S4, Res1: Nippers vs. Squids (vBookie)

Nip 'em hard, nip 'em good

 

4.15

Another penalty to the Nippers. Gurupur penalised for angling in. Tactical kick this time, and a line out 5m from the Squid try line.

The throw is deep, taken by McNamara who immediately passes to Faldo. Faldo to Bannerman. Sniff of an overlap here. Bannerman on to Furball.

Furball looks for the corner and slides over! TRY!

Furball converts his own try.

Nippers 7 - 0 Squids

 

Y'see? I told him to do that!

 

14.15

A good attack from the Nippers goes begging as Faldo attempts a cross-field kick, but over hits it and finds touch on the full. Danger averted from the line out for the Squids.

 

16.00

Another Nippers attack repelled as Kyle Wright drops the ball under pressure from CJ Corka.

 

18.15

Yet another Nippers attack is abruptly ended as this time Ethan McNamara loses the ball forward when tackled by Deddy Lehmann.

 

20.00

Well, this is the worst fluff-up yet. All Spark had to do was ground the ball over the line. The initial look was that he'd grounded it, but the linesman wasn't convinced.

The replay shows that he knocked the ball on as he tried to ground it. Some great attacking moves from the Nippers, but they can't finish for toffee.

 

22.30

Gurupur receives a stern talking to from the referee. He's been penalised for angling in at the scrum again. Final warning, next time he'll be binned.

The Nippers opt to take the three here, and bag a 10 point lead.

Nippers 10 - 0 Squids

 

26.00

Phifteenplus is nailed in a dangerous position by Holbitt. Das completes a turnover and suddenly the Squids find themselves with an opportunity.

Hughes with a perfectly weighted pass to Edwards, and Edwards breezes past a lacklustre Bannerman. Furball looks ropeable at his defensive line there. Terrible defending and the Nippers have gifted the Squids a try.

Holbitt fails to convert.

Nippers 10 - 5 Squids

 

The fact that we've had so much possession across the whole first 20 says the forwards have done better than expected. Ordinarily I'd be pissed off with the missed chances but I've confidence in our defences.

edit - nice timing. >.>

 

29.30

That try has reawakened the Squids, and the tide has now turned. They are in the ascendancy and they are able to make more of their opporunities.

Murray Mister creates an opportunity and following some good interchange play with Lehmann, he slides over in the corner.

Holbitt again fails to convert, and the scores are level!

Nippers 10 - 10 Squids

 

Oh fuck right off.

 

34.00

Another opportunity blown by the Nippers. Gunner Shriram is expertly held up over the line by CJ Corka. Some great defensive work from the Squids winger.

The Squids win the ball after a handling error at the following scrum

 

35.15

More frustration for the Nippers. Another great attacking position for them, but Deddy Lehmann reads a slow, looping pass from Bannerman with ease and intercepts.

He has to run 80m to complete the try, but that he does. There's no one at home, and there's not enough field for Furball to catch him up.

He scores under the posts.

Holbitt converts.

Nippers 10 - 17 Squids

HALF TIME

 

Nippers ahead on territory and possession at half time.

 

Second Half

43.15

And the Nippers are straight back in this. A key turnover won by Pretzel Spark in the Nippers half. The ball is quickly recycled by Shriram and spread down the backs.

The ball comes to Koal Kao who palms away Mister and runs over Lehmann. He's away, and no one's going to stop him. He dives over under the posts.

An easy conversion for Furball and the scores are level once more.

Nippers 17 - 17 Squids

 

48.30

Another good chance missed for the Nippers. Mellie probably wasn't the person that Phifteenplus had been looking for with his pass, and a good tackle from Holbitt saw Mellie isolated and the ball turned over.

Lehmann clears.

 

60.45

But once again, the Nippers are back on the surge. Some great link play in the back line sends the ball hurtling one way then back the other.

Shriram dummies a pass back to Phifteenplus and a gap opens up in front of him. He turns on the afterburners and a missed tackle from Edwards allows him through

TRY!

Not an easy conversion, and Furball misses.

Nippers 22 - 17 Squids

 

66.00

Try saving tackle from Shriram on Stroud. Stroud was pretty much over in the corner, but Shriram just about dragged his legs into touch. Great work.