The good, the bad & the ugly: Field-goal fever, Rochdale relegated & off-field fighting

Drew Darbyshire 05 Aug 2019 2:49 PM

There have been a couple of big incidents in rugby league over the last couple of days.

The good

Round 24 of Super League started off in very good fashion as we saw a bruising encounter between Hull FC and Wigan. The Warriors snatched a 15-14 victory late on thanks to a Zak Hardaker field-goal.

The intensity of the match was brilliant and it had that ‘finals’ football feel to it as both teams look to cement themselves in third spot come the end of the regular campaign.

And on Sunday, the clash between Hull KR and Castleford went into Golden Point after the score was 26-26 after normal time. It was a piece of individual brilliance from Danny McGuire.

The veteran half-back kicked a 40/20 before notching over the one-pointer for the Robins straight from the 20-metre tap. McGuire has still got the goods – one more year?

40/20 ✅
Drop Goal ✅
Golden Point Winner ✅

? @DannyMcGuire6
? @hullkrofficial pic.twitter.com/ZcD8xFCDwP

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 4, 2019

The bad

Rochdale have had a nightmare season in the Championship and their relegation to League 1 was confirmed on Sunday after losing to Batley 50-26 at the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday.

The Hornets have won just one out of their 23 games in the second-tier this year and have conceded 1,032 points – an average of 44 points per game.

They sacked their former player-coach Carl Forster early in the season and their appointment of Matt Calland didn’t improve things either.

Under Forster, they won a game in the league and the Challenge Cup while they have yet to register a win under Calland. A fresh start in League 1 might do the Hornets some good but their recruitment and retention is key.

Sacking coaches is never always the answer!Here’s an example of why it’s not!
Check this out from re attendances: Both have coached 5 home games. Averages attendances under each coach:
Forster 877
Calland 537
340 OFF the attendance. Say £10 on average £3400 a game, 5 games £17k pic.twitter.com/vAlOtzLWGr

— Graeme Taylor (@G18EME) July 30, 2019

The ugly

It was an entertaining game between Catalans and Warrington in Perpignan on Saturday, with the Dragons running out 30-10 winners. However, the game has been overshadowed by ugly scenes in the stands towards the end of the match.

A brawl started on the field which saw Dragons duo Micky McIlorum and Sam Tomkins sent off, while Jake Mamo received his second yellow card of the afternoon.

And tempers flared off the field as a bunch of Warrington and Catalans supporters started scrapping. This is totally unacceptable and it put rugby league in a dark light.

What happened in the terraces was not because of how the game was played. Players are professional and shake hands at the end of the game. Emotions are bound to get on top of players in sport – but it certainly shouldn’t be happening in the stands.

Rugby league fans punch on in the Catalans vs Warrington game. #SLCatWar pic.twitter.com/vaoYhnwTFp

— Sports Freakshow ⚽???⚾? (@aussiebeastmode) August 3, 2019