Martin Hall speaking in the Wednesday's Observer had this to say about the David Stephenson incident.

"We made a break downfield, got tackled on the line, a good cover tackle from Whitehaven. Dave Stephenson came hurtling onto the ball and Leroy Joe has caught him high," he said.

"He stopped a try, catching him high, and from there Stephenson was carried off. As far as I'm concerned it was a straight red card, no questions asked, but Mr Morris in his wisdom has taken the easy option and put the incident on report.

"The next time Whitehaven get the ball Leroy Joe makes a break and they score another try. "So without any shadow of a doubt it's a turning point in the game."
Hall is not one for excuses, and he was happy to give Whitehaven credit for a good display, but he was clearly frustrated by the incident.

He added: "I don't want to take anything away from Whitehaven. But everybody in this stadium saw what happened.

"Mr Morris had no need to put it on report it was a straight sending off. It's as simple as that.
"I don't want to go on about the refereeing as a whole, I'm aware we all make mistakes, I have made a few myself. But where it is blatantly obvious what the decision should be, it should be taken and should stand. It was a straight red."

The Observer summed it up perfectly, Hornets will play a lot worse than this and win. But the lasting memory of what was otherwise an entertaining and exciting game will be the sight of a groggy Stephenson as he was carted off to hospital.

And when the announcement was made that Joe had been voted man of the match, it left a bad taste in the mouth.