against us without conceding was especially pleasing.

Ironically the lads I thought would make a difference didn't and some of the 'unknowns' did.

Alex Brown had a bit of a mare handling wise but looked strong bringing the ball out.

Gregg McNally didn't organise the team how I thought he might but did put in some good kicks.

Elliott Hodgson had a bit of an up and down match, some good breaks and some missed tackles.

I was impressed by the No 9 (great low down tackling and chasing) and the No 15 and No 16 (a Paul Jackson with hair) who both made good yards.

There was a good team spirit and you could see that the team played in a very similar manner to the first team - 2-3-4 in the tackle and a narrow defence.

As for Batley the No 5 Campbell was the MOM and a good prospect.

I'm sure Alex Brown will get some stick from the Batley lads when he goes back there as he tried punching one of their lads lights out and got sin binned as a result. That's a lesson for Alex - keep your discipline and you will stay on the pitch where you can make difference. Off the pitch you're worthless and more importantly ask your team mates to do an extra shift for you.

Well worth £10 for mine.

The penalty count spoiled it as a contest. We just never had a chance in the second half because we kept getting pinged.

I felt a bit ripped off to be honest but not at the fault of Batley who I suppose are my 2nd team. My man of the match for us was someone who I only noticed in the 2nd half, without hoping not to offend he appeared to have a slightly chinese appearance, think he was playing at hooker. A few times when we kicked on the last tackle he was the only one showing any urgency to pressure the ball returner, plus he was tackling above his weight all the time too.

True.

But that's another learning process.

This will certainly happen in future games of the lads that played. It's how you react to that adversity that counts.

Lose your disipline / whinge to the ref and lose your concentration and you're soon another 6 points down.

I just hope Alex Brown has learnt a good lesson today. If he hasn't he won't make SL.

That's the No 9 Ivor C & G mentioned. Impessed me aswell.
I thought he was the only one showing a good chase on the kick.
Mind you chasing a kick up that hill must be a killer.

How on earth did they get that game on???

Jo Parkinson is the young hooker. Goes for the thigh every time, takes some timing does that. Get one wrong and you're out for the count!

Really disappointed with the game today. It was totally useless as a warm up friendly for the coming season. We have 5 friendlies and should be playing at least 4 or 5 of the first team squad in each of these games, today was a complete waste of time as the lads that played today could have been incorporated in the next 3 or 4 games along with some seasoned players which would have given them a lot more confidence than today`s rubbish.
Our forwards were totally outplayed, getting brought down with ease, but the Batley forwards were crossing the gain line most of the time.
Not sure yet about McNally, made a good move and pass for the first try, but after that he was playing behind a badly beaten pack and we all know a half back can not shine when his pack is getting pushed back all the time.
I believe the club and coaching staff did not show any respect for Batley or the travelling supporters of which I would say could have been half the crowd.
We may not have won the game even with 4 or 5 fringe first teamers, but that did not matter as it was just a friendly, but at least it would have been a closer contest and given the supporters something to clap about to keep the hands warm on a very cold day.

I certainly would not like to have been tackled on it. Very hard indeed.

This was nothing to do with a warm up friendly for the first team and the coming season. How can you think that with the team that was selected?

This was about seeing how the youngters stood up to good opposition.

I thought the forwards stood up well given the difference in size and experience.

Nothing more than a learning experience for the young uns.

I'm sure they are delerious that you thought it was 'rubbish'.

Stay at home next time and save your £10.

ATEOTD the squad was announced well in advance, it was no secret it was going to be kids.

What was the attendance?

True it was no secret what the squad was going to be. But I would have thought the Giants coaching staff would have put a team out that could compete with a Batley side that everyone knew was going to be near as damn it their strongest team. It was like putting lambs to the slaughter imo and wouldn't have done their confidence any good. =#FF0000These fixtures are put in place to help the lower league teams earn a little extra revenue but it's hardly a crowd puller for most Giants fans when most of the team are kids. To me it shows that as a club they don't give a toss about helping out our less fortunate neighbours. I'm sure there would have been a couple of higher profile fringe players who would have liked to have played today to put themselves in the shop window for the start of the season.=#FF0000 The attendance was 801.




cannot disagree with that bit. The attendance was 801 on Boxing day Dewsbury via Batley it was 2,411..

No idea what the weather was like but it was snowing all day up here. It took the relatives 3 hours to get from Durham to York

the problem is that we seem to have too many pre season friendlies this year( 5 ) and there was no problem with playing the kids yesterday what they needed was some first team forwards playing.

As it is we have two forwards out injured and are short in the pack anyway. there is no way that we could risk any more injuries. look at wakefield losing Blanch for 8 weeks in their friendly.

Both Whatuira and Nathan Brown are out injured which is why they missed the rugby legends tournament. things are so bad that Bumper turned out to play for the All golds

I'm not sure it was all that bad TBH.

On the back of the penalty count we copped it was always going to be hard work for them and I thought the lads gave a half decent account of themselves. Had they shown a bit better discipline then they wouldn't have been far away IMO although they never looked like they would win. They need to be exposed to that kind of stuff if they're ever going to make it and I think it showed they have improved as they copped some results like that last season in the academy and that was basically the same team.

Match report from Batley official site. www.batleybulldogs.co.uk/index.p ... 1&Itemid=1

Match report from Batley official site. www.batleybulldogs.co.uk/index.p ... 1&Itemid=1

Ponner, you are Durham Giant and I claim my £5.

i will have to consult my lawyer about that libel. then again maybe it is Ponner who is the most insulted

True.

People have moaned for years about over the hill Aussies etc coming over to top their pension up, denying young British lads a go in the game.

Now we have people moaning about young British lads being give a go in the game.

It's make your mind up time. The Giants coaching staff obviously thought they would hold their own and not be disgraced.

The way the game started it could easily have been an avalanche but the young Giants defended well and will have gained valuable confidence from the 80 mins.

We should be praising our youth development policy. It seems Karl Harrison is.

I'm not so sure these games do give our kids any confidence. If anything it will have been knocked. The bottom line is that we've 5 games to get our squad ready for the start of SL. That's now 4 with last weekends gone. I'm not saying playing our strongest squad in the friendlies but playing a few will blow away the cobwebs in preperation for the Bulls game. If Eorl's testimonial game is pretty much a full strength team then I can understand NB playing a weak team against Batley but i'm sure there could have been a few experienced players who won't play this weekend that could have been given a run out.
It depends how you want to look at it because it's a catch 22 really. Do you play your best players to get them ready to hit the ground running and risk injuries. Or do you wrap them in cotton wool then when the season starts and they're rusty and losing games(which can become a habit and knocks confidence)

That's a fair view - here's mine.

I think the kids will be on cloud nine with Paul Anderson's and Karl Harrison's praises ringing in their ears. These two coaches did everything in the game and praise from them is praise indeed.

We have now four tough games with quality sides to prepare the 1st team squad who have now had a good extra week to prepare. That's plenty of game time to put everyone through their paces. We may have injuries but they will not be risked if they aren't fit enough to compete. If they are they'll get a run out and should give it 100% as any less will result in possible injury. If they are unlucky enough to get injured so be it - that's the nauture of RL.

Bring on Fax - should be a great hit out.

The weather may well put pay to some of these.