The Blog       MS Word Print Last week I reported that there was heart in the first team game, but little else. What a difference a week makes! Beverley were the visitors to Moorgate Avenue this weekend. They are four places higher in the League and looked a class above Rochdale's current form. They were no mugs. They played good rugby and their mid-field handling was some of the best we have seen this season. It was not enough against Rochdale this week. I can only say it was the best I have seen the first team play, this season. Many would fill this space with superlatives. Sorry, but as you know I am a hard man. I make unreasonable demands. Why did we step off the pace at the end of the game? The second team went to Blackburn. This was a side that they beat at the start of November. Could they keep up the form of the last few weeks? They did, but without the finesse. A good performance without the killer instinct of the last two weeks. No praise but a job well done. The fourths hosted the third team this week. Sparks were going to fly and certainly the thirds started off like a storm. They showed their pace and ball handling could win the game and within 15 minutes were two scores up. The very urge to win at all costs certainly let them down when big tackles were put in by three and four players to leave the fourths big gaps and draw within 2 points by half time. It did look like the third team tactics might work. But their efforts were being misdirected. When things go wrong, shouting at your team mates does not improve them. Slowly, in the second half, the fourths began to chip away at the now fragile defence. As the game continued, the disappointment turned to panic. The fourths knew they had won and there was still fifteen minutes left! Any more slips like this will cost the thirds their second spot. Was the game any good? Yes. For this level of rugby it was a great contest, good handling and fast rugby. Both sides played well, but the fourth team did not panic at any point. The third team need to learn. They are a good side who have only lost to the thirds and De La Salle! They need to be more patient on the field, reduce the errors and most of all win. The fourths? Most need a body transplant, into something younger. Which is the smallest European country in the IRB? I mean the size of the country, not the smallest Rugby Union. Answers and other trivia should be sent to our quiz address. See you next week.