S4, R7: Gamblers RUFC vs. CW Crabs RUFC (vBookie)

Pressure, pressure, pressure

 

31.30

Adam Vago is tackled by Jake Howe for the Crabs and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested but Adam Vago has been penalised by the referee for not releasing the ball. That'll be a penalty to the Crabs

The next phase to be played from 16 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

Penalty to the Crabs to be taken by Sam Somerset. From here, they're going to have a Kick for Touch. Great kick. That finds touch 18 metres upfield. The players run up to form the line out.

The next phase to be played from 34 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

Line Out to Crabs. That's a good throw.
Easy take there for the Crabs. The ball secured easily by Crossfire Hurricane at the back

The next phase to be played from 39 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

The ball is spread out wide, but Chris Raftery can't find any space in the face of a good defensive line. Good Tackle by Siege Morgan and a ruck forms.

The next phase to be played from 39 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

The Crabs again look to spread rather than drive. The ball comes to Daniel Speirs who is tackled by Aaron O'Neill for the Gamblers and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested and the Gamblers players pile in. I think he got a little isolated there, and they've turned the ball over here.

The next phase to be played from 39 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

Hornby passes to Luke Tyson. Tyson's up too far here - there's no opportunity to dispose. 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 39 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

Scrum to the Crabs. Wow, this is the contest we wanted to see. There's a massive hit between the front rowers here. Hornby appeals for an early engagement from the Crabs, but no dice. Clean put in by Phifteenplus.

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

 

...Phifteenplus comes out with the ball and looks to spread to the backs, but no - he feints round the shortside. That's taken the Gamblers by surprise. Not helped by O'Neill attempting to goad Volt Man into a fracas. A bit of pushing and shoving between Burger and Read as well. No love lost between the two sets of front rowers.

Meanwhile, Mark Phifteenplus with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 8 metres. He doesn't have much room to play with. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Brett Gemmell but he manages to offload to Ivan Ryabovol, just before Gemmell drives Phifteenplus into touch.

The next phase to be played from 48 metres on the Gamblers side of the halfway line.

Ivan Ryabovol with the ball on the run here down the sideline. He dives for the corner under pressure from Morgan. Has he got that down, and did he put a foot into touch?

The TMO once more comes into play. The run is clean - no chalk disturbed. Now, the grounding. Yes, it's fine! TRY to the Crabs!

TRY TO Crabs
Conversion attempt for the Crabs. Kick to be taken by Sam Somerset. Nah, that's sailed wide of the posts.

Gamblers 8 - 12 Crabs

 

ripper! KATA!

 

38.30

Wes Welker with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 2 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Chris Raftery but he manages to offload to Ben Hornby in time.

The next phase to be played from 25 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Ben Hornby with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 7 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Volt Man but he manages to offload to Luke Tyson in time.

The next phase to be played from 32 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Luke Tyson with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 9 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Sticky Phlegm but he manages to offload to Alec Funkotron in time.

The next phase to be played from 41 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Alec Funkotron with the ball on the run here. Great tackle by Phlegm though! Funkotron spills the ball. Scrum to the Crabs.

A keenly contested scrum again, but the Crabs just about win this one. The ball comes to Ryabovol to clear.

Ivan Ryabovol opts to kick here for the Crabs. He's trying to Kick Downfield. A decent kick downfield yields a territorial gain of 19 metres, but he's handed over possession as the ball is cleaned up by Boy.

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

Adam Vago with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 10 metres. It looks like he's going to be tackled by Sam Somerset but he manages to offload to Aaron O'Neill in time.

The next phase to be played from 32 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Aaron O'Neill with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 6 metres. Great tackle by Herr Burger causes Aaron O'Neill to lose the ball in the tackle. Knock on, scrum.

The next phase to be played from 38 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Scrum to the Crabs. Great work by the Crabs. They've secured their own ball and win that scrum gaining 2 metres.

The next phase to be played from 36 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Crossfire Hurricane with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 6 metres. Great tackle by Siege Morgan causes Crossfire Hurricane to lose the ball in the tackle. Knock on, scrum.

The next phase to be played from 30 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Scrum to the Gamblers. Yes, Welker has forced the error from du Toit here. du Toit clearly put a hand on the ground there. That's a penalty.

The next phase to be played from 30 metres on the Crabs side of the halfway line.

Penalty to the Gamblers to be taken by Ben Taylor. From here, they're going to have a Kick At Goal. A great connection for him there and he secures the 3 points.

Gamblers 11 - 12 Crabs

HALF TIME

 

bloody hell

 

Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

HALF TIME ANALYSIS

61% possession for the Gamblers, but only 45% territory. Interestingly, despite their scrum superiority, the only scrum won against the put-in was won by the Crabs.

This was due to a feed error by Hornby though, who fed the ball straight into the 2nd rowers.

Standout players are O'Neill and Taylor for the Gamblers, Burger and Force for the Crabs

 

No, it made me laugh as Quaggas really isn't the spamming type. Anyway, 2nd half about to start.

 

44.15

A good chance goes begging for the Gamblers.

The Crabs had conceded a penalty as the scrum collapsed on du Toit's side.

Taylor belted for touch and earned the Gamblers an attacking line out 5m from the Crabs' line.

O'Neill's throw was wild and wooly and went far too deep off the end of the line out, and Hurricane was the man to tidy up.

To add to his woes, a couple of phases later, O'Neill was penalised at the scrum for illegal binding.