team for NRC Final

[From the Jam Butty Mines]

Grix GB - about even - GB  better in defence - Gix better in attack

Calvert / Blanch - Blanch better all round winger

Elibeck TKL - TKL I am afraid

Nannyn Jacko - Nanyn point machine

Maiden Gaskell - Maiden hands down

Rudd - Moran - Moran more dangerous runner

Duffy Penny - Duffy beter all round game in attcack and defence but Penny not that far behind

Trindall / Wilkes - I am afraid Wilkes youth and power.  Maybe 8 years ago Bull would have killed him but not now

A Smith / M Smith -  about even - how on earth do you come to this conclusion M Smith by 2 country miles

Fats / Cassidy - I would take fats more effective than Cassidy

Doran / Miller - about even

Fletcher / Noone - Fletcher probably just edges, Noone regarded as the unsung hero of the current Widnes side

Beswick / Joe - Beswick better all round game at L/F

Summers / Jacko - Summers under rated I woud have  this as even as they both fill very smilar roles.
Teare / Price - Price

Mattinson / Webster  mattinson by a country mile

Sice / James- Widnes don't need a hooker as an impact player as Smith is so effective for 80 mins. Therefore James can be just as effective in the Widnes game plan as Sice I would have this as even as they can both influence the game but in different ways.

I reckon
8 to Widness

5 to Whitehaven

6 even

[Chorley Blue and Gold]

My team for Sunday and the reasons why would be:

1. GB - best consistant player we have in my opinion
2. Calvert - Much improved and try machine
3. Eilbeck - Has to be picked for overall improvement and effort this year, having a good season
4. Seeds - Most experienced centre we have (not looking likely though!)
5. Maden - Picks himself
6. Rudd - Good developing player, can be fantastic at times
7. Duffy - On a good day no one near him in this league
8. Fats - Best prop in club
9. Matty - Fast, strong, good in defence, good in attack (still only developing!)
10. Bull - Workhorse of the team!
11. Fletcher - Star of the season!
12. Spencer (just!) - On his day great player but is not firing at the moment
13. Leroy - Playing really well at the moment

14. Sice - Impact player. Should be interchanged with Matty, Leroy and Spencer depending upon which three are playing the best.
15. Jacko - Animal!
16. Teare (with a rocket up his arse) - We need 4 props against Widnes!
17. R Jacko - Flexible, picked for his raw ability

Miss out - A Smith, Sorry to be controversial but he does not do enough for me.

After saying all of that it looks as though Seeds will miss out, he could be unwell? Who knows what the full story is?

[From the Jam Butty Mines]

Having just come back from watch the match  (couldn't make down to Blackpool as I'd a prior engagement I couldn't duck out off) I feel I should re-adjust my  assessment of the Whitehaven players aginst the Widnes players.

 

. GB - a seasoned perfessional should have known better. Showing his age - not effective against an enthusiastic side.
2. Calvert - Only seen him being draged back over his line. Might be the fastest British winger but there is much more than speed needed to be a good winger.
3. Eilbeck - Who?
4. Jackson - Who?
5. Maden - Picks himself
6. Rudd - The gulf between an excellent amateur and a good  SL On a good day no one near him in this leagueplayer (Moran for those in doubt) was illustrated today.
7. Duffy - Widnes had two scrum halves who both looked better than Duffy - taking the easy buck at Haven?
8. Fats - Best prop in club - probably right - but nowhere near best prop in NL1
9. Matty - Not as fast, not as strong, not as good in defence, not as good in attack Mark Smith
10. Bull - Well bull was right - but not in the sense it was originally meant - another taking the easy buck?
11. Fletcher - Star of the season FOR Whitehaven maybe but has done nothing against Dewsbury away, Leigh at home, Cas and now Widnes. As one of Havens SL class players (Allledgedly (Sp)) He should have shown up better.
12. Spencer  - On his day great player but is not firing at the moment - Found his level in a Haven side beating average NL1 side and getting beat by NL1 side with ambition.
13. Leroy - Unusally quiet game from Leroy - think he's better off the bench.

14. Sice - Shown how good he really is today. Let him go back to Town or Barrow or Blackpool or Gateshead - he will be a superstar there.
15. Jacko - Animal! Yeah - pussycat.
16. Teare (with a rocket up his arse) - We actually needed 4 props who cold get them on the back foot - Teare nowhere near good enough. - neither were that other three.
17. Sorry can't remeber who else played they made that much of an mpression