S4, Res2: Punters vs. Nippers (vBookie)

52.15

The ref's spotted some interference at the line out here. That's a penalty to the Nippers.

Furball lines up for another three points and he nails it.

Punters 10 - 20 Nippers

 

58.15

Scrum to the Punters. Great work by the Punters. They've secured their own ball and win that scrum gaining 1 metres.

Popovic is tackled and a ruck forms immediately. Clean ball for the Punters and Lewis looks for the pick and go.

The next phase to be played from 10 metres on the Punters side of the halfway line.

Duckworth Lewis tries to drive straight through, but he's tackled well by Dan Wayne and a ruck forms.

The next phase to be played from 8 metres on the Punters side of the halfway line.

Luke Popovic to Zach Poole who is tackled by Michael Portillo for the Nippers and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested but the Punters show good ball security and extracate the ball from the ruck.

The next phase to be played from 6 metres on the Punters side of the halfway line.

Popovic picks the ball from the ruck and looks to pass. At the last second, he spots a gap down and runs for it between Shriram and Classified.

Great spot to pick that hole in the defence. He's through, and it's all Wright can do to steer him to the corner.

TRY TO Punters

Conversion attempt for the Punters. Kick to be taken by Luke Popovic. Nah, that's sailed wide of the posts.

Punters 15 - 20 Nippers

 

71.15

A slow build up from the Punters here, pick and go after pick and go. 12 phases build up and they are only 4m short of the line.

Edwards goes for a dig, but is repelled by Mellie and another ruck forms. They're only 2m out now. The ball recycled yet again by the Punters forwards.

Jimmy Read has a drive at the line - he's over, but did he get the ball down?

We have to look for the TMO to make a decision here.

To him it's clear. TRY!

The conversion from Popovic to give the Punters the lead...

 

...Yes, he's nailed it!

Punters 22 - 20 Nippers

 

74.30

Zinzan Brumby is tackled by Truman Lee for the Punters and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested, with the Nippers number 8 caught without support. The whistle goes - Zinzan Brumby has been penalised by the referee for not releasing the ball.

That'll be a penalty to the Punters, 21 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line. Luke Popovic aims to kick for the corner, and it's a great kick. That finds touch 19 metres upfield. The players run up to form the line out.

Great attacking opportunity for the Punters here.

 

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

Line Out to Punters. That's a woeful throw under pressure and it's been gathered by Brumby. That was great work by the Nippers. They've contested that Line Out superbly, and Zinzan Brumby stole the ball for them.

The maul is set up by the Nippers and the roll a few metres downfield. Plenty of bodies committed to this maul. The Punters forwards take it down, the referee is playing advantage here and the Nippers side the ball out on the open side.

Classified spreads to Shriram. Shriram to Furball. Furball to Faldo. Faldo to Kao.

Massive overlap here. Kao turns on the afterburners and has acres of space to play with. He's 31 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line as he approaches the Punters line.

Incredible stuff here! He's burst through the defensive line and he's on a run. Koal Kao with the ball for the Nippers. I think he's going to make it all the way. Yes, he touches down under the posts. A great run of 82 metres. TRY!! That's the lead with just five minutes remaining.

TRY TO Nippers

Conversion attempt for the Nippers. Kick to be taken by Ginger Furball - he's sent it wide of the posts.

Punters 22 - 25 Nippers

 

Restart to the Punters. Zach Poole with the kick. He kicks that into no man's land - it's gone to Kyle Wright, who drops it cold. Knock on. Scrum down!

Scrum to the Punters. Great work by the Punters. They've secured their own ball and won the scrum, gaining a metre of ground.

The next phase to be played from 18 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line.

Zach Poole has the ball on the run, but he's dropped it! It's been stolen by Wright who goes for his own run. The ref is playing advantage.

Wright has gained 5 metres and the ref calls advantage over.

The next phase to be played from 18 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line.

Kyle Wright continues his run but he's moving sideways at the moment rather than take the ball into the line. You can see why, as when he's taken down he lets off an awful pass in the tackle. That's been knocked on and we'll have a scrum here.

The next phase to be played from 18 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line.

Scrum to the Punters. Same good stuff from the Punters forwards, who safely secure the ball and make a metre of territory.

Popovic attempts a run, but is nailed by Sparkle. Forwards drive in and this is a turnover.

The next phase to be played from 19 metres on the Nippers side of the halfway line.

The ball is spread to Faldo who runs at Warrington. Warrington can't make the tackle and Faldo is through. After all that work it's one man running the 60 metres to the posts. Gutting for the Punters.

TRY TO Nippers

Conversion attempt for the Nippers. Kick to be taken by Ginger Furball, but he's missed his second.

Punters 22 - 30 Nippers