S4, R8: CW Crabs RUFC vs. Spartans RUC (vBookie)

ripper

 

34.30

Line Out to Spartans. Alan Izett weighs up the calls in his mind. He throws.
Easy take there for the Spartans. It's taken long by Marcuss Deane and he weighs up his options.

The Spartans look to form a maul and rumble a few metres up field. They gain 4 metres.

The next phase to be played from 22 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Heath Davis with a great turn of pace. He's already gained 9 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Os Du Toit but with the no-look pass, he finds Rob Cribb. Stunning offload.

The next phase to be played from 31 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Rob Cribb puts his head down and wants to drive at the opposition defensive line. He's already gained 9 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Jake Howe but he manages to offload to John McGrath in time.

The next phase to be played from 40 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

John McGrath on the run with the ball. He looks around and sizes up his options. He's already gained 10 metres. Great tackle by John Heads causes John McGrath to lose the ball in the tackle. Knock on, scrum.

Wow! Heads saved a certain try there. What a tackle...

 

While the collective appreciates your sober analysis, now's not the time :tongue_002:

 

That's what I'm talking about - our chances have turned into points, theirs haven't. So gun.

 

Good D, sir!!!

edit @ try save

 

The next phase to be played from 45 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line. Scrum on the 5m line now.

Scrum to the Crabs. Great work by the Crabs. The front rowers take an age to settle, but eventually the ref allows the contact. The ball comes out cleanly for the Crabs. from a good put in.

The next phase to be played from 45 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Ivan Ryabovol opts to kick here for the Crabs. He's trying to Kick for Touch. He's shanked that and it's gone into touch off the side of his boot.

The next phase to be played from 45 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Line Out to Spartans. That's a good throw from Alan Izett.
Easy take there for the Spartans. And Marcuss Deane takes it without fuss.

What a rumble. They've pushed the Crabs forwards back over their own line! Deane dots down for a try.

TRY TO Spartans
Conversion attempt for the Spartans. Tough one this. Kick to be taken by Jake Luffman. Great kick. He's nailed that one and they earn the extra 2 points.

Crabs 19 - 14 Spartans

 

Losing bonus point prediction looking good

 

HALF TIME

Crabs ahead on the scoreboard, but Spartans with the more possession and less missed tackles and double the time in the opposition 22. Can the Crabs hold onto this valuable lead? Only 1 try away from a bonus point too!

 

Come on, hit 'em back before half time.

 

Happens when you're kicking a tin...

 

Yep. Came off the side of the boot and pretty much went at right angles to where he wanted to kick it. Major kick fail. Just what you want from your first-five.

Best players of the first half - Heads, Smith
Worst players of the first half - Ritchie, Howe, Ryabovol

 

Am I missing tackles or what?

 

42.30

Jake Howe with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 7 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Geoff Smith but he spots the danger and offloads to Chris Raftery before the tackler leaps on him like a back-street sex offender.

The next phase to be played from 15 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Chris Raftery on the run with the ball. He looks around and sizes up his options. He's already gained 8 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Bobby Blunder but he draws in the tackler and gets the offload away to Ivan Ryabovol.

The next phase to be played from 23 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Ivan Ryabovol on the run with the ball. He looks around and sizes up his options. He's already gained 5 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Callum Laing but he manages to offload to Jake Howe in time.

The next phase to be played from 28 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Jake Howe with the ball on the run here. The defensive line rushes up to meet him and he can only go sideways. Good Tackle by Bobby Blunder and a ruck forms.

The next phase to be played from 28 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Geraint Martyn is tackled by Lucas Schaw for the Spartans and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested but the Crabs 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.

Sticky Phlegm is tackled by Heath Davis for the Spartans and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested. It looks like they might have stolen it here, after a massive hit from Alan Izett in the ruck. Yep, that's a turnover.

The next phase to be played from 29 metres on the Spartans side of the halfway line.

Really quick ball for Cribb here. He dive-passes to Geoff Smith. Smith flattens Heads and is making a bee-line for the try line. Phlegm can't cover him and Smith slides over in the corner.

TRY TO Spartans
Conversion attempt for the Spartans. This to take the lead. Kick to be taken by Jake Luffman. Nah, that's sailed wide of the posts.

Crabs 19 - 19 Spartans