Last updated at 13:54, Saturday, 14 April 2012

IT was good to see the lads get back on track with a good second-half performance against an enthusiastic Gateshead Thunder side last week.

Thunder are a much-improved outfit from the last couple of years and they play a tight, disciplined game, which takes patience to break down.

Their coach Kevin Neighbour will know it as much as anyone, but if he could get some pace in their team, they would be an even trickier side than they already are.

The main reason our second half was much improved was the fact we played with more intensity and pace, allowing our half-backs to control the game better.

On the back of that, Cammy (Liam Campbell) scored a very good hat-trick.

Liam’s strengths are his support play and running game. We really encourage all our half-backs to run at defences as pace worries teams and, with one exception, they all have good wheels!

Another hat-trick man was Dan Toal, who I thought was outstanding, not just for the tries but his all-round game.

After the game, the lads had a rare night out together around Ulverston, with Dan showing there is nightlife away from Cornwallis Street. No doubt Dan will have attracted a lot of attention from people interested in how his new career is going, however, in the Globe, while sampling one of Wendy’s lager shandies, he was overheard to have said it should be his photo on the wall, not one of a certain ex-player also from Ulverston!

Wendy knows her rugby league and has sponsored the club in various ways over the years. You don’t get on the Globe’s Wall of Fame for nothing, although it does help if it was your local!

It was a good achievement for both Liam and Dan to score trebles in the same game.

I was asked earlier in the week when was the last time two players scored hat-tricks in the same game?

I can’t answer that question, but I am sure Keith Nutter or Steve Andrews would have a better idea. I wouldn’t bet against it involving Nico (James Nixon), the Bull (Liam Harrison) or Khamel Ganley though.

Tomorrow has us visiting Oldham’s Whitebank Stadium for the second time in a fortnight to fight for a place in the next round of the Challenge Cup.

We want to lay a marker down to the hosts, showing them there is more to us than they saw in the first game.

Also for the health of the club’s bank balance, it is important we get into the hat and hopefully get one of the big boys up to Craven Park in a couple of weeks.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

First published at 10:38, Saturday, 14 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk