%vikings 1. IV Narang 2. T Delonge 3. J Ridd 4. P Retzel 5. DN Boland 6. M Martyn 7. BJT Manera 8. JA Chewie 9. HJ Marshall 10. HJ Bots 11. D Diggler 12. AJ James 13. SJ Cambridge 14. B Herd 15. BJ Jacobs Tactical Substitutions 16. T Miokovic 17. R Downpipes 18. CB Darts 19. C Man 20. DA Crowley 21. R Gee 22. N Hunt %gamblers 1. BS Read 2. AJ O'Neill 3. WC Welker 4. MC Burridge 5. JB Dempsey 6. SM Morgan 7. SA Humble 8. BJ Gemmell 9. BL Hornby 10.BJ Taylor 11.L Tyson 12.A Vago 13.GC King 14.AD Funkotron 15.RA Boy Tactical Substitutions 16. AJ O'Driscoll 17. L Popovic 18. IT Lee 19. DW Lewis 20. CL Warrington 21. J Read 22. BR Hall
Pretty much even-stevens on the book. Terrible timing for the Vikings to have injuries to their pivots, though the real concern is rookie wing Diggler.
Pretty important game this one. The team that loses is pretty much out of contention for the finals, I'd say, barring a miracle.
0.00 Kick off from Ben Jacobs goes deep. Too deep, however Jack Dempsey can't hold the ball and Andrew James runs through and gathers the loose ball. Great run. James avoids King and passes infield. Not the greatest pass, and Jonny Ridd has to clean up. Aaron O'Neill smashes Ridd in the tackle and that's a knock on. Danger averted. Good opportunity for the Vikings there.
4.45 It's been all Vikings so far, but they've not had much luck. Herd with the ball. A good run, and too quick for O'Neill in defence. Herd passes in field to Cambridge. Cambridge to James. James to Chewie. Chewie shrugs off a tackle from Hornby and keeps running. Chewie is slowed down and passes to Mike Martyn. Hornby's right there though and tackles Martyn. Very early tackle from Hornby, but the ref hasn't called it. Under pressure, Martyn knocks on. Scrum. Fantastic scrum from the rookie Vikings props here. Ridd has surprisingly come out on top against Read. Read can't keep his head down under the pressure and the ref calls for a penalty. One of the hits of the year there. Jacobs kicks for touch downfield and we'll have a line out 10m from the Gamblers try line...