You know every time I picture Tane Manihera waving the ball in celebration it still gives the old life bag palpitations. No I'm not meaning that as a criticism of Tane, because he never looked like losing his grip during his (and our) moment of glory. The basis of my excitement is the overall vision of what was a brilliant rescue mission by a Town team that wouldn't lie down.

As so many folk in this area I am also an ardent follower of the speedway team. I therefore likened last Sunday's remarkable finishing burst to a 'last heat decider' secured by the Comets. And despite the crowd being regrettably rather less than a speedway turnout, the noise generated by those joining in, as Tane finally planted the ball down for the certain winner, was perhaps louder than for Stoney and co - big revs and all.

Certain winner eh? Well we still had to endure one last charge (or was it two?) by the visitors before the final hooter sounded their death knell.

I queried our timekeeper afterwards regarding the duration of the injury time that had been added; a similar bout of prolonged agony had been felt at Barrow. It hadn't ever occurred to me that in reality the official people on the watch don't know the answer to that question. I'm informed they use a forty minute time piece only which is then stopped/started by the ref's signals. They are only aware over the forty minute period of how long is left to play.

Well beggar me! It's something I'll admit to not ever contemplating. I always thought a timekeeper at RL matches could tell instantly how much extra time had been added. Oh well you learn something new, etc..

The consequences of such a hard game came to the fore after the Hull KR match. The injury toll was the worst of the season although as the days pass some of the wounds are not as bad as first feared (fingers crossed).

One who did cop a bad looking knock was Will Blackburn. Until leaving the pitch, horizontally, he had been having a 'good one'. Running out wide at defences seems to be Wilma's forte.

I had a visit from the big lad during this week. On crutches he was (minus parrot) and his knee looked grossly swollen, being at least twice the width of my dome and, yes, that is enormous. He seems destined for a spell on the injury list.

Despite those injuries I thought it was a clean but tense struggle. The Rovers can tackle, defence seeming to be their pinnacle for success. One thought that did occur to me when we had possession was that the Hull defence, blanket-like on most Town attacks, would seem even more of a wall, surely, when a 'bottle carrier' is also in the middle of that line? Did anyone else think so?

Whilst the crowd sees the constant visit by these obvious message carriers as a nuisance, I also looked at it as a sort of mind game adding another brick in the wall as it were. Is it actually legal to have these carriers prancing on and off so often? Any refs, or budding ones, with an answer please?

Talking of injuries, I feel as sickened as anyone in the RL world by that horrendous elbow job, which Chris Campbell of Whitehaven sustained. Thuggery is too lenient a word to describe the assault. At the time of writing (Thursday) I'm not yet aware of the perpetrator's punishment for that offence, but anything other than a lengthy ban would add insult to a nasty injury.

We have to travel to Donny soon (eventually) and I do hope common sense has prevailed within their ranks regarding the physical - over physical - tactics the Dragons are allegedly using.

Another bruising, but fair, encounter is on the cards for the players fit enough to travel this weekend. In my view Featherstone are a footballing team through and through, no violence just skill as it should be. Town will do very well to get anything from this one that's for sure, but if the 'army' are in attendance in huge numbers I'm sure the lads can make a great afternoon out for all on Sunday.

Then it's up and at 'em for the big one, Friday the Thirteenth. It seems that both teams may be under strength but this will not dilute the fans spirit. The Townies want that double completed. While Haven who are "out of play-off contention" - quote as per Mr J. Cox - will still look to gain the local pride trophy. I can feel the heat already.

The only certainty from this match is - it will become a bad Good Friday for some!
K.S.