S3, R4: Sharks vs. Spartans (vBookie)

Shut up. Your form and performances have been perfectly reasonable and consistent. Don't bring your Cricsim cod-psychology here.

 

This, tonight.

 

Gun.

 

A heavy dew has formed on the grass for this late-evening encounter between the two top-of-the-table sides. The Spartans had the wood over their rivals in the first round of Seasonal Rugby after the sin-binning of James McDougal. The Spartans are slight favourites with the bookies for this match, but will that translate into points on the scoreboard?

 

Jake Luffman takes the kick to start the game. It goes deep, where it is taken by Verigotta, uncontested.

 

5:00

Penalty to the Spartans. Dafter entering the ruck from the side there. What was he thinking there. Easy kick here for Luffman and he bags the three points.

 

9:15

I feel we've been here before. The Spartans in another good attacking position, a good tackle by a Sharks forward and the ruck forms. Dafter is again pinged for clearly entering the ruck from the side. The referee gives him a fair old talking too before letting Luffman line up the kick. Another easy kick for him.

Sharks 0 - 6 Spartans.

 

12:30

The Spartans steal the ball, but they've knocked it on.

Scrum to Sharks. A great shove by the Spartans front rowers. They've pushed the Sharks back over the ball and they've turned this over!
The next phase to be played from 47 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Bobby Blunder opts to kick here for the Spartans. He's trying to Kick for Touch. A decent kick for touch. He's gained 21 metres of territory for them there and we'll have a line out. They've averted the danger.

The next phase to be played from 26 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Line Out to Sharks. That's a good throw.

Easy take there for the Sharks. The ball secured easily by Siege Morgan.
The next phase to be played from 28 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Sam Graham is tackled by Callum Laing for the Spartans and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested but the Sharks show good ball security and extracate the ball from the ruck.

The next phase to be played from 30 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

A maul is formed by the Sharks. They try to get a roll on. A good rumble here, led by Sam Verigotta secures the Sharks a gain of 10 metres
The next phase to be played from 40 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Siege Morgan with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 10 metres. Great tackle by Michael Chung causes Siege Morgan to lose the ball in the tackle. Knock on, scrum. Morgan lost that on the try line! He gave up a certain try there! What a terrible mistake!

That's a scrum on the 5m line. The Spartans secure that one easily. Cribb throws the ball deep to Luffman in the end zone.

Jake Luffman opts to kick here for the Spartans. He's trying to Kick Downfield. A decent kick downfield yields a territorial gain of 11 metres, but he's handed over possession. Danger averted again.

The next phase to be played from 39 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

 

28:00

Bobby Blunder called offside at that ruck. That's a penalty to the Sharks. A tough position for Scoble to kick from, but he's nailed it.

Sharks 3 - 6 Spartans

A cagey match so far this one.

 

35:15
Marcuss Deane is tackled by Wes Welker for the Sharks and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested and the Sharks players pile in. I think he got a little isolated there, and they've turned the ball over here. Sam Bakkum's got very clean ball here and he spins it off to Scoble.

The next phase to be played from 9 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Incredible stuff here! He's burst through the defensive line and he's on a run. Ashleigh Stroud with the ball for the Sharks. I think he's going to make it all the way. Yes, he touches down under the posts. A great run of 42 metres. TRY!!

TRY TO Sharks
Conversion attempt for the Sharks. Kick to be taken by Matthew Scoble. Great kick. He's nailed that one and they earn the extra 2 points.

Sharks 10 - 6 Spartans

 

37:45

The kick downfield by Blunder is a steepling bomb, giving the Spartans plenty of time to chase this one down. It's badly fumbled by Morgan only 10m from the Sharks' try line. Davis comes through and snatches up the ball, shoving Morgan to the ground in the process. That's shoddy defensive work there. Where's the defensive line? Nowhere to be seen. Davis won't ever score an easier try than that.

Easy conversion for Luffman

Sharks 10 - 13 Spartans

And that's half time.