"Why is playing away apparently so difficult? Particularly, why is defending the goal line on other pitches apparently so difficult?

Saturday's performance bore startling resemblance to the previous three weeks. Same players, same game plan, same preparation and same calibre of opponents.

Indeed the result was also the same: after ten minutes the home side was 17 points in the lead, with the frustration coming from the fact that we were away.

Being behind brings a curious mindset, which can make a bad situation worse. The pressure of chasing the game brings an urgency that can easily spill over into panic; the feeling of having to score with every piece of possession that crosses the fine line between enterprising handling and an uncontrolled version of pass the parcel.

In all but the most one- sided encounters, however, the ascendancy shifts between the teams. We had a spell of real momentum at the start of the second half, scored a good try, and then, with the defence on the rack, made a series of errors that turned over possession and surrendered the initiative.

A second spell midway through the half brought three tries in rapid succession, and seemingly irresistible pressure. Sadly, a further unforced error ended the revival, with the only consolation being a bonus point for scoring four tries.

It is unrealistic to expect that we are regularly going to score more than 27 points away, so the emphasis is clearly going to need to be on improved defence.

Our capacity for creativity is well proven and documented: what defies explanation is why tries are conceded on grounds other than our own in such disappointing circumstances, often through our most apparently dependable defenders.

When a tyre burst on the team bus on the way home on Saturday evening, it seemed that all the wheels had come off the wagon simultaneously.

Results elsewhere confirm my impression that there is a greater evenness of standard through the league than ever before, and that the standard is at an all time high.

Unpredictable results occur on a weekly basis, and we must ensure we create our share of them. Our aspiration to have as many points as pre-season favourites Bradford and Bingley has been realised, albeit with a smaller total than we might have hoped.

A third cup weekend brings another distraction from the league campaign.

It does, however, provide a dry run in attempting to improve our defence of goal lines painted by groundsmen other than our own. It would be a long way back with another burst tyre.