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The Andy Wilson Page
The Guardian's Andy Wilson pens his thoughts exclusively for Mancunians RL.
Apologies to any Salford supporters still to recover from the disappointment of the City Reds' quarter final defeat at Wigan, but there have been encouraging signs this season that the Challenge Cup is recapturing some of its old magic.
The televised ties at Hull KR and Huddersfield were thrillers, even if the standard of rugby wasn't all that high, and the terrific travelling support of Salford at Wigan and especially Castleford at the Galpharm Stadium made the ties feel more like semi finals.
It's just a shame we have to wait so long for the actual semis, with the need to fit in with the BBC's sporting schedule meaning there is a frustrating 10-week gap between rounds compared to three weeks between the semis and the final, when the return of either Wigan or Warrington to Wembley after a lengthy absence should guarantee a terrific occasion.
Who knows what state the four semi finalists will be in by then - especially with a Saints-Wigan derby at Knowsley Road in the previous weekend's round of Super League fixtures, when Huddersfield host Bradford and Tony Smith returns to Leeds for the first time with Warrington.
One other disappointment following the quarter finals was the lack of coverage in the Monday morning newspapers. My own paper, the Guardian, carried less than 400 words on the Huddersfield-Cas game, and the Daily Telegraph was even worse, providing further evidence that the excitement made little impact on the people who make editorial decisions in London.
Us writers find that as depressing as rugby league supporters, but that's why those of us who love the game need to keep banging the drum, especially in places like Manchester. Which is a roundabout way of saying congratulations to everyone involved in the formation of the Mancunians club, and to the Salford City Reds for their positive new approach to the city next door.
If any of you have any thoughts on that or any other rugby league topics, please check out, and ideally respond to, the blog we carry on the website every Thursday (www.guardian.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague).
The Guardian's Andy Wilson pens his thoughts exclusively for Mancunians RL.
Apologies to any Salford supporters still to recover from the disappointment of the City Reds' quarter final defeat at Wigan, but there have been encouraging signs this season that the Challenge Cup is recapturing some of its old magic.
The televised ties at Hull KR and Huddersfield were thrillers, even if the standard of rugby wasn't all that high, and the terrific travelling support of Salford at Wigan and especially Castleford at the Galpharm Stadium made the ties feel more like semi finals.
It's just a shame we have to wait so long for the actual semis, with the need to fit in with the BBC's sporting schedule meaning there is a frustrating 10-week gap between rounds compared to three weeks between the semis and the final, when the return of either Wigan or Warrington to Wembley after a lengthy absence should guarantee a terrific occasion.
Who knows what state the four semi finalists will be in by then - especially with a Saints-Wigan derby at Knowsley Road in the previous weekend's round of Super League fixtures, when Huddersfield host Bradford and Tony Smith returns to Leeds for the first time with Warrington.
One other disappointment following the quarter finals was the lack of coverage in the Monday morning newspapers. My own paper, the Guardian, carried less than 400 words on the Huddersfield-Cas game, and the Daily Telegraph was even worse, providing further evidence that the excitement made little impact on the people who make editorial decisions in London.
Us writers find that as depressing as rugby league supporters, but that's why those of us who love the game need to keep banging the drum, especially in places like Manchester. Which is a roundabout way of saying congratulations to everyone involved in the formation of the Mancunians club, and to the Salford City Reds for their positive new approach to the city next door.
If any of you have any thoughts on that or any other rugby league topics, please check out, and ideally respond to, the blog we carry on the website every Thursday (www.guardian.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague).
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