FORCE v REBELS R8 2013

[Ash]

Rebels go wide again, Woodward gets around the defence and chips over the covering winger, but the bounce is not good and goes to the covering Force player.

Rebels get a penalty from the lineout for Hodgson from rolling away. 25m out, 15m in from touch and Rebels take the kick at goal.

JOC (James O'Connor) gets this one, just inside the left post. Rebels up 8 - 0, 12 gone.

 

[Ash]

JOC (James O'Connor) has a "snap shift" blue band on his right wrist. Thanks, Kearns and Kafe. Scintillating commentary.

Force win their line 35 out, and also go side to side without making much ground until they win a penalty out in front.

 

[Ash]

Penalty was for PAE playing with the ball. Didn't release the tackler and had a few goes at the ball.

Eberson misses it from in front, 8 - 0 to the Rebels, 15 gone.

 

[Bairdy]

You can just see how dependant the Force are at holding the ball for insane amounts of time because Rebels were dominating for the 5-10 minute period quite easily. Very worrying indeed.

 

[Ash]

Force try attacking around the ruck, but knock it on. Right tactics, poor execution that time. Should have held it.

Scrums have been a mess so far, none have been clean.

Force engage early this time, Roberts grubbers ahead, Tupou slips over, Woodward picks up the ball and scores under the posts.

Woeful stuff from the Force.

 

[Slim 293]

Oh no..........

 

[Bairdy]

Wow, Force down 13, possibly 15-0

 

[Ash]

Unfortunate bounce for the Force though, lucky bounce for the Rebels. Tupou definitely should have done better, though.

JOC (James O'Connor) kicks the conversion.

15 to 0, 20 gone. Force in real trouble here, Rebels looking comfortable.

 

[Bairdy]

McMeniman possible in for a try

 

[Ash]

Force now show some endeavour as they run some nice lines. Godwin makes a good break, dragged down 25 out.

Ball goes wide to 3M down the wing, who goes over the line. Heads to the TMO.

Replays show he lost it as he grounded it. No try!

 

[Slim 293]

MMM has lost that.........

 

[Ash]

Force can't win a break at the moment. Phipps knocked it out as 3M tried to put it down.

First stable scrum of the game, and Rebels were under pressure. Higgers reaches in to clear it.

Rebels kick deep, Tupou runs it back to 45 out. Eberson kicks to the corner, but over kicks it. Poor kick, poor choice of play.

Kingi makes a break off the lineout, but is called back for obstruction.

 

[James Buchanan]

On replay, I am really not sure that was obstruction.

 

[Ash]

Marginal call there, but right call. Rebels second rower got in the way of a Force defender.

Force go one out over and over and don't go anywhere. Eventually Tupou knocks it on under pressure from Kingi.

 

[Ash]

Oh my, that is a horrid, horrid, horrid moustache from Higgers.

 

[Ash]

Longbottom injured, and is replaced. Faulkner on. Head bin, according to Kafe.

25 gone.

 

[James Buchanan]

Marginal call there, but right call. Rebels second rower got in the way of a Force defender.

Force go one out over and over and don't go anywhere. Eventually Tupou knocks it on under pressure from Kingi.

It was 7 who was called as obstructing. From the replay it seemed like the 'obstructed tackler' was about 3 meters away from the play. No obstruction for mine.

 

[Ash]

Better scrum, JOC (James O'Connor) puts up a bomb under pressure.

Eberson puts in a more aimless one next phase, Rebels spin it wide to Woodward, who was standing on the touch line.

Godwin tries to kick to the corner, and kicks it out on the full. Lots of boos from the crowd.

 

[James Buchanan]

Classic onfield mic action there.

 

[Ash]

It was 7 who was called as obstructing. From the replay it seemed like the 'obstructed tackler' was about 3 meters away from the play. No obstruction for mine.

I think it was called for the interference with the defender. I really think it was marginal, as it looked unlikely the defender would have gotten to Kingi. Really, the Rebels player shouldn't have gotten in the way on purpose, was silly.