Traveled up the big hill to watch NC 33 d TGS 26. Game started a bit gingerly but soon found its groove. The scoreline indicates a lack of defence but I can assure you all, it was great attack, There was great solid bone crunching, "oh that's gonna hurt on Monday" type defence. Both teams threw the kitchen sink into the fray with both teams playing to the rules with the ref letting the play run. Both teams cleaned out ferociously and only the brave dared try to steal. TGS had extended periods of possession with the first try being scored against the run of play by NC with some brilliant footwork by 10 and backup by 6. TGS first try was a length of the field, through at least ten hands before 2 finished of the movement with a 30 metre dash to the line. Of course over time that distance will grow. NC scrum was mostly dominant, shoving the TGS pack around, which surprised the crowd. NC backs opened up the TGS back line with some accurate cut out passing by NC 10 leading to a NC try. TGS camped on NC's line, maintained possession and was eventually awarded a try I think it was to my MVP 2 for TGS. NC scored and TGS responded. Both teams threw the ball about leading to some of the best attacking open field running I have seen at schoolboy level. Some loose passing by TGS saw NC open a one try buffer with NC pouncing on a stray pass to score under the sticks. Half time was NC 19-14. Both teams started hard in the 2nd stanza with a great team try by TGS forwards. TGS camped on NC line for at least five minutes with the ref finally carding NC 2 for repeated infringements. NC scrum, one man down, five metres out saw NC 10 sweep left and run in probably the easiest try of the day. Again TGS responded highlighting NC serious lack of speed on the NC wings, plundering mileage down both sides of the field only to be cut down by my other MVP, NC 7. TGS scored another forward try after great lead up by the backs. Some easy possession given away by TGS led to a two try buffer to NC - with TGS never giving up and scoring a late try to the ever hard working TGS 12. The game indicated NC has a very tidy and strong, no frills forward pack with a very slick 10 and keen to run inside backs. TGS have a very large forward pack with very confidant and speedy 11, 13, 14. Realistically, TGS let themselves down with some bad handling at the worst possible times and NC capitalised. That was really the only difference between two very good teams.