I just had to comment on Peter Smith's article on Saturday, June 21 where he tries to put the blame on referee Steve Ganson for Leeds Rhinos' defeat to St Helens.

Leeds had plenty of time to register a complaint against the referee before the kick-off but seemingly were happy with the official.
So why blame Ganson just because he comes from St Helens?

This is really questioning the integrity of the official.

Now we all know Mr Ganson makes mistakes – who doesn't? – but isn't it about time you looked at the Leeds performance.

St Helens had full control of the game all the time. They were simply superb!

I'm not saying Leeds were rubbish – they were not.

But give credit to St Helens for their fantastic performance.

Now Mr Ganson made a couple of mistakes during the game going against Leeds. He also made one for Leeds. That's life.

Also in Peter Smith's article, he states that Nick Scruton was sent off for an alleged spear tackle. From everyone I've spoken to it was definitely a spear tackle.

Usually I enjoy reading Peter Smith's articles but perhaps today he shows just how biased he is towards Leeds Rhinos.

By the way, I still think Rhinos will finish top of the League. Play-offs, Challenge Cup, who knows?

R Peyton, via e-mail

I HAVE just witnessed the worst display of refereeing at Headingley since the days of Russell Smith.

Steve Ganson of St Helens is always right, I accept that, but he is not always consistent.

He brought Leeds back 11 metres at the play-the-ball at least once every set, but only eight, nine and once only five metres for St Helens.

The penalty count of 11-7 was a mockery. Saints were doing the same as Leeds, but only got punished where or when it didn't matter. Ganson tried to level the count on paper, but the damage had been done.

Saints were possibly the better team on the day, but who wouldn't be with all the possession and field position given to them?

The rugby league judiciary should look at these inconsistencies.
In my opinion, Ganson should not referee again. Not at Headingley, not at a Saints match, not even a game of tiddlywinks.

DAVID CARTWRIGHT, New Farnley, Leeds 12

I AM not a supporter of either side, I support Leeds Rhinos and all rugby league, but I feel I must raise a point about the number of penalties awarded to St Helens which gave them a continuous advantage in the match and was very much to the disadvantage of Bradford.

After 26 minutes of the match, Bradford were leading and were playing well and were the better team at that time.

But, wait a minute, Saints suddenly started to get penalties awarded by the referee, Richard Silverwood, right. In the first 60 minutes they were awarded 16 penalties to Bradford's four.

That's 16 times given possession and position and from those 16 penalties they scored five tries.

Also in the first 60 minutes, Bradford had a man in the sin-bin. Every time Bradford threatened Saints' line they were penalised – mostly for offside – thus relieving the pressure on the hosts.

Once Saints were well in the lead the penalty count eased off and they only received two more penalties in the last 20 minutes.

In the whole match Bradford only received five penalties.

Yes, you could say the penalties were deserved but, let's be honest, I cannot believe Saints only committed five offences in 80 minutes.

No wonder Saints won and scored 58 points, poor old Bulls never had the ball!

So many penalties against Bradford spoilt their attacking rhythm and put Saints on the front foot all the time.

The Sky commentators made comments along the lines that the Bulls had been caned by the referee and pointed out that no side can win a match with such a penalty count against them.

They also suggested Saints had had the benefit of the referee's whistle and described the penalty count as "lopsided".

Saints' Sean Long never made a tackle, he never made a line break or tried to, he simply either passed the ball or kicked it.
Keiron Cunningham in the whole match played in short bursts and only played 43 minutes in total.

But if your side has the ball all the time you don't have to do you? Leon Pryce was deservedly the man of the match, but anyone would be if they had the ball all the time and were continually on the attack courtesy of the referee!

Graham Harland, via e-mail

*****
IT was a shock when I heard the news David Topliss had passed away.
He was a boyhood hero of mine when I first watched Wakefield Trinity in 1980.

My uncle and my brother went to see the team play Salford. Topliss, pictured right, turned in a quality performance and helped the team to a 42-18 win.

The previous year I saw the Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens on television and remember his break which created a match-winning try for winger Andrew Fletcher to take Trinity to Wembley.

He won the Lance Todd Trophy in the defeat to Widnes and Topliss inspired his side in the final with a classic stand-off display.
In his playing career he proved his class on the field many times and won Wakefield Trinity many matches.

I felt he was unlucky not to play more often for Great Britain at the top level of the game.

Thankfully, Topliss played for Yorkshire for a number of years and always gave his best in the white jersey.

Spending 13 years with one club was fantastic when he could easily have taken many offers from other clubs – but he stayed loyal to the club until leaving in 1981 to join Hull.

He richly deserved his success with the Humberside club and helped them to win the Challenge Cup final replay against Widnes at Elland Road in 1982 with his two tries and he captained the side as well.

I was so pleased when he came back to Trinity as player/coach in 1987 and gradually put the club back on the map.

Topliss never had much money to spend on players but his coaching ability was excellent. He led them into a play-off place and was the coach when Wakefield won the last Yorkshire Cup final in 1992.

After seven years as a coach he eventually left in 1994 but never lost his affection for the club and still attended games at Belle Vue.

He will leave many brilliant memories and, in my view, will go down as one of the top players ever to don the famous white, red and blue of Trinity.
Stephen Cramm, Wakefield
*****
COULD I please write an open letter to the Rugby Football League through your letters page.

Could you please tell me what Wakefield Wildcats have done wrong and why we are the ones being punished in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final?

I thought it was Hull who fielded an ineligible player in two previous rounds, and yet I see they have been guaranteed over 8,000 tickets for season-ticket holders.

So once again the RFL rewards teams who flout the rules, while Wakefield once again have done nothing wrong but still get the sticky end of the stick.

Why not let Wakefield fans have first choice with the semi-final tickets and then let Hull have what's left?

Why should the Wakefield players have to play in a stadium with more Hull fans than their own?

Just one last point.

Out of the 8,000-plus season-ticket holders at Hull how many turned up to the quarter-final as the gate that day was 5,597.

Come on RFL, just for once show you can make the right decision.

MAUREEN HILL, Broadway, Lupset, Wakefield

******
AS much as we like the West Riding to be on top in sport, the South Riding takes a bow for coming to the fore.

First up must be Doncaster Rovers, who moved up to the Championship in the Football League.

Then the icing on the cake, the Dons reaching rugby league's Northern Rail Cup Final.

This is a first for the Dons in their history.

Appearancing on TV against Batley, what excitement for the loyal Dons supporters.

Yet it carried on with the Keepmoat Stadium hosting an international.
Let us hope that this revival continues in the years to come.

KEVIN MAGUIRE, Hanover Street, Batley

*****
I FIND all of the current gesturing from Manchester United regarding the alleged "tapping up" of Cristiano Ronaldo via the media by Real Madrid quite ironic.

This is a mirror image of the way that they went about their pursuit of England defender Rio Ferdinand prior to signing him from Leeds United.

What goes around comes around!

Phillip Bell, Farrar Court, Bramley LS13