New Sim Test Thread (to include Matches)

Pre-match build up starts now.

Kick off at around 7pm NZT. (Approx an hour and a half from now)

 

Welcome to the Wetspack Stadium for this exhibition match between Escath's XV and the Cambridge XV. The weather is set fair and there's a moderate wind blowing from left to right.

The Cambridge XV will get this game off to a start. His 1st 5/8, Aaron Hunt will get this game underway. It's a kick into no-man's land. Not a great effort and has easily been gathered by Lucas Schaw who takes the ball upfield.

 

3 minutes

Ged King takes the ball into contact for the Cambridge XV. Players from both sides pile into the ruck. What's this? The ref has blown up for off-side. Looks like James McDougal is at fault here. About 30 metres away here, but the Cambridge XV opt to kick for territory rather than go for the 3 points. Aaron Hunt takes the kick, but has shanked it. The ball remains in play and has been caught by Siege Morgan.

Morgan takes a run, but has been tackled by Ben Storer. No support for the tackler, and David Dafter and Heath Davis secure possession for the Escath XV.

The ball goes out to Chris Golding who is hammered by Sam Verigotta. Somehow Golding has held onto that, but the ruck is strongly contested. Davis is right there again, and a hit from Joshua Ritchie again secures the ball.

The ball is tossed wide by Jake Loughman who spins a cut out pass to Lucas Schaw out wide. In a searing turn of pace, Schaw pushes out wide, bursts past the attempted tackle from a ponderous Wes Welker. Just the full back to beat and Schaw wrong foots Son to deposit the ball in the corner. TRY TO ESCATH XV

The conversion from wide out is missed by Jake Loughman.

Escath XV 5 - 0 Cambridge XV

Too much commentary?

 

19 minutes

The ball is taken into contact by Ben Jacobs. Another good tackle from Verigotta. Brett Gemmell supports him, but the big units are there again for the Escath XV. Davis, McDougal and Ritchie again making the ball safe. Loughman takes the ball and darts off on a run himself. He grabs about 5 metres there before Steve Cambridge tackles him. Loughman expertly off-loads in the tackle to Davis who carries the ball. Davis shrugs off the attempted tackle from Farnikolo before passing to Siege Morgan. Morgan is tackled by Dexter Astele and a ruck forms.

Plenty of bodies in here and it's a bit of a mess this ruck. Oh, that looks dodgy - and no surprise that the referee blows up for a penalty there. Sweetman clearly came in from the side there before grabbing the ball. Penalty to the Escath XV.

Loughman kicks into touch, gaining about 20metres. Deep in the opposition 22, only about 10m from the try line. Smith looks to throw the line out ball for the Escath XV. Oh dear, that's not straight and the touch judge immediately calls it. McDougal throws the ball to the ground in disgust. They've just blown a great opportunity there.

Clean scrum for the Cambridge XV, gaining a few metres with a good solid shove at the 2nd attempt. The ball comes out from the back of the scrum, carried by Dexter Astele. Astele is smashed hard by James McDougal and the ball comes loose and is picked up by Sam Graham.

Graham has spotted an overlap out wide and kicks cross-field to try and attract the on-running Schaw. Graham has kicked far too far though and the ball goes out the back.

Another prime opportunity blown by the Escath XV.