I went along to NCvs TGS game
NC kicked off with TGS RUNNING with a very strong breeze. Both sides struggled in the opening moments to find their patterns. NC 10 was tackled however not held enabling him to scramble a few extra metres and putting NC on the front foot inside TGS 22m. Leading to NC first try.
Both teams continued to drop the ball with a NC turnover leading to a good interchange of passing between TGS 1& 2 resulting in a try down the left wing.
Not long after the kick off, TGS 10 kicked the ball dead from just outside his 22m resulting in NC scrum. The subsequent scrum win to NC allowed their no 10 to step inside his opposite for an easy run to the line.
TGS used their talented outside backs to but together some a lovely play just inside NC half for a quick reply and lock up the scores at 14 all.
TGS found their grove in line out and stole a number of NC throws and both No. 6 ran hard and tackled everything.
TGS lost no.11 to a disgraceful sin bin call 8mins from half time. The tackled was, fair and right in front of the n
NC supporters who were as shocked as anyone to see a yellow card.
NC scored a try after some strong running from NC 4. TGS players failed to mark up and communicate. NC 19 - 14 lead at half time.
2nd half saw TGS come out firing with NC under pressure on their line. NC can consider themselves very lucky not to have given away a penalty try with a TGS player being tackled by a NC player returning from an offside position just as the TGS player hit a gap. 3 phases later saw the ref grow tired of the continual NC infringements and NC prop earning a rest for 10. TGS kept the ball tight from the line out and the TGS hooker in the corner.
NC were good enough to score twice whilst a man short from poor TGS ball control and goal line defence.
TGS played hard the next 10 minutes and piled on the pressure however a drop pile by TGS 10 whilst on the attack gave NC a life.
NC 10 had his clearing kick from the scrum charged down and the hard working 12 for TGS score under the posts.
This saw some of the best rugby of the game played as TGS tried to another as time ran out. NC scrambled hard and denied TGS 11 half a metre from the line in the corner. It would have been an amazing kick in that wind to level the match but in the TGS simply weren't good enough for long enough to get the win.
NC 33 -26 winners.