fevnut's blog

    We haven't given you a listing of previous Fev matches for this week's ref for the simple reason that it will be his very first time. Started last year with League One games and this year he has been given several Championship matches. 

 

   Both Whitehaven's and Fev's 21 man squads have appeared on the RFL site (all usual caveats apply!).  Whitehaven have two new players in their 21 - Dan Hindmarsh-Takyi (on loan from Cas) and Huw Worthington, a trialist, who played a few games at Widnes last year on loan from Leeds. Fev also have a new face in the form of dual reg player Connor Barley, a centre, who is only 19 but made his début at Hull HR as a 17 year-old. He played a few games for York last year on loan from Hull KR. We find it quite difficult to see the potential shape of the teams in the form in which the clubs publish the squads so we just have to use guesswork, whilst taking into consideration the line-ups in each club's last match, to set them out in the traditional manner running from fullback to loose forward and then subs.  

Much, much better   As we pulled into the Millennium Stadium car park last Sunday there was a degree of apprehension. This was partially engendered by the scars of Fev v Widnes matches many years ago, but more so based on the fact that in this year’s Championship Widnes had played four and won them all whereas Fev had lost to Wakefield and Bradford before beating Doncaster with ease. But Doncaster are a very different proposition to Wakefield, Bradford or Widnes. The big question for us was how would our halfbacks go? We had guessed that it would be Bowes and Turner as neither Reynolds or Lacans were available. One of our feelings about the Bradford match had been that we lacked leadership from the halves and that was the same combination. When it came to it, we had a really good first half performance. It was particularly pleasing how, after conceding a try to take the score to 10-6 we came straight back and scored again for a 16-6 halftime lead. As the second half started we felt...

   First time ever in a Championship match with this referee although he did take charge of one of our 1895 Cup matches at the beginning of the year. His position in the bottom table for average penalties, sin-bins and sendings-off per match makes interesting reading.

    

      Third time for Fev this year with this referee. So far, in 2024, he has been lower than average for penalties, yellow cards and red cards.

   

    Fev have published our 21 man squad. Doncaster's squad is on the RFL Match centre which may or may not be correct. We find it quite difficult to see the potential shape of the teams in the form in which the clubs publish the squads so we just have to use guesswork, whilst taking into consideration the line-ups in each club's last match, to set them out in the traditional manner running from fullback to loose forward and then subs.