S5, R4: Vikings vs. Spartans - Completed

%vikings

Ishan Narang
Tom Delonge
Jonny Ridd
Donald Boland
Chocolate Man
Siege Morgan
Ben Manera
Theo Miokovic
Mate Perry
Aaron Hunt
Andrew James
Ben Jacobs
Steven Cambridge
Dirk Diggler
Kelvin Fung

Substitutes
Clayton Evans
Reagan Wheelson
Peter Retzel
Rusty Downpipes
Jimmy Read
Henry Marshall
Sam Green

%spartans

Joshua Ritchie
Alan Izett
Dave Eggman
Heath Davis
James Torres
Michael Chung
Callum Laing
Marcuss Deane
Rob Cribb
Dion Alessi
Lucas Schaw
Geoff Smith
Paddy Orr
Matt Dorn
Bobby Blunder

Tactical Substitutions

16. G Shriram
17. PM Jackson
18. CJ Downes
19. A Farhat
20. JE McGrath
21. JA Chewie
22. BA Storer

 

Carn Vikings

 

Preview: It's not often in Seasonal Rugby that you come across a match-up where one team is superior in pretty much every respect, but you find that here in the match up between the Vikings and Spartans.

The Spartans' pack is superior in every position - barring, arguably, Hooker and Openside. In the former, Tom Delonge has history on his side, and current season form to boot, but Alan Izett isn't far off. In the latter, Ben Manera had a breakout season last time around and that has continued into this season, but his biggest competition for higher honours has always been Callum Laing and he still comes out a little short on the analysis.

Funnily enough, the Spartans' weakness - the propping stocks - is also a Vikings shortcoming. Dave Eggman is still a quality option, despite diminishing returns, but Joshua Ritchie is in a terrible spell of form and must be close to being dropped in favour of Ben Storer. Ishan Narang and Jonny Ridd are two players who should probably still be plying their trade in the Reserves, but have fronted up and relatively held their own in firsts this season.

Amongst the backs, the Vikings' strengths - Andrew James and Steve Cambridge are evenly matched against Lucas Schaw and Paddy Orr. One thing's for sure, and that is that not much defensive work will be done down the #11 channel in this match. Apart from them, the Spartans ooze class with Rob Cribb still in devastating form and Geoff Smith and Matt Dorn knowing where the try line is. Bobby Blunder has had a disappointing season so far by his standards, but he's still scored two 8s and a 7 in his three outings so far whilst opposite number Kelvin Fung has struggled with two fives.

Aaron Hunt vs. Dion Alessi is always an interesting battle, and I suspect Hunt should come out of this one with the upper hand in the Australian selectors eyes.

Punt of the Week: Place your bets on who will score more points with the boot between Hunt and Alessi.

Prediction: This has the Spartans written all over it. Nothing less than a bonus point win will satisfy them, and if it takes place in dry conditions, we could see a 50 point game. The Vikings will still take away some tries here though. I'll see a 42 -18 win for the Spartans.

 

For those wondering, Alessi is at the shorter price as I suspect he'll get more opportunities to shoot at goal.

 

Even if you excluded conversions Alessi should still get more shots at goal. Spartans back row should have a field day.

 

Doubt it. There's no shadows where we play.

 

This'll be live in around 11 hours.

 

Hunt 0 - 4 Alessi

Thus far.