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| The Dentists Diary - 213th |
 Another Cup final and a week off from the usual worry and fretting about the upcoming FC game. I have to say though nice as a week off has been, this coming 5 days will no doubt make up for it, because Saturdays is a massive match, which we have to win, and if we don’t then we have to put up a great performance in attack as well as defense to prepare us for the following week.
Some of you reading this will no doubt have been at Wembley on Saturday, but over the last ten or so years, I’ve become something of a one team man really. I will travel as necessary to watch my beloved FC but rarely go to games featuring other clubs. However as the annual showpiece comes round, my mind always goes back to those simpler times back in the early 80’s when I was in the middle of about 25 consecutive Cup final trips, and when you used to turn up every Sunday, at your local hostelry, and pay your ‘Wembley £2‘.
By the big weekend arrived you had just over a hundred pounds saved up and that was enough to pay for the train travel, 3 nights in a 4 or 5 star hotel in somewhere like Knightsbridge, and your ticket for the game. The Landlord usually had enough left in the kitty to provide a few dozen tins for the journey down too, just to ‘get you started‘. Of course, no sooner had you got to London than there were always tales circulating of fans left stood outside their pubs back in Hull, with their suitcases in their hands, when no coach turned up to take them to the station, because the ‘treasurer’ of the trip had absconded with the subscriptions. It seemed to happen every year, and was all part of Wembley weekend, and the tradition of being a RL supporter in Hull! Brilliant times and happy memories.
In this week’s Diary I will look at the great rugby League rip off, or in other words one fans own thoughts about why the game is taking us, the fans, to the cleaners. There is also Radders and Dowes on their way out, new signings, Stuart Fielden, only paying players what they are worth, Lauaki’s injury, O’Meley’s commentating and the Millenium Fiasco in Cardiff. Plus there’s our regular refereeing spot on club strips, there’s a piece in praise of Claire Balding, the Quins sinking fast, the national media and in Codgers Corner a game that we lost but that many will all remember. |
Joe on August 31, 2010 9:55 AM ·
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| The Dentists Diary - 212th |
Pretty predictable? Well I thought so, but at least, unlike the end of last season, we are showing signs of welding together as a unit, and defending pretty well. We have finished the season higher than the Dobbins and Horney and Longy are on the way back.
The problem on Friday was that again we just lacked some invention to capitalise on good field position. Why though, when our three main play makers are side lined we didn’t use Fitz as a proper ball handling loose man, instead of the usual extra prop, baffles me! I expect it was a good game for the neutrals to watch, but when the Wire ran the ball down our right in the first half, the outcome in the second was, for me in little doubt really.
Our kicking was better, particularly from Hall who played like a man with no pressure and a point to prove. However when you peel away the veneer of a good performance the old failings were still there, with that dropped ball after fielding a great kick and some poor covering across the back for their first two tries. The same goes for the probably departing Radford who played two minutes like a man possessed getting completely out of breath but in fairness throughout gave a good account of himself, took his try well, but then disastrously dropped the return from the kick off, and they scored to stretch the advantage again. It’s typical really.
Wasn’t it ever so for FC fans? As I said last week you can just about write the script can’t you?
The Leeds game now takes on mega proportions but I saw Longy and Horney in the gym last Saturday and they were looking sharp, so we should at least have some invention in the middle of the park, because Monahan and Myler showed on Friday that there is no substitute for it!
In this week’s Diary we look at that game, performances and the refereeing. Then there is, Tommy Lee, Will Sharps wonder try, Franchises, paying players what they are worth, Jack Briscoe, Radford and Dowes on the way out? Webbo’s kicking, goodbye to the Boulevard, video refs, ‘The Receptionists’ answers a readers question, and in Codgers Corner a game in the early 70’s that we nearly lost against Halifax!
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Joe on August 23, 2010 9:00 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 211th |
All Hail Danny Tickle, what a hero!!
The pressure there was on that kick, on his wrong side with all the amateur dramatics that were going on around him, was an amazing feat of concentration and skill. That’s 7 from 7, in a 100% success rate that stretches back almost a month. In fact despite a game that was for the main part best forgotten, that last two minutes of drama will live in my memory for a while. It was so exciting, with Danny Houghton another big hero, with a super human effort to charge down that drop goal attempt.
So often in the past those decisions have gone against us but in the end after a game where the refereeing was poor at times, the weather atrocious, the rugby boring and atmosphere lacking, we got the only thing we needed….. The points! It was a win which means that the 4th spot is probably now down to that big, big game in three weeks time. What an occasion that will be. It’s all on the outcome of that really, and I can‘t wait!!!!
In this week’s Diary we have my blow by blow thoughts on that last minute of play, player performances, the referee, and in our new ‘Receptionists spot, a look by a senior refereeing official at that specific game, at Tanseys sending off, the last minute drama and a couple of questions about it for those amateur referee’s out there. Then there is Will Sharp, Tommy lee’s tantrums, ‘Naughty Nobby’, Radders ‘insulted’ and possibly off, Dowes and a pay cut, and a new ground for the Dobbins? Plus in Codgers Corner its back to the first season I got a pass.
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Joe on August 16, 2010 9:46 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 210th |
It’s certainly been a busy week for news at the club and that in itself was a surprise with no game, the staff taking some time off, and both our Mail reporter and media manager taking some well deserved holidays. Much though has been in the form of ‘fishing’ articles about new signings, but you know what they say, ‘if there’s no news about ….just make some up‘, and there’s been a bit of that going on too. Then there is Mr. Ganson and an alleged incident with an 87 year old lady at a motel in Lancashire on Saturday night. Details are a bit sketchy at the moment, but really you just couldn’t make it up could you?
So this week, despite the lack of a game, there’s still a full diary, and there‘s something new this week too, with the first of an occasional series of articles by a senior member of the RL’s refereeing fraternity, who will write in the Diary, ‘to protect the innocent’, under the pseudonym of ‘The Dentist Receptionist‘.
This will become a regular feature, which I hope will explode a few myths and explain a few of the issues that referee’s face when they are out there in the middle. I am really grateful for this input and before you start to mutter, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’, I hope you’ll give it a go!
As well as all that in this week’s Diary, we have news on Francis Meli, Richard Horne’s injury, Longy’s progress, Radford still on the Dobbins radar, Danny Nicklas, Rich Whiting and who will come up and go down in Super League. Then there is Toulouse trying to get into Super League by the back door, taking legal highs in the dressing room, Wakey and Cas signing their own ‘death sentences‘, and in Codgers Corner a game in the mid 80’s when Kevin Dick and ‘Porky’ Pearce made their debuts Oh and nothing about Mr. Ganson.
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Joe on August 09, 2010 9:48 AM
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| 209th Dentists Diary |
I always say that ‘I write this as I feel’ every week, and I have to say that on Saturday night I felt quite good, well a damn sight better than I did last Saturday anyway.
The doom and gloom merchants on the message boards were dismissing our win, with the usual excuses, second half collapse, not up for it, eased up, etc. but, before the game I had been impressed with the way the Quins had taken Saints close last week, and I would have settled for an ‘ugly’ 2 points win, most of us would have. At 30-0 at half time, it was always going to happen in the second half wasn’t it? Didn’t you just expect it, because I certainly did, and sadly that clinical consistency that great teams have, where they keep the pressure on, once again, failed to materialize?
BUT, fourth in the League with games running out, our first win at Quins, the best 40 minutes of the season so far, and a week off next week, makes me feel a bit better at least. The latter is purely a personal plus, but the cup semi’s means that I’ll have a few days to relax, before I start to worry about the Crusaders. Add to that the fact that realistically, despite what I and other critics say, as we moan on week in week out we would have killed to have beaten the Dobbins three times and Saints twice and be fourth at this point last season, in fact we would have killed to be eighth!
The next three games are critical of course, but if we can’t beat the Crusaders at the KC, despite their recent good form, then we don’t deserve to be fourth. If we do win, then whatever happens at Warrington I believe it will be down to that last game against Leeds, and what a night that will be, particularly if we play with the intensity we showed against Rovers and in the first half on Saturday.
Still we came home from London with two points, a big forward display, no injuries from the game itself but still another injury to a half back. Horney has a scan on his groin today or tomorrow, and we can only hope that it’s all OK, it would be just great from Warrington onwards if we had both Rich and Longy back and playing together….for once! However I ain’t holding my breath.
In this week’s Diary we look at a day in London a great win and player performances. Then there is being screwed by the Council over the Boulevard, and what alternatives remain for the club, Charlie Mullen the tosser, Fielden, Murphy, Meli and Radford to Rovers. I look at Manu for England, Lauaki’s temperament, Shaun Locks and ‘The Briscoe Kids’. Plus there’s a look at the state of the game attendance wise and in Codgers Corner a low scoring game against Carlisle at a cold and wet Boulevard.
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Joe on August 02, 2010 11:22 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 207th |
That result and the way that it came is exactly what we all go through so much heartache for!
All the bad stuff at Wakey, Salford, Crusaders etc. and before, just goes to make that so, so, good feeling you get after a classic win like Thursday‘s. Most weeks when you’re an FC fanatic, Stamp collectors, Train spotters and collectors of beer mats are to be envied, but I bet they never ever feel like we did at 10-00 on Thursday night!
The game was wonderful for us, and for the uninitiated or neutral for once, it was a truly classic match as well. The term classic is an overused one, but as a spectacle it had just about everything, and I think proved that it is the only true derby.
I hated every minute of it, I always do, I take Derby’s these days as a substitute for my annual cardiac test, but I loved the final outcome, and the drama that came at the end of the Dobbins last set.
There are some moments you remember forever and by which the dedicated fan milestones his or her life; that was one such moment. Watching the game again at home on Friday, in the company of a bottle of Bud or six, it was a great match. We were really up for it, and in this Diary I’ll tell you exclusively why!!!
Of course, most Rovers fans took it in good spirits but a few of the ‘Banjo pickers’ were not happy at all, and I had to laugh as one tried to abuse us lot as we joyfully made our way back across the great wasteland to Argyle Street. As he turned to flash a V sign in our direction he lost his footing and fell full length. Immediately there was a massive chant of ‘She fell Over’ ringing through the Faithful, and after a few seconds of thinking about it, even the Dobbins fans found it funny, proving as they always say, ‘He who laughs last……. thinks slowest!‘.
Can we keep it up against Wigan? I doubt it, but I don’t really care at present, I’m just enjoying the week!
So it was, as a win, just what we had never dared to hope for, whilst Newton’s ‘Blonde Moment’ in the Wail on Saturday is just the sort of thing you pray for!
In this week’s Diary there is a full appraisal of a glorious night at the KC and I’ll also give you the real EXCLUSIVE inside track on what Rich Agar did before the game to get the players wound up. Then there is poor old Clint painting his nails in rage, and ringing up Cheeky Charlie Mullen with an outburst of ‘Churchillian’ proportions. There’s Stuart Cummins view on Ganson, what’s happening at the Council about the Boulevard, half backs from Hull, my brush with a power ranger, and in Codgers Corner a look at Keith Hepworth and a great performance in 1980 at the Boulevard. |
Joe on July 19, 2010 9:26 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 206th |
What an absolute shambles that was!
Mike Stephenson said in the media, ‘I don’t think I have experienced such a lack luster game as that’. He continued, ‘Fourth in the League, you have to be joking’. It is hard to disagree on either count! There is no hiding place on this one because that’s how bad it was!
As the game wore on it was obvious once again that plan A (play basic one up rugby, and hope!) had failed and there was, as usual, no plan B. For a few weeks now I have said that although we have been scraping victories, the game plan was fine, and the players were at fault for not sticking to it.
For that reason I had no cause as an average fan to criticise the coach, simply because for me it has not been his fault, but that has to change this week. Richard Agar’s back to basics approach to cover for the loss of Longy really came unstuck this week, simply because, as well as being boring it was so predictable and ponderous. Plus, the bench selection was poor, and once again, when things started to go wrong, we had no one who could get hold of the game and our players, and get them sorted out.
I will apologise now for a very negative and down beat Diary, but I paid my money on Saturday, and have every right to be disappointed. That’s certainly how this fan felt on the way home from the West Riding. We had it all to play for, joint third, a good warm up for the Derby and a poor team ready for the taking. All in all it was for me the most disappointing defeat so far this season, because it was the time to seize the day and get 2 more points before a difficult run in with Rovers, Warrington, Leeds and Wigan coming up. Instead, we go into the Derby against a red hot Dobbins side, with no form, no half backs, no passion and sadly….. no idea!
An overreaction, well over the last few weeks, we might have seen some success but we have gradually witnessed a decline in our form and a lack of ideas, which culminated on Saturday in a shambles of a performance. There’s a tough week ahead for all FC fans, let’s hope it’s the kick up the backside we need!
In this week’s Diary we look at that Game, at performances and at our coach’s options and choices before the game. Then there is Mr. Maverick, Motu Tony Craig Hall, Ogre and the fans forum on Tuesday. Plus there is a look at the toilets at Wakefield, who cuts the grass at Caravan Park and at the fact that things ain’t what they used to be when it comes to chanting at the opposition players… Just ask the Cas fans. There is also a look at the Derby and in Codgers Corner there is a departure from the norm with a look at a typical weekend for a rugby mad 11 year old back in 1961. |
Joe on July 12, 2010 11:10 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 205th |
These bloody second half capitulations are all getting too much for me, and once again, for the third week running, I have to repeat that we DO had a first class game plan, featuring a good deep kicking game and a patience to play in the oppositions half and wait for the tries to come along.
Once again too, as at Huddersfield and at times against the Dragons, our first half display would have seen us ahead of most teams in Super league, but the second half saw us veer away from these plans, kick poorly and most importantly for me, drop ball and give stupid penalties away. Again it was a bit of a shambles really.
It is so predictable by now, and on the terraces everyone was talking at half time about what was ‘going to happen’ and we were almost right. However for me this time around at least there were some positives. Firstly instead of capitulating, we did wrestled the momentum back, scoring as good a try as this old hand has seen, and having got the lead back one or two of our most experienced players led by example and we held out!
You know 7 wins from 9 games is a pretty amazing record when you consider the 4 from 5 we lost before that It‘s the sort of record that we would have killed for last season, we are doing it with senior players injured, and yet we all know that we ain’t playing well; well not for 80 minutes anyway.
So from week to week it’s a case of wait and see, but I know what I’ll be predicting at half time at Wakefield.
In this week’s diary we look at that game, at performances and once again at ‘Mr. Maverick’. I feature, Reece Lyne, Radford and Dowes, a road named after an ex player, Motu Tony, Craig Hall, Manu for England and possible signings. Plus a winger on his way out, my coming of age, Mike Burnett the history of Belle Vue and in Codgers Corner a low scoring epic at Odsal! |
Joe on July 05, 2010 9:13 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 204th |
Richard Agar said on the Sky Sports Web site, ‘It was as ugly as it gets, it was a ten pinter’. I am not sure what he meant by that or whether it was actually a misprint. Of course, he could have left a boring frustrating encounter to do the same as I did in the Drum and Monkey, but I’ll move on!!!
Mrs. R hates games against the Catalans partly because there is no atmosphere and partly because they are always turgid affairs in which we invariably fail to perform. Her reading of the situation was again proved right on both counts on Friday!!!!
After a period when I really thought that we were starting to get somewhere this season, we now seem to be going backwards with the performance mirroring in many ways what happened at Huddersfield. We started well, the game plan was right, we showed some good signs, scored a good try and then some of our players who should have learnt something from last week, veered away from that plan, and everything fell into disarray….again. As happened last week the harder we seemed to try to rectify things the worst it got, and our only saving grace for me this week was that luckily the Dragons were no better than us.
Their coach said that it was one of their best displays of the season; well if that’s the case I’m glad I did not have to watch the rest!
It was tragic too, to see Longy writhing in agony after that incident in the second half and although I know I will be pilloried for it in some quarters, I have to say as he was led down the tunnel taking oxygen, I was struck with the thought that with him probably went our season.
Why is it that when we get injuries it’s always to key players? Once again at this moment in time our three marque signings are injured again, and the outlook, despite having a recent record of played 8 won 6, and sitting in 4th position in the league, is for me at least, a bit dodgy.
In this week’s Diary we look at that game at performances at Longy’s injury and who will replace him. There’s also Craig Fitzgibbon signing on, Royce Simmons, the farce that is the anti tampering deadline, Craig Hall packing his bags and a Super Stadium for East Hull (ha ha). Plus, there’s the Derby Day farce, Scott Wheeldon, Mark O’meley’s set back and in Codgers Corner a tough tough game in the mid seventies against Whitehaven. |
Joe on June 28, 2010 9:47 AM
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| The Dentists Diary - 203rd |
Well after Sunday its business as usual again isn’t it?
Before the game I thought we would lose, somehow in the scheme of things in Super League this year it was coming to our turn either this week or on Friday. I also thought, looking at the play makers they were fielding, it could be by 12-16 points, so the margin was no surprise either.
What was a shock and most disappointing though was the manner of the defeat. If you have aspirations to go any distance at all in the play offs you have to win games when you are leading by 18-0 after half an hour. Ok, I know Saints capitulated a bigger lead at the KC, the other week, but we beat them by one point, not 14.
As fans, one of the worst things you have to endure is a team that does well one week and poorly the next, as that usually means that it is not a question of ability but more of poor application, or even lack of effort. If that happens in the space of one game then its bloody frustrating to say the least!
It’s was also interesting to hear the ‘Agar out’ brigade on the radio after the game. I have been in there with them at times, but on this occasion, for me, they don’t get it at all because in the first half we amassed a 18 point lead by sticking to the game plan Agar and his staff devised. It was nothing special, we just did what we do best, draining their energy in collisions with our forwards, targeting and tiring their runners and play makers and waiting patiently for the chances to materialise.
Then with all the hard work done and a win just probably one more score away, we stopped completing our sets, our kicking game went off altogether, and we started trying to play that hundred mile an hour ambitious stuff that our backs just are not capable of handling.
They are a really good team but I was really disappointed and although providing we ‘get back on the horse‘ on Friday it is not a disaster, its infuriating for the fans who could see that we almost had them beaten.
In the week that the Diary returns I look at that game, at what went wrong, and player performances. Then there is some travellers tales from my holidays, Danny Tickle, Danny Houghton and Wishy Washbrook. Plus there’s a bit about John Kear, what being an exiled fan is like, the Magic Tragic weekend, the RL meeting in Hull, and in Codgers Corner, the game when I experienced the worst behaved crowd I have ever seen at Rugby League game. |
Joe on June 22, 2010 8:41 AM
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| MINUTES FROM LATEST FC VOICES MEETING |
 Minutes from FC Voices Group Meeting 05/06/2010
It has been agreed by the committee member's that the monthly meeting minutes shall be published live on www.blackandwhites.co.uk and here is your first lot!!! |
Joe on June 21, 2010 4:13 PM
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Team |
Pts |
+/- |
| 1 |
Wigan |
42 |
489 |
| 2 |
St. Helens |
38 |
389 |
| 3 |
Warrington |
38 |
383 |
| 4 |
Leeds |
33 |
160 |
| 5 |
Hull FC |
32 |
-11 |
| 6 |
Huddersfield |
31 |
305 |
| 7 |
Hull KR |
29 |
27 |
| 8 |
Castleford |
22 |
-108 |
| 9 |
Crusaders |
22 |
-191 |
| 10 |
Bradford |
19 |
-178 |
| 11 |
Wakefield |
18 |
-198 |
| 12 |
Harlequins |
14 |
-330 |
| 13 |
Salford |
14 |
-413 |
| 14 |
Catalans |
12 |
-324 |
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