S4, R1: Hurricanes vs. Spartans (vBookie)

30.15

Penalty to the Spartans. This will bring them back within a try.

Luffman nails it.

Hurricanes 19 - 13 Spartans

 

40.00

Heath Davis tackled by James Torres. The forwards pile in, but the referee blows the whistle. Jason Denton in from the side.

The scrum is set as the half time whistle is set to go.

The Spartans secure a good clean ball from the scrum and Cribb looks to spread the ball wide.

Cribb to Luffman, Luffman to Smith. Quick hands here from Smith as Orr receives the ball on the run. Blunder is making a quick dash from full back and Orr offloads to Blunder before hitting contact.

Blunder jinks inside the attempted tackle from Fung and there's simply no cover defence here - the Spartans have spread the ball so quickly through their backs. Son will have to try and clear this one up, as he tackled Blunder on the try line.

Has Blunder got the ball down there, or did he drop it?

The ref goes to the TMO...

...Clean TRY!!

A tough conversion from the side here, but Luffman is a superb kicker and this flies over.

Hurricanes 19 - 20 Spartans

HALF TIME

 

Spartans dominating the stats, but the Canes have played some great try scoring moves. Surely we can't have a 2nd draw in the first round?

1st Half - Best Player = Blunder, Worst Player = Weaver

 

45.45

Ed Ames tackled by Callum Laing. Chung attempts the turnover, but Torres and Glensor put paid to that idea.

Pilgrim takes the ball and spots a gap down the side of the ruck. Who was supposed to be covering him?

He's through the first line of defence, but Blunder scythes him down just 2m short of the line. The Hurricanes forwards are quickly there in support and the Spartans can't force the turnover.

The Hurricanes are trying the pick and go from here. After a few failed attempts, Torres makes a drive at the line and looks to be over...

The try is given, though Ames fails to convert.

Canes back in the lead!

Hurricanes 24 - 20 Spartans

 

49.15

Ed Ames is smashed in a massive tackle by Alan Izett as he was looking to clear the ball. The Spartans forwards pile in and Ames is penalised for not releasing the ball. Superb tackle by Izett.

Ames isn't getting up from this, he looks in serious trouble.

Luffman steps up and takes the three points as the physio staff look over Ames. He's unable to continue and has been stretchered off. Rookie Chad Dyer comes onto replace Ames, and he's got a tough job ahead of him.

Hurricanes 24 - 23 Spartans

 

50.00

Ben Storer replaces Joshua Ritchie

 

52.15

Kim Glensor loses his binding at a scrum on the half way.

Penalty to the Spartans.

Blunder pumps that into touch about half way to the Hurricanes try line.

Izett throws deep to Michael Chung who immediately passes to Cribb. Cribb to Luffman. Luffman takes a run at his opposite number, who attempts a tackle but can't bring Luffman down.

Still, Dyer has earned enough time for the Canes defence to reform and Luffman passes to Laing. Laing's dropped that cold. Knock on, Scrum.

Clean scrum for the Hurricanes. Reece Fittaman peels away from the back of the scrum with the ball, but Michael Chung tackles him hard and Fittaman loses the ball in the tackle.

12m from the Hurricanes line. No advantage for the Spartans so another scrum forms. Clean ball for the Spartans and they look to spread it.

Cribb out to Luffman, Luffman throws out to Orr who passes on to Schaw on the side line.

Schaw's got an overlap and with his speed, he's not going to be stopped. He dives over in the corner for the try.

Luffman with another tough conversion, but it sails between the posts.

Hurricanes 24 - 30 Spartans

Canes still in this though, but the Spartans have the momentum right now.

 

60.00

Rhodes on for Glensor
Clough on for Rogers
Quilty for Pilgrim
Nova for Son

Tait for Smith
Alessi for Luffman
Farhat for Schaw

 

62.15

Bobby Blunder tackles Gareth Weaver and the ball comes loose. Blunder scoops up the ball and sidesteps Tom Clough who's coming into support. Blunder on a mazey run here as he cuts inside Chad Dyer. Blunder without any support here and so he makes a break for it. He runs at Simon Nova who dives and ankle taps Blunder, but not well enough. Blunder stumbles, but he's still up. Nova has earned Fung some time to cover, but he can't stop the try.

Wonderful solo effort from Blunder there.

Tough first conversion attempt for Alessi, and it's no surprise that this sails wide.

Hurricanes 24 - 35 Spartans

 

65.00

Line out to the Canes 25m into Spartans territory. Good throw by game Cattwat Smith. Taken by Jason Denton.

Denton passes to Quilty who evades the attempted tackle from a tired looking McGrath.

Quilty gains 10 yards before passing to Dyer who shows quick hands to pass to Weaver who throws a big pass to Fung.

Fung cuts inside Kyle Tait and then beats Farhat for pace. Great run by Fung.

Fung passes to Nova after drawing in the attentions of McGrath again. Only 5m from the Spartans try line here.

The fresh legs of Nova beat Marcuss Deane for pace and he then unselfishly passes to Taylor who's unmarked for a brilliant team try.

Dyer with his first kick at goal in Seasonal Rugby, and he could have had an easier one... But he takes this with aplomb.

Hurricanes 31 - 35 Spartans