When it boils down to it Ex you have to be pedantic because on such fine margins are points won and lost at the death, and thanks for the input. Parts of minutes I am not sure about. I have never heard of the 'middle third' thing and that doesn't ring true to me but I admit that I don't know for certain. I am pretty sure there is supposed to be 30 seconds per substitution and 30 seconds per goal for each re-start (I think they are supposed to be mandatory) but I suspect after that really it is gut feel about injuries and 'time wasting'. Yesterday there was the usual one minute - it is always one minute - at the end of the first half despite one goal, a lengthy stoppage for Frecks' injury after ten mins and a substitution. Nobody bats an eyelid because it is only half time. Second half there was the usual three minutes despite one goal, five subs and at least two long stoppages for injuries but because it is end of match it becomes vital. My instinct is that it is more an art than a science. Time was up when the throw was awarded and it took them at least thirty secs to send their right back over to take the throw on their left wing and to load the box, and lets face it the ref gets lynched if he blows before they take it or if its in mid-air. That's probably the practical reality. It just feels very unfair when you are on the wrong end of it. They will never do the ice hockey/rugby thing because then they would be accountable for when they start and stop the clock during the added period and it would (in my opinion) expose the arbitrary nature of it. I have now finished my sour grapes! Perhaps we just have to accept that that is how it is and perhaps you win some and you lose some. I have now seen the goal on TV and it was even worse defending than it looked in the flesh, and for that we can only blame ourselves.

towdlad interesting, I would like to see an extra point if you score 4 goals or more

was the 3 points for a win not introduced to encourage teams to push for a win and a 2 point gap over a draw ??