tte thought his team deserved better.They got a quick one right

In his latest column, Sky Sports Phil Clarke asks rugby league fans to have their say on whether the rules of the game are more important than entertainment...For the last two weekends, Ive binge-watched my favourite sport. I saw all six Magic Weekend games in Newcastle and managed to enjoy seven at the Summer Bash. The iPro Cup final between York and Keighley was a brilliant game, with arguably the most exciting finale of all 13 matches.It appears on the surface that the game is in great shape - the action speaks for itself. Therefore, at this point, you may say that it would be wrong for me to point out a perceived negative. Im fully aware that every sport has its challenges. Nothing is perfect, but Im slightly worried about the direction the game is heading in terms of the rules and their application in matches. A Super League coach once said to me that the standard of referees was the biggest problem in the game. I disagree - the biggest challenge in the game is participation numbers. Phil Clarke Maybe we have it about as good as we will get it, but I am not sure. In a condensed window, Ive seen almost 10 hours of rugby and observed how the officials apply some of the rules and interpret some of the others.But I dont want to go into detail yet - at least not until I hear, or should I say read, your thoughts. It may be that Im alone with this worry. There were over 50 tries scored at St James Park; one or two of them contenders for try of the season. They had skill, speed, strength and that element of risk which adds to the excitement and gets you out of your seat.We had a one-point win in dramatic fashion when Jacob Miller succeeded with his long-range drop goal. We saw a Swinton fight back from 20-0 down to win by one point, demonstrating that the game enables and facilitates the unpredictable, so what am I on about when I say that weve got a few issues? Have a look at Barrie McDermott and Terry OConnors favourite hits from Super League and the Summer Bash Ive been going to Rugby League games since before I could walk, and aim to do so when I probably cant walk again at the end of my life. I love it and only wish to see it prosper. I understand that the game and its rules evolve and its obvious to most viewers that the entertainment is as good as it has ever been. The sport has survived by adapting and maintaining its core principle of fast, flowing rugby, in which tries are the most important thing that people want to see. I get this.However, in our search to entertain, Im concerned that were slightly drifting off course. My voice is only one of thousands, and the opinion of others is perhaps greater than mine, but I think that we need a slight deviation when it comes to refereeing a match. Wigan launch investigation Investigating allegations of fracas involving two of their own players As Ive already said, no sport is perfect and Im aware that all professional sports are in the entertainment business, so it needs to be fast, look like fun and provide an exciting ending if it can. But I still think that you need to play by the rules.So Id like to put the question to the fans - this is my attempt at some basic market research before I share my thoughts next week. Highlights of Wakefields match against Catalans Dragons at St James Park in the first part of a Sunday triple-header in Magic Weekend I am not looking for any comments about referees mistakes; I think that they all work very hard to be the best that they can be, and cannot see how they can dramatically alter. Im more interested in your thoughts on whether they should apply more of the rules, as it seems to me that we ignore several now in an attempt to keep the game flowing.Is that the way the fans think we should do it? Or do you think the referee should apply all of the rules, even if it means that there will be more stoppages and a more fractured game?A Super League coach once said to me that the standard of referees was the biggest problem in the game. I disagree - the biggest challenge in the game is participation numbers. After that, I think that it is the way that we are moving in the application of the rules that poses the biggest challenge, but you may disagree. Sky Live: Wakefield v Hull KR Thursdays Super League preview Do you think that the referee should coach and advise the players to try to prevent penalties? Should he let them have a second attempt if they tap the ball in the wrong place? Is it acceptable if he ignores some rules if it means that the game keeps flowing and we have a low penalty count at the end of the match?Please let me know your thoughts as we are all responsible for how the game will look and be played in 10 years time.Share your thoughts with Phil by commenting below (website only) or Tweet us @SkySportsRLAlso See:WATCH: The Naughty StepWATCH: Baz and Tezs big hitsSaints v Wolves: Key battlesFollow @SkySportsRLGreg Gaines Womens Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Eric Dickerson Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic-darrell-henderson-rams-jersey/ . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. David Long Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Kurt Warner Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse.TORONTO -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock rolled all four lines on Tuesday night.He only really needed the top one, though.James van Riemsdyk scored three goals, Tyler Bozak had four assists and Mitch Marner had a goal and set up two more to help Toronto beat the Nashville Predators 6-2.Van Riemsdyk added an assist, and now he, Bozak and Marner are 1-2-3 in scoring for Toronto after combining for 11 points.Just the way we read off each other is getting better every game, the three of us have pretty good hockey sense, said van Riemsdyk, who leads the club with seven goals and 15 points in 16 games.I think the puck was following us as a line and I was fortunate for the bounces.Leo Komarov and William Nylander also scored to help Toronto improve to 6-2-0 at home.James Neal and Viktor Arvidsson scored for the Predators, who had their three-game winning streak halted.Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for Toronto, and Marek Mazanec stopped 26-of-32 shots for Nashville.Marner got it going with his sixth of the season, fighting off a check behind the net before curling out from the corner and beating a screened Mazanec 1:04 into the game.The 19-year-old rookie, listed at six-feet and 170 pounds, isnt surprising his linemates with what he can do physically on the ice. He also has 15 points in 16 contests.You know how good he is on his edges, you see it in practice, when he does it in games it doesnt surprise you, van Riemsdyk said. Hes good with his body position to come up with pucks and obviously hes got a good stick, too.Hes tenacious and doesnt back down from going into dirty areas.Van Riemsdyk scored 13 minutes later by carrying the puck aacross the blue line and beating Mazanec glove side with a snap shot.ddddddddddddeal scored nearly four minutes later off a cross-crease pass from Ryan Johansen, but van Riemsdyk restored the two-goal lead 7:52 into the second period. Bozak threw the puck toward the net from the corner and van Riemsdyk beat his man to deflect the puck over Mazanecs leg.Arvidsson, denied by Andersen on a great chance in the first period, finally finished one of his many opportunities with 3:51 left in the second, beating Andersen low glove side on a breakaway.Komarov scored 7:18 into the third by tipping Martin Marincins point shot, then van Riemsdyk capped his hat trick with a shot off a faceoff with 6:22 left. Nylander fired in his goal about two minutes later.Despite a lopsided score, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette thought his team deserved better.They got a quick one right off the bat, they got another one. I thought we had lots of chances to score goals, he said. They had a couple goals that were seeing-eye goals.We took as many attempts if not more but it didnt find its way through. They capitalized on their opportunities.Game notesF Peter Holland and D Connor Carrick and Frank Corrado were scratches for the Leafs. ... Nashville G Pekka Rinne is day to day with a lower-body injury. ... Mazanec made his second start of the season after he was recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL on Monday.UP NEXTPredators: At Ottawa on Thursday night in the middle game of a three-game trip.Maple Leafs: Host Florida on Thursday night. ' ' '