"Down the Line" blog by Robbie Paul
Down the line by Robbie Paul
8th February 2010
Nobody can say that the Northern Rail Cup has lacked entertainment value this year.
Two draws and two surprising defeats were among the bill of fayre from last weekend's second round of the 2010 competition. And that's got to rate as great entertainment value for the fans!
My club Leigh Centurions came unstuck at Co-operative Championship One club York City Knights while Whitehaven lost at newly promoted Keighley Cougars. We were undone by a Chris Thorman drop goal while 'Haven were shot down by a Danny Jones one-pointer two minutes from time.
Two all Championship matches produced draws with Karl Harrison's Batley Bulldogs holding Widnes Vikings in a 30-30 thriller at Mount Pleasant and Featherstone Rovers and Sheffield Eagles sharing the spoils 18-18 at Big Fellas Stadium.
We were dreadful at York, but I don't want to take anything away from the Knights. They sniffed that we were running below par and stepped up their efforts. They took us on in the middle of the field and they've got some pretty big blokes in their pack.
But, most importantly, Chris Thorman played brilliantly for them. He's got a great skill set and did a lot of things well for them.
I think he's doing a great job at York under difficult circumstances considering he has the added responsibility of coaching following James Ratcliffe's suspension.
We're still a very new team that is coming to terms with a whole raft of new plays and combinations. Also we went into the match without three of our first-choice props with Chris Hill, Rickey Bibey and Steve Nash missing and not many clubs would have been able to cope with that set of circumstances.
No disrespect to York but we felt that was a match we lost rather than we were beaten.
I think the difference between the Championship and the top of Championship One is not as wide as it once was and there are some pretty good sides ready to challenge any Championship side that is just off its game.
The Northern Rail Cup is certainly putting the Championship on the right track for a successful 2010 season.
Clubs are learning that it's now more than just having fans turn up for the game and are offering just that little bit more in value.
That's why having cross-division ties at this point in the season lifts the entertainment value and presents the clubs with that extra marketing opportunity.
I really believe that SkySports' decision to televise Championship and Northern Rail Cup matches on Thursday night is central to clubs raising their game in marketing terms.
Being televised live sees companies interested in clubs' ground advertising, jersey branding and corporate entertainment packages so it has brought a new income stream to this level of the sport and that's very welcome in these difficult trading times.
Fans have got so many other attractions competing for their pound and that's why entertaining Rugby League and those other extra bits of entertainment being offered by clubs is so important to our future.
