Firstly, the positives - Cas had a strong game, defence at many times of the game was superb, as was comittment and fitness levels. A lot that Cas can build on from here
Now the OK's, but in need of improvement.....our kicking game basically. Not creative enough, not accurate enough, often too flat so the guys couldn't get onto the ball with forward momentum to bowl over stationary opposition. Hudson...by no means bad, but he just didn't seem to be tuned in. He just wasn't all that lively, sharp and had a glazed look in his eyes.
Now the bad....what can I say...Thaler. Nothing positive about Thaler at all tonight, not that Ian Smith helped him at all as video ref. For those who went to the game and also recorded it. Watch for the Carvell head lunge into Huby's chin 34 seconds into the game. It's not quite a head butt...however he lunges his head towards Huby's face in the tackle, he was obviously well wound up. 3 minutes later the elbow into Jackson's face was disgracefull, more so by Thaler for doing absolutely nothing despite the stoppage of the game giving ample time to consider and to communicate the right action.....he didn't even speak to Carvell, to advise of his technique.
The Morley, elbow drop onto McGoldrick....again a disgusting reaction by Morley, at least a sin bin required. 10 minutes later the late/high tackle by Morley on Sherwin. It wasn't a matter of 'already being committed to the tackle!!' If Sherwin had kept the ball, Morley's arm wa still way to high for a legal tackle. Again, there's no excuse for it, and again Thaler having warned Morley for the elbow issue a few minutes earlier failed to take sufficient action.
Matt King. Watch the 69th minute when Matt King is tackled by Liam Higgins. When King gets up from the tackle he goes looking for Higgins after playing the ball. Higgins being one of the cleanest players in the game, just gets on with the game and jogs away.
3 minutes later, King still wound up, is involved with McGoldrick. McGoldrick, (who had a good game!!) no doubt should not have lashed out at King. However, McGoldrick seems to be taking exception to his body position in the tackle. His legs are up in the air with his weight on the side of his neck. No excuse for lashing out, however it's not a good position to be in with the weight of 2 players then on top of you. Hence the frustration, especially after the Morley elbow incident a few minutes earlier.
All in all, a good performance by Cas. Wires, as a top 3 rated team, were not special in any way. Thaler got it wrong, way to many times!!!... he also failed to take action, failed to communicate with the players and completely lost the plot and lost control of the game at times. A draw might well have been a fair result. I left the game, not at all disheartened by Cas....just disappointed with the way the game was / wasn't reffed!
