Mark Butterill Speaks

Mark Butterill, the Buffaloes Head Coach passes his thoughts on the last three games

Huddersfield Underbank:

Lost for words after this game,the guys had done the hard work clawing back a 16 point deficit only for us to lose the game in what was effectively the last tackle of the game.

Once again ill discipline cost us dear and I have told the guys in no uncertain terms that things need to improve.

In the cold light of day though there turned out to be a lot of positives.

The commitment the players showed in turning a 16 point deficit around and turning it into a 10 point lead highlighted the class we have in the squad despite having 5 regulars out.

John Eliker I thought was back to the John of old with his defence and his running…unfortunately though he has now picked up a 3 game ban for getting sent off at Nottingham which is a massive disappointment to John and myself.

If we learn that we cant afford to give away stupid penalties and on the back of that easy field position then we can take something out of this defeat and hopefully push on in our quest for success.

East Lancashire Lions:

I appriciate you can only play whats in front of you and east lancs have been struggling all year but i thought that some of the trys scored in the early part of this game were fantastic.
We spoke all week after the Underbank game about getting back to winning ways and ridding ourselves of the ill discipline that has been a bugbear for most of the season.

Its seemed that the guys heeded my words and really put in a polished performance.

Jon Nicolls and Nicky Fontaine were supurb but Shaun Flynn was a different class in the kick returns, Filling for Andy Mgann at fullback who was carrying a foot injury.

Credit to Andy though, we were down on numbers and he put his hand up to go on the bench and play if called upon.Andy has been fantastic for us all year and hopefully will be fit to take his place on the field next week at Dewsbury Celtic.

Dewsbury Celtic:

This is a massive massive game for us this weekend.

As we all know Celtic always give Bramley a really tough game at their place and again we will have to show the class and discipline we showed at East lancs the previous week.

We are still down on numbers due to suspensions and injuries but travel to Celtic with a quality 17.

As a coach I highlighted early on in the season that the squad was too small and lacked a bit of depth that’s why a lot of recruitment has gone on throughout the season.Luckily so far the extra bodies we have brought in have really helped us though the last month where holidays ,injuries and suspensions have really hit us hard.

Over the next couple of weeks we should have a full compliment of players going forward in the final push for the grand final.

John Eliker is back after the Hemel game,Danny O Connor is hopefully back for the play offs and people like Matty Mullholland and Richard Hulme are back for the Hemel game itself.

Really hope all you supporters can get over to Dewsbury this sat as I know that myself and the players love playing when the crowds right behind us.
All season you have acted as the ‘extra man’ and hopefully you can do the same for the rest of the season.