S4, R4: Gamblers RUFC vs. Sharks (vBookie)

17.30

Penalty to the Sharks. Brett Gemmell offside at the ruck.

Scoble wants the 3 points here. It's a 29m kick from the side line. I'm not convinced this is the best option.

And sure enough, the kick comes up short. Still in play though and the Gamblers quickly bring their line up. Hornby to Taylor. Taylor kicks this and flat downfield.

Nearly charged down though, a fingertip or two on that, and Taylor doesn't get the distance.

Eddie Morris is still tracking forward here, and he's the man to clear the ball up. He ducks his head and slams into Ged King. King is sent flying and Morris surges forward a few more yards before slamming into the deck.

McDougal is there and picks up the ball from a fairly uncontested ruck. McDougal looks to push the ball wide and passes to Bakkum. Bakkum to Graham. Graham with a big pass out to Logan.

Logan brought down on the try line by Ben Taylor. Not sure if Taylor had anything to do with that. Looked like Logan slipped over in the damp.

The forwards from both sides pile in, but the ball's there on the Sharks side.

The ball's there for the Sharks at the back of the ruck. A good spread line is set out.

But Simon Laing takes the ball and bursts down the short side. The Gamblers have left that side prone and Laing slams over. TRY!!!

Tough conversion for Scoble. He's not looked good today; can he make this kick count. That looks to be sailing wide, but curls round and makes it just inside the far post.

Gamblers 7 - 7 Sharks

 

Lets get the next one back Gamblers!

 

20.30

Good move from the Gamblers comes to an abrupt end as Eddie Morris smashes Morgan who drops the ball.

 

26.30

Well well well. I think I've seen everything now.

Morris had the ball in hand and decided to have a run at the Gamblers line. And who can say he made the wrong decision? He saw Alec Funkotron lining up against him and thought he had the diminutive winger's number. Morris tries to palm Funky out of the way, but Funkotron evades the palm and takes out Morris' legs instead to bring the hooker down.

Dempsey, Read and Welker are soon on the spot, and the isolated Morris has conceded a turnover.

Hornby's there like a flash and with good quick ball, he's sent Taylor away on a run. Taylor scythes through a shocked looking Sharks defensive line and he's through.

Logan's the last man. He tries to track back to cover Taylor, but no luck. Taylor's through. Hutchinson comes back to cut off the easy conversion option, but that's 5 points of creamy goodness for the Gamblers.

Taylor with the conversion. Nope, he's hit that wide.

Gamblers 12 - 7 Sharks

 

38.45

Scrum to the Gamblers just on the Gamblers side of halfway.

Oh dear. Duck Lewis has been pinged for angling in. That'll be a penalty.

Logan with the penalty - he wants a try here. Not the best kick. Line out 20m from the Gamblers line. He only gained 10m there. Should have done better.

Deep throw from Morris. Finds Simon Laing. He sets up a well constructed maul. Fantastic rumble here. The weakened Gamblers forwards are struggling to slow this down. 15m away, 10m away. Finally, the Gamblers have held this up, but lots of players committed here. The Sharks have a massive overlap here.

The ball comes free. Bakkum out to Scoble...

 

...Oh dear. Scoble drops that cold. It wasn't the best pass, but those should really be taken at this level.

Scrum to the Gamblers... Nope, the ref's seen enough that's half time.

 

Half Time Outlook

Sharks with 60% possession and territory, but some elementary errors keep spoiling their attacking moves. It's fair to say their pivot duo have had better days at the office.

 

47.45

Penalty to the Gamblers. Morris has come up for air from the scrum. Surely Jimmy Read isn't coming off best against the seasoned campaigner.

Taylor wants the 3 points here. It would put them a try clear...

...Ghastly connection. It sails wide.

 

50.00

Rabbit Boy on for Luke Popovic
Jaz Eightyfour on for Jack Dempsey

 

Scoble was having a mare. The sim decided to try a different kicker.

 

56.30

Eddie Morris with a try saving tackle on Adam Vago. Vago was there! Surely! But Morris surged in from the side and pushed his leg into touch before the ball was grounded. The TMO took an age over that, but try not given.

Still Gamblers 12 - 7 Sharks here.

 

60.00

Truman Lee on for Ged King
Brett Hall on for Siege Morgan
Chris Warrington on for Adam Vago