Thanks DARE kind words, very proud of the lads tonight even in defeat, we have a lot to look forward to.

Stealths post title sums tonight up so well ...we were fantastic and gave Halifax a real battle ..but I still came out of the Shay cursing our defeat ..

This was no go at our boys but more an indication of how far JD has taken us ...

The Cougar Army were yet again amazing , it was at times, Swinton all over again and praise must go to the vast majority of Fax fans who were happy to concede they had been in a real battle.

Watch out the Wire you have a right game on your hands..

Cougars were fantastic tonight.

The fans even more so. Cracking atmosphere.

Every respect for the cougars. You played a full part in what for me was a good but not great game. we (halifax) never looked fluent and whilst I felt there was a lot of laying on that went unpunished you had a game plan that very nearly did the job
Overall a very enjoyable evening and i think cougars will go well and suprise a few people along the way. Good luck to you and I'm looking forward to the return fixture especially with a few of Mr Taylor's brew thrown in

I have had my reservations about the bonus point system but it seems to be justified in games like that and the Fev game, When the team plays like that,even if they lose they deserve something, and, in fact, the bonus point we got today pushed us above Dewsbury and into 3rd place.

A fantastic performance last night. Who would have imagined us matching (if not bettering) the likes of Halifax 12 months ago? A real shame about the result, but great to take the bonus point.

Full credit to JD and the players, things are really coming together. We improve week on week and I think there's more to come.

Bring on the rebirth of Cougarmania!

The first half there was nothing between the two teams. 12 all was a fair result.

In the second half. I would say that Fax had about 90% of the ball.
The defence from the Cougars was outstanding. I have never seen a display like that from any Cougar team.
I cant think of many teams that would have been able to defend like that.
It shows how un-confident, Fax were about there chances of scoring a try. That they went for a drop goal. Mind you it did win them the game.

One thing that i was disappointed with. Was our kicking game in the second half. We seemed to be going for a up and under style of kick.
Yet we seemed to be camped in our half.

We should have been kicking for there in goal. Making them start from as far in there half as we could. Instead they were starting from half way, in there own half and just putting under pressure again.

I felt like i was at a game with the Bulls playing listening to Fax fans.
The amount of times they were shouting at the ref. I would say at least 3 times in the first half he gave a penalty, because of the crowd shouting and the Fax players shaking there heads and throwing there hands in the air.

I was glad to see he wise to it. In the end he was just telling the fax players to get up.

That was fantastic game

, Cougar fans turned up in numbers and I believe contributed to the performance on the pitch. VERY VERY vocal from 1st minute til 80th. Not wanting to get giddy but if we perform like that next week Warrington will certainly know theyve been in a game.
One slight negative (or maybe it was just me !!!) Not many of the players came to applaud the fans after the game , JD seemed to congregate a fair few of them in the middle of the pitch and then they trooped off. Whether he was hacked off at losing narrowly, just plain knackered or what im not sure .. again purely an observation and not a gripe.
Again an awesome display all round .... take notice rugby world ... cougarmania could well be starting to brew again IN JD WE TRUST

[iThe amount of times they were shouting at the ref. I would say at least 3 times in the first half he gave a penalty, because of the crowd shouting and the Fax players shaking there heads and throwing there hands in the air[/i

According to our local rag there was only 1 penalty awarded in the first half

As everyone has said - a great performance by the Cougars and a 13-13 draw would have been the fairest result.

However, my main gripe is the organisation of the Shay and the fact that, whichever team is playing, there are NO supporters at one end of the pitch! That, coupled with the fact that the north end of the stand appeared to be denied access didn't help

JD after the Game youtu.be/IOdghtbrYXs

JD after the Game youtu.be/IOdghtbrYXs

I think it would've taken a SAS sniper to stop Danny Jones' scoring that try last night.

3 Fax defenders and a swinging arm to the face couldn't manage it.

Agreed Mick,he loved every moment of that.

First half we were epic,shame we could not have clocked a few more points.Second half they pummled us but we held firm.

Seem to be getting a bit of grief from the Fax fans for laying on,i could say the same about them.As GW says,arms waving,moaning at the ref(ex player

)

Well done lads,bring on the Wire

Having a former Fax player running the line wasn't exactly the cleverest appointment I've ever seen.

This is the RFL we're on about though.

JDs assessment is bang on IMO.

I thought our defence was awesome last night, but we need need to hone our last play options. Kicks into the corner and in goal would serve us better.

When you think of where we have come from in 1 year, the progress is remarkable.

I always think that all kicks in general play of whatever sort should be sent in the rough direction of the oppostion's corner flag.

Really enjoyed that game, it just shows that Rugby does not need to be a points fest to be exciting.

Solid defence, crunching tackles, I bet there will be some sore bodies today!

Only slight criticism was our poor last tackle options in the second half.

As to the holding down claims, well I've seen far worse and Fax were guilty of "slowing things down" when it suited them in the first half. I think some of their fans expected to beat us by plenty and are looking for justifications.

We arrived half an hour before the match and watched the players warming up. The fax forwards were practicing three man tackles: one around the legs, two on the upper body; man on the legs rolled away first, when he was clear man on top slowly got off, looked up as if to the ref, patted the third man on the back who then slowly got up by pushing down of the grounded player. Practicing holding down?

. But home fans always need something to moan about, I thought I was at Odsal at one point

I'd agree with that.

Please tell me this happened.

Video youtu.be/RF6_hPQKa0s

Video youtu.be/RF6_hPQKa0s

Quote ="MICKY1920"JD after the Game youtu.be/IOdghtbrYXs'" JD is spot on with what he says about the game.

Quote ="MICKY1920"JD after the Game youtu.be/IOdghtbrYXs'" JD is spot on with what he says about the game.

Sheffield put 60 past Fev last night! 40 in reply. We have best defensive record easily. Early days though! Sharpen up attack and the NRL/world cup is ours..

I was walking away from the ground after the game and had to chuckle hearing the following from fax fans

"That was the most bias ref I have ever seen" Maybe they didn't see the second half.

"What a boring match" They must want to see a points fest each and every week. Boring it certainly was not.

All in all, I don't think I can add anything to the assessment of the other posts.

I agree with the comment about the Shay staff. My Dad and I went in the wrong entrance, i.e the stand and wanted to go in the terracing, however, when I tried to walk round from the stand the stewards said I couldn't go in the terracing as only season ticket holders could transfer. Strange?! I'm not sure of the logic here. If it was an all ticket, capacity crowd I could understand it, but bearing in mind only 2 sides were open I can't see the problem.

Onwards and upwards and let's see what happens next week.

Hate to be picky on what was a great night - but that blooming Cat mascot was a right royal pain as well - spent most of the time in the 1st half directly in front of the Cougar Fans on the terrace trying to antagonize them - never seemed to make any effort to move around the ground like the kid who does Freddie for us ,someone should tell him we paid 15 quid to watch a game not some overgrown feline !

That damn cat! Menace to society he is!