Yorkshire Rugby

No league games this weekend but there is a Yorkshire Cup Semi Final for anyone who still wants to still see a bit of rugby between Bradford Salem & Cleckheaton.

Interesting game this as 6th in RNE1 play 6th in RNE2. Bradford Salem are a team who like to be aggressive & physical but I think the problem for them in this game is that Cleckheaton are also notorious for their physicality & aggression in the league above. If this game was played before Christmas I would have given Bradford Salem a better chance but going to have to go for Cleck in this one looking at recent form, although this is a one off game so anything could happen!

The winner of this tie will go on to play York in the final on Sat 24th May I believe.

Can anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Pizza

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Papa John's Cup. It's still stupid as now the PJ cup is I think a straight knock out so in theory a club could get knocked out of this on the 12th April and then would have to play a cup final on 24th May with no games inbetween. That's like a month and a half which can't be good for the players!

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

So its warm enough in May for the blazers to drink Pimms

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 10, 2025, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Papa John's Cup. It's still stupid as now the PJ cup is I think a straight knock out so in theory a club could get knocked out of this on the 12th April and then would have to play a cup final on 24th May with no games inbetween. That's like a month and a half which can't be good for the players!

That happened a couple o seasons ago.
Regarding Pizza pot matches, if i read it correctly, after the 1st round, games are two legged.
Some dufus in the organising committee must genuinely think that a team getting pumped at home is going to turn up for the away leg.

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 10, 2025, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Papa John's Cup. It's still stupid as now the PJ cup is I think a straight knock out so in theory a club could get knocked out of this on the 12th April and then would have to play a cup final on 24th May with no games inbetween. That's like a month and a half which can't be good for the players!

Has it been officially confirmed as 24th May yet?
This clashes with the County team games and there was some talk at looking to play the Cup finals on Sunday the 25th May

Quote from: avinastella on Mar 10, 2025, 05:16 PM

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 10, 2025, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Papa John's Cup. It's still stupid as now the PJ cup is I think a straight knock out so in theory a club could get knocked out of this on the 12th April and then would have to play a cup final on 24th May with no games inbetween. That's like a month and a half which can't be good for the players!

Has it been officially confirmed as 24th May yet?
This clashes with the County team games and there was some talk at looking to play the Cup finals on Sunday the 25th May

Haven't seen anything quite official but in theory the Sunday would probably be better for most as it's on a bank holiday weekend too

Quote from: avinastella on Mar 10, 2025, 05:11 PM

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 10, 2025, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Flaggy on Mar 10, 2025, 11:28 AMCan anyone explain, please, why the county cup comps finals are at the end of May as the RFU seem hell bent on shortening the season at "Grass roots" level due to player "Fatigue". Think I already know the answer but just trying to stimulate a bit of banter.

Papa John's Cup. It's still stupid as now the PJ cup is I think a straight knock out so in theory a club could get knocked out of this on the 12th April and then would have to play a cup final on 24th May with no games inbetween. That's like a month and a half which can't be good for the players!

That happened a couple o seasons ago.
Regarding Pizza pot matches, if i read it correctly, after the 1st round, games are two legged.
Some dufus in the organising committee must genuinely think that a team getting pumped at home is going to turn up for the away leg.

You're semi right Avinastella - the Regional 2 Championship QFs are played over 2 legs (to guarantee each last 16 winner at least 1 home tie) so should Rochdale & Bradford Salem win their last 16 tie then they'll have a two-legged match up to look forward to!

Bradford Salem 12-83 Cleckheaton

A bit of a miss match in all honesty!

I expected Cleckheaton to be too strong but I wasn't expecting that.

Assume it was a weakened BS side on the day with that score.

Quote from: backrowbandit on Mar 16, 2025, 06:36 AMI expected Cleckheaton to be too strong but I wasn't expecting that.

Assume it was a weakened BS side on the day with that score.

Don't think Bradford Salem had any of the 'RL Superstars' playing.

The irony is the one RL superstar who did play in the game played for Cleckheaton in Jarrod Sammut!

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 16, 2025, 02:35 PM

Quote from: backrowbandit on Mar 16, 2025, 06:36 AMI expected Cleckheaton to be too strong but I wasn't expecting that.

Assume it was a weakened BS side on the day with that score.

Don't think Bradford Salem had any of the 'RL Superstars' playing.

The irony is the one RL superstar who did play in the game played for Cleckheaton in Jarrod Sammut!

Apparently Doncaster have banned their two from playing Saturdays and the combined age of the halfbacks at the weekend was around the 100 mark, fair play to them for turning out and having a go.

Quote from: PocknRoll on Mar 17, 2025, 07:56 AM

Quote from: Rugby Badger on Mar 16, 2025, 02:35 PM

Quote from: backrowbandit on Mar 16, 2025, 06:36 AMI expected Cleckheaton to be too strong but I wasn't expecting that.

Assume it was a weakened BS side on the day with that score.

Don't think Bradford Salem had any of the 'RL Superstars' playing.

The irony is the one RL superstar who did play in the game played for Cleckheaton in Jarrod Sammut!

Apparently Doncaster have banned their two from playing Saturdays and the combined age of the halfbacks at the weekend was around the 100 mark, fair play to them for turning out and having a go.

Agreed you have to give Salem credit for actually playing the game, a lot of teams would have pulled out with a weakened side especially playing against a team in a league above!