EMCFL @ THE TOWN GROUND
18 SEPTEMBER 2019 --- 7.45PM
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| THE SCENIC VIEWS OF THE TOWN GROUND |
First up on the Wednesday night is a trip to an old favourite Heanor Town and after a direct service to the nearby retail park saw me arrive in good time it allowed a catch up firstly with Lennie the Lion, club mascot, in somewhat of a state of undress! You see he was in civilian clothes selling programmes and raffle through the gate I trust you to tell nobody else his identity. A brief visit to see Mr John Smith who is very smooth allowed for a first chip cob and as the peas were not ready I opted to return to sample the full works mid way through the first half. Once again good to catch up with Kim, Elaine and Colin who were on duty in this excellent non league snack bar one of the best!
There has been a return and a catch up with Tony who is back in situ on the P.A. and producing a very readable programme, plus social media exploits. Along the evening quite a few other 'regulars' were in attendance including Malc Storer of the excellent On The Road blog which keeps us all informed of local fixtures and results in one place. Also special mention to Mr Squires senior who hope is feeling better after being taken unwell on the evening.
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| FAIRLY CLEAR WHATS ON TONIGHT |
Football wise The Lions have only played three league games and sit below half way so look for a 'take off' of their season when their league schedule hits the rails. As for Kimberley they looked a young side the other week versus Gedling and they are to close to the foot of the table for comfort but they are a steady bunch trying their best to keep football on a positive footing in their town too.
It didn't start too well for the visitors when after just three minutes Heanor took the lead Jon Jebbison floated over a corner and it was headed back at the far post for Jamie Sleigh to fire home. The home side looked irresistible Samuel Birks saw his effort saved before Jesse Vowles hit a post. It was two nil though on the quarter of an hour mark Vowles skipped past his defender and crossed low for Jebbison to slot home.
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| ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP AS HEANOR PLAYERS HOLD THE ADVERT BOARDS IN PLACE AFTER A STRONG GUST OF WIND |
The second half saw the usual that so often happens Heanor stepped off the gas with some changes but also Kimberley got a grip of the game and pulled a goal back on 71 minutes Jack Wood converted a high ball neatly. It had all turned a bit quiet after an excellent first half from Heanor but Sleigh sent the home fans away happy when he dropped one over the keeper from long distance in the first minute of stoppage time.
As ever an enjoyable visit great to catch up with some old friends at this club who always offer the blog a warm welcome.
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| GO ON THEN ONE MORE SCENIC SHOT |
WARRINGTON WOLVES 12 CASTLFORD TIGERS 14
SUPER LEAGUE ELIMINATOR PLAY OFF @ THE HALLIWELL JONES STADIUM
19 SEPTEMBER 2019 - 7.45PM
Carrying on the animal theme this play off final from Super League rugby would sees the top five play a slightly convoluted selection of games to reach the Grand Final at Old Trafford in early October and tonight's game could not have been more tense and what looked nervous for the Challenge Cup holders Warrington who were favourites to progress. With neither side in great form it showed and errors and a game of chess would have summed up the opening 70 minutes, although the last ten minutes was fantastic so much so that if the proceeding minutes had been to the same level I may not have survived the evening intact.
Thanks to Mr R of the platform one parish who is a Warringtonian [?] and into his rugby league the option of a return train at just after 10pm direct back to spire town had been mentioned. It was in the memory bank and having never experienced Super League before the time arose to move on up from National Conference and the Championship with Sheffield Eagles.
Departing just before half past four with a seat all the way, in no go steady you have read it correctly, arrival was just a few minutes of the hour and a half traveling time down at Warrington Central. From the station the ground is a full 5 minutes amble away and is an ideal option when running to a tight timetable, thankfully the new stadium is closer than the old Wilderspool ground which was on the south side of Warrington. The old ground was sadly no more after demolition in 2014 and of course due to varying problems had become defunct so the nice shiny new Halliwell Jones Stadium was built on a site so close to the town it could almost have been the old days where clubs where based close to centre, not moved to a farmers field four miles out of town, upon which the club have played since 2004.
Sadly tonight I had opted to travel without camera due to concerns about taking pictures in the ground which is a real shame because I really enjoyed the visit and it would have been good to share the facilities at the ground.
On the far side is a large Tesco which thankfully added a few more club card points as I purchased tea. Adjacent to the ground The Rodney was doing good trade and with Sky covering the game all manor of trucks were around the perimeter too.
The overall feel is of a functional ground a bit four boxes placed down but that's not to take away from it once inside. Still outside there is a tribute to Warrington's Australian winger Brian Bevan who scored a world record 796 tries there is a statue and mosaic wall to remind todays generation and any uninitiated like me!
Having decided to stand on the terracing, yes I know football fans stand on a modern terracing[!], for hopefully the best experience £24 was handed over for entry to the south stand which runs along the touchline and once inside a full length history board with pictures and facts about 'The Wire' is on display . Food and drink process are the usual £3 sausage roll and £2.30 for water and match day programmes at £3 were available but it did seem that rugby league fans didn't seem to bothered in the printed issue.
The ground then the south stand is a steep terrace to its eastern end it curves round to meet the seated east stand which ultimately adjoins the main, north, stand which features hospitality, changing rooms etc. The west stand is again a large terrace area behind the sticks separated from both its neighbouring stands and tonight was used by the Castleford fans in the central block.
Two large screens for video replays were placed in the corners of the south stand making it a turn around to view although it does add to the excitement of video referee judgements as the spinning arrow seems to stick on no try before flicking to try and visa versa much giving one set of fans a momentary heart flutter. Much debate in football about VAR is about the delay in decisions and the loss of 'the moment' I guess it is somewhat the same in rugby league and referees appear to go for the safe option when sometimes all seems clear cut.
Along this meandering article it was interesting to note that the sponsors logo is superimposed on TV screens and did not show at all on the pitch tonight, although last time I saw this at Bradford Bulls on the day before a game it was being sprayed onto the pitch.
A quick review of the action and approaching the half hour mark it looked like a nil nil in footballing terms all over it. Cas were defending admirably and The Wire couldn't breakthrough. The Wire by the way after the towns industrial past or wire making, interestingly I never head Wolves chanted and just occasionally Warrington but 'the wire' constantly.
Probably the most important first half action was Stefan Ratchford's penalty miss from wide on the right both touch judges signalled no try, although on the replay screens there was considerable disquiet on the terraces around me with the decision.
Tigers took the lead on that half hour mark Adam Milner flung himself over on the ball to allow Peter Mata'utia the chance to maximise the points and they went into the break at 6-0.
Warrington had seen talisman Blake Austin injured before the break and he did not return for the second half but his replacement Jake Mamo had an immediate impact going over the whitewash and the game was level with a lovely conversion from Ratchford.
Now could Warrington muster up something that had been missing in the first half? No they couldn't as Jordan Rankin went over in the corner for Mata'utia to add the conversion just nine minutes into the second half. This clearly took the steam out of the home sides efforts and they struggled and Mata'utia took it further away on 78 minutes when his penalty made it 14-6 to the visitors.
One last push for The Wire as the crowd tried their best to get them on the front foot again and when Chris Hill went over and Ratchford saw his conversion bring the scores within two the temperature levels rose further on this tense evening.
In the final minutes Ratchford opted to kick from the half way line but his penalty fell well short and even though Warrington pushed every sinew in those closing minutes it would not be enough to break down a resolute Castleford defence who had took their chances when presented and progress 14-12 to the next stage.
Thankfully a steady amble back saw arrival at platform one by 9.45pm and with just over a quarter of an hour to wait I clearly should have gone to the big 'T's' for some return journey supper. The arriving train was two carriages not the expected four and had no catering, I have to say it seemed very strange being in Warrington at 10pm and hoping to get home! But the goal was achieved the direct service which would terminate in Nottingham saw arrival at spire town a minute before midnight and thanks to a forecourt taxi return to base was shortly after and a tremendous sporting experience had been achieved with my first Super League game, up The Wire!
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