I think the fact that Notlob are also in the mix that weekend is a bit of a killer for you too. The Dingles will probably be heading south en masse now, and those still remaining will probably save their cash for a session the next day.

To be fair, it was probably the best possible weekend to pick when it was decided- nobody could have predicted that 3 of the 4 teams would be from Greater Manchester.

The only top flight rugby union club in the North West. Remember, union is a global sport which enjoys popularity throughout the UK. I'm sorry but if the game at the Reebok doesn't sell out it will be a massive embarrassment to the Sale club and Mick Hogan.

opps uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... cle/39943/

opps uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... cle/39943/

Quote ="dids858"opps uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... cle/39943/'" Love it. This just shows how arrogant the chaps at Twickers are.

Quote ="dids858"opps uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... cle/39943/'" Love it. This just shows how arrogant the chaps at Twickers are.

Not as big an embarassment as the grand final, played between the 2 biggest clubs in the north west, being played in the north, not selling out. Considering RL is only pretty big on the east coast of aus and the north of england, that is a MAJOR embarassment.

over 71,000 sweetheart. For a "minority" sport that aint bad. I think it was a sell out. Well the challenge cup final was. Yet Super Sale can't even get 15,000

Oh I think you find that the "Minority" sport in Oz is Union.

This is a rugby union board flower.
The Grand Final did sell out. All available tickets were sold, but don't let facts get in the way if a gin fuelled withering rant 

Super Sale?

Super Sale, the team who finished 11th last season? Super Sale, the team who average about 6,500 fans? Super Sale, the team who play the dullest Rugby in the league at times? Super Sale, the team in a relegation battle?

Come on, don't give me that nonsense. Just because we're the only professional team in the North West doesn't make us massive. We're trying to promote a product, yes. But it's not a very good one. We were a tiny club for years and only really became big when we won the league. We played at a ground that held less than 5,000 people up until about 10 years ago. So I know what you're getting at, but just because we're trying to promote a massive game and the media might talk us up - don't think that we're arrogant enough to think we're Leicester Tigers as we know we're not.

Another dreadful game tonight but we should be safe for another season. We just let Leeds play and almost look good at times. An awful game and I'm not sure I want to watch much more of it. I will though.

I think you'll find we were actually knocked out by Huddersfield



But more seriously, I was there and saw almost no empty seats. Best crowd in ages, as dids858 points out.

Don't despair. There is a superior alternative product close by.

England full-back arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/mar/ ... pe=article

England full-back arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/mar/ ... pe=article

Just wondering if you could tell me if the Union Grand final will be a sell out this year or will it be 2 for 1 on tickets like every year?

The number of union final tickets I've seen as prizes in tipping and fantasy union competitions is truly impressive. Are they doing the buy a ticket, get a free guiness premiership shirt offer again?

I once went to a Premiership RU game at an unnamed ground and ran into a guy I know. He'd got there for nothing, as had his girlfriend because...he occasionally plays tag rugby in a competition in his local park. I think he was as baffled as me.

Sale prop Karena Wilhongi banned for four months after failed doping test.

This is beyond words. Tragic to see some in rugby union clinging on to South Africa's dark past. m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/ ... pe=article

This is beyond words. Tragic to see some in rugby union clinging on to South Africa's dark past. m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/ ... pe=article

Quote ="Catalancs"This is beyond words. Tragic to see rugby union clinging on to South Africa's dark past. m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/ ... pe=article'" In fairness, bit more to that story than RU. But I do sometimes wonder, as in the case of Bees Roux, if RU over there has found itself a major draw for those Afrikaners of the supremacist bent.

Quote ="Catalancs"This is beyond words. Tragic to see rugby union clinging on to South Africa's dark past. m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/ ... pe=article'" In fairness, bit more to that story than RU. But I do sometimes wonder, as in the case of Bees Roux, if RU over there has found itself a major draw for those Afrikaners of the supremacist bent.

Long shot, but does anyone know when the World Cup replica shirts for the teams are released?

Point taken and post duly edited.

It was 1895. a tad harsh don't you think? Did you see the Newcastle and Sale results this weekend? Defences were hardly on top.

A great tweet from @philkinsella this morning:

7 SL games in Rd 8 -1 draw -3 won by a 2 point margin and 1 by 6- lets flag up how close the comp is rather than just a defeat for one side.

Tries typically come from repeat sets or a speculative but targeted kick. Most tries are scored with a set of 6 beginning in the opponents half, the difference to RU is there being 10 metre offside line if a set begins in the opponents half and the attack can carry the ball up to the offside line by the 4th phase they would be in clear striking distance of the try line. Now I find it strange you should be confused why so many tries are scored off so few phases, it not common for a RU team to keep possession for more than 6 phases. Clean breaks and turnover ball are both sports are the single biggest contributor for tries being scored. So a better indication would be measuring clean breaks against tries scored.



You mean like your comment about Gloucester fans ?

'"

Bloody hell lads,

Was the last round of Super League that bad that you had to dig up innocent comments that went unnoticed for weeks?!



Yes, I did see those scores. The Sale game was actually quite entertaining. We were in it until Briggs decided to get sent off. We were never going to win but after 50 minutes or so we were within 5 points. That's the 3rd time now this season we've shipped 50 and now have the worst defence in the league.

Leeds won at the weekend and so if they beat Newcastle on Saturday we could see a surprising end to the season.

And my Gloucester fans comment wasn't anything other than well known knowledge - hence why Wire knew about it. Their fans are well regarded as being intimidating and on some occasions going a bit further.

I'll be there in 4 weeks for the last game of the season on my own, so I'll let you know.

The last round made good viewing, as have the previous ones.

See, games with poor defences CAN be entertaining



Will it really be a surprise if one of the northern teams go down?

Is this just his agent trying to get a few more dollars out of the ARU? Would he be able to make it in the toughest domestic rugby competition in the world? www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 58,00.html

Is this just his agent trying to get a few more dollars out of the ARU? Would he be able to make it in the toughest domestic rugby competition in the world? www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 58,00.html

Quade Cooper? Seriously?

Only if they introduce unlimited interchanges so he can come off when his team is defending. The guy's the Australian equivalent of Charlie Hodgson.