S4, R7: Sharks RUFC vs. Spartans RUC (vBookie)

16.15

Bobby Blunder opts to kick here for the Spartans. He's trying to Kick for Touch. Great kick! He manages to hit it over Regan Hutchinson. It takes one bounce and finds touch.

The next phase to be played from 37 metres on the Sharks side of the halfway line.

Line Out to Sharks. That's a good throw.
Great work by the Spartans. They've contested that Line Out superbly, and Heath Davis reaches over and steals the ball from Verigotta's grasp

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

The Spartans set up for a maul and get a decent rumble on. The ball comes out to Cribb. Cribb to Luffman. Luffman to Deane. Deane with a pass to Geoff Smith.

The next phase to be played from 49 metres on the Sharks side of the halfway line.

Geoff Smith with the ball on the run here. He's already gained 8 metres. Oh too easy for Smith. He gallops between Graham and Green and dots down under the posts.

TRY TO Spartans
Conversion attempt for the Spartans. Kick to be taken by Jake Luffman. Great kick. He's nailed that one and they earn the extra 2 points.

Sharks 12 - 7 Spartans

 

18.45

Regan Hutchinson is tackled by Lucas Schaw (!) for the Spartans and a ruck forms. The ruck is contested but there's clearly some Spartans hands in that ruck. The ref's spotted it. Penalty to the Sharks

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

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

Sharks 15 - 7 Spartans

 

22.30

That's a costly missed tackle from Geoff Smith. The Spartans haven't made many errors today, but they've made them at the worst times.

There wasn't an opening for Sam Graham there, but Smith didn't bring him down. Suddenly, Graham was through and that's a third try for the Sharks.

Scoble converts.

Sharks 22 - 7 Spartans

 

32.15

The Sharks turn for a mistake here. Graham ran into a solid tackle from Alan Izett and both teams committed bodies to the ruck.

However, Dave Eggman secured the turnover and with so many bodies in the ruck, there was space out wide for the overlap and Paddy Orr was able to exploit it.

He scores in the corner, though Luffman misses the conversion

Sharks 22 - 12 Spartans

 

38.30

Another chance for the Spartans goes begging. Only 5m short of the line, Nick Scott drops the ball cold. The Sharks win the scrum and clear their lines.

HALF TIME

 

The half time news shows 62% territory and 72% possession to the Spartans. They've gift wrapped 3 tries for the Sharks through poor defence, despite only missing 6 tackles in total.

Further news from the changing sheds is that Nick Scott has picked up a niggle and has been replaced by Denzel Petrucci.

 

Hard to believe this scoreline. Sharks certainly showing the Spartans can be beaten so far, but can they maintain this in the 2nd stanza?

 

42.15

Another good chance lost for the Spartans. A loose pass from Matt Dorn back infield doesn't find its intended target and instead hits Ritchie, who can't hold it and knocks it on.

 

47.15

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

Line Out to Spartans. That's a good throw.
Easy take there for the Spartans. The ball secured easily by Michael Chung.

The next phase to be played from 21 metres on the Sharks side of the halfway line.

The ball is spread to Bobby Blunder. He opts to kick here for the Spartans. Again, that's well weighted and bounces a few times along the touchline before finding touch for a lineout.

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

Line Out to Sharks. That's a good throw.
Easy take there for the Sharks. The ball secured easily by Sam Verigotta. The Sharks set up for a maul and rumble on a few yards.

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

The Sharks look to drive upfield via James McDougal. He shrugs off the initial contact, but that might not have been a good thing.

He's tackled by Callum Laing for the Spartans and a ruck forms. Those extra couple of metres he got have left him a little isolated amongst the Spartans forwards and they win a quick turnover.

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

Cribb spreads the ball. More urgency from the Spartans here. Cribb to Luffman. Luffman to Smith. Smith with a booming pass to Dorn. Dorn runs the line and passes back in field just as Eddie Morris barges him into touch.

The next phase to be played from 37 metres on the Sharks side of the halfway line.

Orr receives and passes to Smith. Smith to Luffman. Luffman turns on the afterburners and barges past Scoble. Luffman draws in Graham but finds Smith with a perfect pass.

The next phase to be played from 45 metres on the Sharks side of the halfway line.

Easy stuff for Smith. He dives in under the posts for the Spartans' third.

TRY TO Spartans
Conversion attempt for the Spartans. Kick to be taken by Jake Luffman. Great kick. He's nailed that one and they earn the extra 2 points.

Sharks 22 - 19 Spartans

 

56.45

Ritchie penalised for angling in at the Scrum. This kick from Scoble to give them a 6 point lead...

...No, he's missed it.

 

60.00

Farnsworth for Dorn
Storer for Ritchie

Das for Jones
Oz for Astele
Witters for Devonshire

 

66.30

And that's the turn around. A poor throw from Eddie Morris at the line out was stolen easily by rookie second rower Denzel Petrucci.

The ball came to Cribb who ran infield before setting Paddy Orr up for an easy line break. Orr ghosted through the Sharks defensive line and a furious looking Logan had no chance of reeling him in.

Luffman converts and the Spartans hit the front for the first time in the game.

Sharks 22 - 26 Spartans

 

70.00

Downes on for Chung

Fisher for Sweetman

 

72.30

Drop goal attempt from Luffman misses to the right of the posts. Probably should have done better with that opportunity.