Season 2 Grand Final: Vikings vs. Spartans

Full Back

Ben Jacobs vs. Bobby Blunder. An interesting comparison, but I've quite liked the look of Blunder's tactical kicking game in pre-season. There's no doubting that Jacobs is a top class player, but I was picking one player to come up with something surprisingly special tonight, it'd be Blunder.

So, overall, I'd say the Vikings' backline is marginally superior to the Spartans', though it's a very close call. In contrast, the Spartans pack looks superb. I think it'll be tough to see the Vikings pack secure enough clean ball to give their backs the space to create enough to put the Spartans to bed.

My prediction. Spartans/Spartans halftime/fulltime combo. I can't look past them tonight.

 

The players trot out onto the pitch. The Vikings take the field first, led by Mate Perry. The music chosen for the occasion is the classic Kenny Loggins track, Highway to the Danger Zone.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iPYF2p-cGx8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Spartans have the kick off. Ed Ames with the ball on the half way line. Sharing some last minute tactics with Markarse Deane by the looks of things whilst the clock ticks down to 9pm.

 

And we're off. Ed Ames kicks a very decent kick - round about 17 or 18m that one. Ben Jacobs has to get a move on to collect this. Oh, it's dropped. Early scrum here with no time gone at all!

Scrum to the Spartans. Simple stuff here and easy ball for Loughman. He scoots round a tackle from Ben Manera, but sees a wall of bodies in front of him so passes to Joshua Ritchie. Ritchie runs at the defensive line, but he's pushed firmly back by James Torres.

Ritchie's lost the ball in the tackle. Another knock on, and another scrum

 

A great scrum for the Spartans there, and it just demonstrates what I was concerned about in the pre-match build up. First opportunity and the Spartans have won a scrum fed by the Vikings.

The ball comes out. The ball is spread down the line, but the Spartans are gaining very little here. Into contact as Paddy Orr is tackled by Welker. Good tackle and the Spartans secure the ball. It comes out, but again, the Spartans struggle to find an opportunity.

The ball comes to Ames, just behind the back line. He goes for a tactical kick to the corner; hoping to secure a line out as he's seen no one's home.

 

2:45 A well weighted kick, but it skims off the damp surface as Jacobs tracks back to clear up. We'll have a 22m drop out here as that went just over the try line.

Not much going on for either side so far.

 

4:00: Scrum to the Vikings 20m into their own territory. Good scrum, the ball nicely secured that time with a good hit from the front row. Mate Perry cleans up and passes out to Andrew James. James looks to pass, but it's a dummy and he shows clean heels to the Spartans defense. He's away! Can the Spartans defense cover him?