If you could bring a couple of extras to the Island to make it 15 on 15, given it looks like the Smugglers will have 13, I'd appreciate it.
Qtr time at The Stadium, sees the 2nd placed Barracudas from Groote Eyelandt trailing the 16th placed Barcrawlers 97 to 172..... However stats/scores can be deceiving and with 2 players not showing up for the game, Banchang, in actual fact, have used 4 players to achieve that 172, while the Barra's have only used 1, The Bont, with 97. For the locals, Suckling and the young Knight have both done as much as they could, with 86 each. I think it's going to be all downhill from here for Banchang, and a real battle is brewing with Hughenden for that magical No1 pick in the PSD.
Youngsters Lever and Dale have gotten the Smugglers off to a solid start -180/2. While the visiting PDawgs are still in the sheds listening to @Batfink 's stirring pre-game address.
With Liam Jones only set to play on Sunday afternoon, it's the @eagle_eyed's Sandgropers 252/3/84 out to a early lead. Grenades are actually 179/3/59.7. We were due for a bad week
4/9ths of the way through and the visiting Whalers have come out firing. They're down by 48 points but have 3 fewer scoring players and are on track to post a 1400+ score at this rate. Crocs 799 / 11 / 72.6 Whalers 751 / 8 / 93.9 2/3 top scorers so far are from Eden: Zaha (120), Patton (117), Jenkins (112)
The match Banchang report will need to wait till tomorrow. my boy has just retuned from his 1st tournament representing his country,and were in the middle of a family congratulatory dinner. Sorry Yad I;ll get to it tomorrow aometime....Cheers
Southern Cross are making it a difficult task for Liam Jones later today. The Gropers are actually on track for the highest ORFFU score ever - currently 730/7/104.3! Gisborne are floundering at 716/10/71.6 - at least its a bad week in a game we shouldn't win. I don't think even the great, powerful, manly and heroic Liam Jones can save us now.
Monarchs 10/875 vs Bulls 10/728 It's an old 8 point game with both teams in the logjam around the edge of the top 8. The Monarchs are out to a solid lead off the back of 3 players scoring 50 points above their averages; Henderson, Swallow, and Walker. For @tyze1's Bulls, young Mayes has led the way down back but they'll be looking for some big scores to come home strong. Perhaps the trip over has taken a toll on them with all the charter planes unavailable this week.
Banchang Half-time Match Report. It's half-time here at The Stadium and the under manned Barcrawlers are no match for the rampaging Barracudas from the Northern Territory, who lead the locals 10/947 (94.7) to a miserly 9/700 (77.8) but with 2 players failing to show, it's actually 11/700 (63.6). The visitors have been led superbly in the midfield by Zorko the magnificent, with 196, ably supported by The Bont with 97 and Cotchin 71, off the bench, chiming in. Lyons 107, Bastinac 73 along with Sexton 87, off the interchange,have tried to stop the supply of ball to their forwards, to no avail, where big Tommy Hawkins grabbed himself 105. While down back, veteran Burgoyne 103, 1st year player Berry 85, and Lloyd 81, have completely stifled Banchang's scoring where "2 metre Peter" Wright has only managed 28, his lowest score for the season. In the Ruck, Stanley 78 has already won The Big Tap in a walkover from Sinclair, who failed to show. The 2nd half won't be any better for the home side I'm afraid, with 4 players up against the visitor's 5. The Wooden Spoon beckons......
It is advantage PDawgs at Flying Fish Cove Park, with the visitors leading 749 - 689, with both team having 9 players take the field so far. Can the Smugglers fight back with their season on the line? The answer is almost certainly, no.
The PDawgs have run out deserved winners by a provisional 1228-1143. Leading from very early on, Hughenden were never really threatened, with a dominant midfield performance sealing the win. Full match report to come. @Batfink
The Whalers look to have taken the 4 points against the Crocs with a 30 point win, 1155 to 1125. Match report to come.
Banchang Full-time Report The siren has sounded at The Stadium and the visiting Groote Eyelandt Barracudas have run out convincing winners over the under strength Barcrawlers 1262-972. The 2nd half was played mainly in The Barras forward half, and even with the untimely injury suffered by their star midfielder Paddy Cripps, the visitors were able to outscore the home team 315-272. An even performance from Weitering, Lewis, Hannan, and Jamie Cripps with scores of 76 74 70 and 70 was too much for the Barcrawlers to handle with only Higgins 102, playing above average. Getting closer and closer to the Wooden Spoon and the No.1 Draft Pick are The Barcrawlers. Groote Eyelandt travel back to the NT for their next games against the Cow Bay Crocs, while the Barcrawlers make the long trip to Nuytsland to face the ladder leaders...... BOG: 3. Zorko 196 GEB 2. Lyons 107 BB 1. Hawkins 105 GEB BIG TAP. Stanley 78 GEB on a walkover......
Early tallies have it at Gisborne 979 defeated by @eagle_eyed's Southern Cross 1313. It's a dark day. Not even the all powerful, all conquering Liam Jones could save the Grenades this time.
Thanks for the updates mate; might want to check your calculator though, I have Gisborne 1044 defeated by Southern Cross 1452