Magpies v Taranaki

[Higgins]

Righto, just settling down on the sofa and about to start my final pre-match preparations. It is extremely comforting to have watched Waikato over the last hour or so and can now put our guys lack of performance into perspective. That Waikato side could play for another six weeks and still not cause the scoreboard attendant too much trouble, on their side of the scoreboard at least! Kind of what we have had to endure these last two seasons, still all the pressure will be on Taranaki tonight to pick up the gift five competition points that all bar about a dozen of us have already conceded and you just never know what that might do to them.

[Higgins]

I have not noticed the Gala Caterers pie cart that usually sits to the left of the McKenzie Stand (or whatever it is now called) as we look at it on the television. It has been there forever so maybe it's absence is part of the curse Mr. Philpott is trying to get exocised.

[Higgins]

Goodness, thats confidence - going for the four try bonus already instead of taking the gift three points, and a possible milking of yellow card against a 'Naki player!

[Higgins]

Sadly that confidence was misplaced but hey w are still very much in this match after six minutes and we are not behind on the scoreboard.

[Stockcar86]

I fear those 3 penalties in the first 2 minutes that we got will be all we get this half

[Higgins]

Oh dear, on the evidence of that scrum it looks like it might be a bit of a tough night.

[Stockcar86]

That must be a knock on

[Higgins]

And Mr. Dockary in the TMO box agrees with what we saw in real time.

[Stockcar86]

Great to see Mason Emerson trying to run through people

[Higgins]

Yes that was surprising considering his build is more designed to evade defenders with speed and guile rather than brutality.

[Higgins]

Getting demolished (three times) by a scrum that contains Angus Ta'avao is nothing to be proud about

[Stockcar86]

Weber realising there is no offside over the line saves the day

[Higgins]

Nice bit of byplay there with that Bob Marley guy professionally signaling the try that HB prevented with some tenacious defence

[Higgins]

On no, here comes a yellow card

[Higgins]

Confirmed, and to make matters worse it's a prop as well. Is it too much to hope the replacement will not have a reverse gear in his makeup?

[Stockcar86]

Scoreline is OK here, but we haven't been a second half of the game team this year. Something about Philpotts half time talks?

[Stockcar86]

Scrum looked better with Buckman pushing

[Higgins]

It did, we won that little battle but they won the war by scoring anyway. HB 00 - 07 Taranaki after 26 minutes

[Stockcar86]

why the fuck do we keep kicking it away. surely that must be a tactic from the coaches.

[Higgins]

Especially when it gives away another converted try. Why oh why oh why?????????????????