Online oubliette

A number of games covered in these pages fit the description of a bad day at the office, but for one where you not only have a bad day, but are manifestly seen to have had one, rugby, of either code, is the game for you. Thatto Heath Crusaders had been happy with the photos I produced from their game against Wigan St Patrick's, requesting permission to use a couple on the website, and asking if I would be coming again. Given their convenient location, I attended again for this weekend's game against Rochdale Mayfield.

I have still to master the timings for the journey on the 10A, so I was a couple of minutes late, but the teams were also a little late coming out, so I was there for the start. It started evenly enough, the visitors opening the scoring with a try, and the hosts replying and converting. Little did we know the hosts would not trouble the scoreboard operator again in his otherwise busy afternoon.

About 10 minutes in, a mass brawl broke out, with the referee, who looked somewhat inexperienced, deciding after extended consultation with the touch judges to send off one player from Rochdale and two from Thatto Heath. I am not sure about the grounds on which he chose those players, but it was harsh on the hosts, as both sides looked equally responsible for the incident.

I have not made a close study of the effect in different sports of a one man disadvantage, but suspect it may be bigger in rugby league than others. In football, there is the option of accurate long passes into space, and in rugby union the attacking side has some control over the ball coming out of the breakdown. In league, however, the extra man means there is always chance to be in more places than the opposition, particularly after the play-the-ball. The visitors were now able to assert their strength, passing and sidestepping to get 10 - 15 yards per tackle, and tackling the hosts after a couple of yards.

As I positioned myself at the end Thatto Heath were attacking, the kick off after one of Rochdale's relentless scores saw the play rapidly back at the other end with the hosts defending their goal line. This does not make for the best pictures, although got enough for a collection, including those times the hosts were able to break free for a good run with the ball.

A match that looks bound for a heavy defeat can acquire a momentum all of its own, particularly in rugby, with the hosts becoming more error prone as the game went on, and a final score from which they will be keen to recover. Looking online to check the score, I at first thought the game had disappeared from collective memory, with neither side nor the league having it, but I found the RFL has a very comprehensive set of results at rugby-league.com once you have worked out where to look, that link to Kingstone Press Leagues only takes you to the professional game, despite the amateur National Conference being sponsored by, er, Kingstone Press.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen here.

Final score: Thatto Heath Crusaders 6 Rochdale Mayfield 70.