It's raining here at the Hot Gates as the Conquerors, hosted by the Spartans, have their first home game of the season. They'll be hoping to destroy the Landsharks here after a solid victory in their first encounter.
1.15 Chris Warrington for the Conquerors is tackled by Insane Bolt. The forwards pile in. The ref's whistle goes. Thad Bochat is penalised for hands in the ruck. 16m from the line, Luke Popovic sets up for the penalty kick. He lines it up, and that's a great hit. Conquerors 3 - 0 Landsharks
6.15 A good run from Koal Kao is followed up by a decent gain on the pick and go by Jonty Rhodes. Only 5m from the line now. The ball comes to Pretzel Spark. Can he make a dash for the line? Rusty Downpipes smashes Spark back in the tackle and Charlie Downes and Jono Chewie pile in and force the turnover. Try saving tackle from Downpipes there.
12.30 Great solo effort from Haydos Bots here. He rips the ball from Michael Edwards only 15m from the Conquerors own line, he then dumps Edwards on the ground and sprints away. There's no cover defence left and Bots dots down with ease right under the sticks. (83m run) Popovic converts easily. Conquerors 10 - 0 Landsharks
19.00 Great link up play between Tait and Warrington for the Conquerors leads to another try. A scrum on the Landsharks 22m line is won by the Conquerors forwards. The ball is spun out to Tait who offloads to Warrington and then offloads back to Tait having drawn in the cover defender. Another try to the Conquerors Popovic misses the conversion from wide out. Conquerors 15 - 0 Landsharks
36.15 Try of the season contender here, and all coming from Matt Dorn charging down an attempted kick from Michael Edwards. Dorn gets hold of the loose ball and smokes Brian Quilty and Chad Dyer for pace. Dorn's Spartans teammate, Peter Jackson is there in support and Dorn passes to him under pressure from Edwards looking to atone for his earlier error. Quick hands from Jackson find Farhat. Farhat finds Bots with a good pass right into the bread basket. Charlie Downes has worked superbly to get here in support, and receives the ball from Bots. Downes charges the last line of defence and scores. Popovic converts a tough one. Conquerors 22 - 0 Landsharks and that's half time.
Bad signs already for the 'sharks. A dishonourable mention for me giving a penalty and the first points away.
Alex O'Driscoll on for Rusty Downpipes Webber replaces Warrington Rask for Fisher MacDonald for Raftery
46.45 Try saving tackle from rookie Lock forward Oscar Wood. Ali Farhat looked through for all money there. To add insult to injury, Wood wraps Farhat up so well, that Farhat was pinged for not releasing the ball. How's about not releasing the tackled player, eh, ref? Dyer with the clearing kick.
50.00 Eightyfour on for Tait Diggler for Farhat Chapnis on for Spark Immanuel for Martyn Mister for Shriram Wright for Edwards
63.45 Another try for the Conquerors, and the set up work was from Travis Webber this time. He drew in the defender and set Matt Dorn off on a run. Great break from Dorn and he's brought down only a metre from the line by Landsharks full back Kyle Wright. Solid cover defence, but the first man to the breakdown is Charlie Downes. Dorn's protected the ball well, and it's right there for Downes to pick up and then surge over the line. A second try to the Blindside Flanker. Great try. Popovic converts another Conquerors 29 - 0 Landsharks