S4, R6: Vikings vs. Gamblers (vBookie)

...good throw from Delonge, but that's been read perfectly by the Gamblers forwards. Burridge leaps up like the proverbial salmon and steals.

The Gamblers set up the maul around Burridge to try and gain some metres downfield. Decent rumble here and the Vikings have committed a decent number of forwards to slow this down.

Eventually, the maul ends and Hornby extracts the ball quickly. He spins a massive cut-out pass to Tyson who's away. This looks like a well rehearsed move, which is a surprise given how little the Gamblers have looked to spread the ball this season.

Tyson sails through a gap between Diggler and Cambridge and only Jacobs can stop him now.

Vago is there in support, Tyson dummies a pass to him and Jacobs commits to Vago.

Tyson swan-dives over the line between the posts. That was an 80m run from Tyson there.

Taylor converts.

Vikings 0 - 7 Gamblers

 

Yay go me

 

12.00

The pivot crisis for the Vikings continues as Marshall has to leave the field. He looks to have some kind of problem with his wrist. It could well be broken which will ruin his day job.

Nigel Hunt comes on for his first grade debut as replacement.

 

Good start getting on the board nice and early!

 

Actually, I think that's the Vikings fucked as they've got no place kicker now. It's reverting back to their problems from last season.

Got to outscore the Gamblers with tries now.

 

15.00

Try saving tackle from Ishan Narang on Brett Gemmell. Gemmell looked for all money to have the ball down for a try there, but the replay shows Narang clearly got under the ball. That's held up.

 

27.30

Jonny Ridd penalised for angling in at the scrum.

That's a penalty to the Gamblers.

It's only 18m out from the goal here, and Taylor opts for the safe three points.

Which he nails.

Vikings 0 - 10 Gamblers

 

30.45

Ben Manera penalised for illegal binding at the scrum.

The scrum was on the halfway line. Taylor kicks for touch downfield but gains only 15m.

O'Neill feeds the line out, but that's a terrible throw. Not straight.

Scrum to the Vikings, but a crunching hit from the Gamblers front rowers turns the scrum and the Gamblers win the ball.

Hornby gets the ball, looks to pass to Taylor but instead runs round the scrum. He palms off Haydos Bots and keeps running.

He then surges past Diggler but is smashed by Tom Delonge.

Forwards from both sides pile in. I count 11 bodies in that ruck. Massive.

The ball pops out on the Vikings side, but the whistle blows. Mike Martyn has been penalised for hands in the ruck. He looks at the referee in disbelief.

Taylor kicks for touch...

 

Gun start.

 

...But that's stayed in play. He was trying for too much distance there.

Jacobs gathers, but doesn't have time to clear under pressure from Rabbit Boy.

Jacobs passes to James.

James is nailed by Gemmell. Perfect tackle from the big #8.

Morgan, Burridge and Read follow through and that's a big turnover for the Gamblers.

Hornby's there at the ruck, and he goes for a run. He's brought down only 5m short of the line, and the Gamblers look to pick and go from here.

Welker goes first, but gains nothing. Humble has a foray, but only gains a couple.

The Gamblers backs reorganise...

 

...Hornby at the back of the ruck here. The ruck is pretty much in the middle of the park and their backs line up mainly on the left. Hornby goes to pass, but instead darts to the right. Diggler is there to defend, but Hornby has too much pace and dots down before Diggler can molest him.

TRY to the Gamblers.

Taylor converts. Looking pretty grim for the Vikings now.

Vikings 0 - 17 Gamblers

 

Half Time

The news at half time is that Dirk Diggler has picked up a knock in the first half and will be replaced by Cam Darts for the 2nd half.

The stats show domination of territory by the Vikings, but they haven't been able to get into the Gamblers 22 enough. The Gamblers have shown some great defence.

 

Great half boys.