Sale call the shots!

I was quite excited when I heard this week that we were signing a couple of new players - two more young 'uns from Sale Sharks. I was somewhat nonplussed by the news that Andy Titterrell was going to Edgeley Park until the end of January. This means that he will miss key Championship games against Doncaster and Bedford.

If Sale contacted Leeds and asked if they could borrow a hooker why did Diccon not offer them Phil Neilsen or Scott Freer, both of whom could do a job for them in the AP? Unless Steve Diamond rang up and said we want to borrow Andy Titterrell. If so Diccon should have said he is not available. Unless Andy had already told Diamond that he wanted to do it, leaving Diccon with no real choice. Andy has said that he still holds ambitions to play in the AP. Perhaps he did not mean "with Leeds"!

It seems to me that Sale hold all the aces in this arrangement. It may well turn out to be a great arrangement as far as we are concerned but I have a nagging doubt now about Andy's commitment to the cause - our cause.

Kids Clobbered by Cornish Corsairs

Not a good game to pick for your first outing on national television, away at Cornish Pirates, a team who have over the past few years become the powerhouse of the Championship. It certainly looked like men against boys from my armchair.

I hope that Diccon has identified the areas where we need to improve. If not then they are the scrum, lineout, rucking(too slow), defence & game management. Easy enough to sort out if you have the manpower which of course we do not.

After Saturday's beating I have adjusted my sights for the season but we will still have to start with a home win over Donny on Sunday.

Green Shoots as Leeds go down on Day One

Who would have predicted that  Gordon Ross would have a 100% kicking day at HC? Well not me for starters. London Welsh are a workman-like side who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Today they just about deserved their win but were hanging on at the end as the Leeds youngsters attacked with vigour and showed that things will get better the more that they play together.

McColl and Wilson looked sharp whenever they got the ball. Denman was feisty in the scrums. Hampson & White will be vying for the 9 shirt all season & Ryan Burrows scored a decent try after a quiet first half. There was enough potential there today to leave the fans surprisingly upbeat when the final whistle went.