"Down the Line" blog by Robbie Paul
Robbie: ‘It’s game on’
15th June 2010
We’re getting closer to Blackpool! It’s semi-final time in the Northern Rail Cup over the course of this weekend and there’s two mouthwatering games in prospect.
On Thursday night the Sky cameras visit the Leigh Sports Village again just a few days after Saturday’s Gillette Fusion international and it’s a game I’m hoping to play a part in as the Centurions welcome Batley Bulldogs.
On Sunday Widnes travel across the Pennines to face the Cougars and it’s a tough one to call! Just a week after beating Barrow in the last eight at the Stobart Stadium, Paul Cullen’s side go and lose to the Raiders at the same venue. That’s the beauty of this fantastic sport we call Rugby League!
For their part Keighley would have started as favourites against the winless Rams last Sunday and could have moved off the bottom of the table but it’s a funny old game! All credit to Dewsbury for winning that contest but it will mean that the Cougars will be desperate to bounce back and recapture a bit of the form that has seen them get to the last four.
On the face of it you have to fancy Widnes. They are the holders and they pummelled Keighley 72-10 back in February. Another Northern Rail Cup Final win for them will give them a big boost in their bid to get back into the engage Super League but their form has been patchy to say the least.
As for Leigh It’ll be the second time in a week that we’ve faced up to the Bulldogs and personally speaking I really don’t want to see a repeat of Sunday’s result at Mount Pleasant!
We had a few key players out but that really is no excuse and we should have done better. We start off with a clean slate and hopefully we can book our trip to the seaside.
This is the most important game this season for us as it gives us the opportunity to get one step closer to strengthening our own Super League bid.
This is why the Northern Rail Cup really is so exciting. Any team can win on the day. There are no foregone conclusions which is fantastic for the tournament.
I played in the final with Salford City Reds against Doncaster RFLC in 2008.It was an incredible match and a great day out for the fans.
I’m well aware that the Northern Rail 9s tournament takes place on the day before at Fylde but I’d rather not be taking part in that. I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean. Nines is a fantastic test for rugby league players and it’ll be a festival of running rugby once again. All those gaps to exploit!
If you’ll pardon the pun it really is game on this week.
