The back row situation is such a shame for me for. Not so much that Hardaker or Chamberlain didn’t look decent there, but if we had Lane or even Fash available we could have gone with a really solid backline of Pryce, Rapana, Hardaker, Briscoe, Martin with Chamberlain in the back row and Ashworth on the bench.


 Gildart and Hiku are playing well and our two best defensive options to counter that in the centres would be Hardaker and Briscoe IMO. With Hardaker needed in the forwards I think Litten will get the nod with Cartwrights comments. Ball in hand he caused them problems in the second home derby last season, but think we’ll really struggle across the park defensively especially with all the reshuffles. No lack of effort from Hull but can just see them scoring loads again. 

Was that the one where Lewis started playing a mock violin towards South stand? It certainly riled a few people around me that one.


I saw the bottle flying through the air (I sit in S5). It came from somewhere towards the back of South stand and landed somewhere in the first few front rows, so someone probably got a little drenching.


It was probably due to it being derby day, and to the way the game was unfolding, but there did seem to be more than the usual quota of over-excited people near me yesterday. Around 15 minutes into the second half, three young guys (in their early twenties I would say) suddenly came and sat in our row, no idea where they had been for the first-half. Safe to say they were 'well-oiled' with one of them 'seven sheets to the wind'. They made a lot of noise (and shouted into their phones a good deal) for around fifteen minutes before thankfully disappearing who knows where! Although I'm fairly sure they weren't the ones throwing the bottle, don't think they were capable to taking aim!


Derby day definitely brings out the worse in some elements of our fan base. Some seem to crawl out for this one game only each year. Thankfully nothing major seemed to erupt yesterday.  

Hopefully some of those who came yesterday will see we're a totally different team from last season and come again. 

Where i was sat the language of one particular, I'll call him a fan, was atrocious and embarrassing.


I was relieved to get away at the end.

I'm actually happy Wigan-Saints is SKYs 3pm game of choice cos another 2.5 hours down the pub wouldent be good for our fixture.

Overall the two games have gone off without incident though. Even with the same rules practically we could make Weet Upper reserved next time as that gives 500 more seats. I also think both clubs need to get on with having some kind of loyalty points system so that the fans who go away all the time get priority for the away ends at the MKM and Craven Park.

I might be wrong with this, so nodoubt someone on here will clarify but doesnt the ruling state the onus is on the defender to anticipate what the ball carrier will do ?.