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Proud Hornets chairman banking on a quick recovery

25/ 7/2001

On Sunday he was a proud yet disappointed man after his team blew a big lead in the NFP semi-final against Oldham.

It was an emotional chairman who spoke after the match.

He said: "I'm very proud and I'm absolutely choked. I still can't believe what went on in the second half."

He added: "I must thank Martin Hall, the players, and our super spectators, because although we've lost today we'll recover and go on from here."

Club captain Andy Ireland summed up the feeling of the players after the game.

"We're all absolutely gutted," he said.

"We had the game sewn up really, but Oldham were awarded penalty after penalty and every 50/50 or dubious decision seemed to go their way.

"At half-time we went in having scored five tries to their one, but we were only 12 points ahead because of all their free kicks.

"We talk about our discipline every week and I can't understand how you can go from a team which gives away five or six penalties a week to a team which gives away more than 12 in one game.

"The lads are absolutely heartbroken and there were a lot of tears after the game."

Ireland knows that the disappointment of the defeat will have to be put behind them and he is now looking forward to next season, adding: "We will come back stronger next year, there's nothing surer.''