V Manawatu

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="606758" data-time="1471594280">
Uh oh, knock on by Turbos, our scrum..... ðŸ˜ž</blockquote>WOW, we held our own and have gone the length foe a possible try. 
Alaimalo shows great pace and vision there. 
Exciting stuff. 
It's given, what a try!

Gunner

Yeeeessssss!!!!! 
In again!!!!! 
WTF, the switch has been flicked and we've started playing. 
From down 0-17, we're now up 19-17 with the half approaching.

Duluth

Pryor has been struggling with the new laws but showing class with the ball in hand

Gunner

Fuck we're being cut open a lot in the midfield.

Gunner

Well that was a half of two halves. 
Our defense is really worrying me, we're conceding a lot of clean line breaks in the 10-13 channels. 
But sheesh out attack came to life in that second quarter, great to watch. More of that please!

Hooroo

I said to Duluth in a PM that I rarely watch NPC but glad I turned this game on. Great first half

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Duluth" data-cid="606763" data-time="1471594817">
Pryor has been struggling with the new laws but showing class with the ball in hand</blockquote>Yes he's given away 3 or 4 penalties at the ruck. He's giving it the confused look and the ref almost seems to be feeling sorry for him and letting him off lightly.

kev

Defensive line is all over the show but we have some game at least. The points have given us confidence, so we need to start well in second half. 
Scrum seems capable and even dominant sometimes but have been scrubs where we have not been in the contest.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="606771" data-time="1471595410">
Defensive line is all over the show but we have some game at least. The points have given us confidence, so we need to start well in second half. 
Scrum seems capable and even dominant sometimes but have been scrubs where we have not been in the contest.</blockquote>If by start well you mean give away a dumb penalty, then they've listened to you very carefully Kev.

Gunner

So the touchy reports foul play, but because there are no good camera angles, she's play on? 
Surely the ref has to back his touchies call there?

Gunner

Some greedy play there cost us a try, a couple of players in that movement had opportunities to pass to an unmarked man but didn't. 
Olsen held up over the line at the end of it.

Gunner

Yeeeeoooo!!!! 
Ram in, but easy conversion missed. 
24-20

Gunner

26-20 
Edit, that should be 27-20 shouldn't it? Sky have it wrong.

Gunner

Fuck. The poo in from a kick pass to Curtis. 
Black, the prick gets the kick from the sideline. 
27-27

Gunner

Fuck we've gone right off the boil, Soft turnovers creeping in. 
Dig deep you buggers and lift!

Gunner

Fuck fuck fuck. 
Soft turnovers and giving away soft penalties when we have the fucking ball costs us a try and most likely the game. 
Best we can hope for now is a draw. 
Not when we give away yet another penalty though.

kev

We should have kicked for the corners in the last 10 minutes. Played too much rugby around our half. 
It seemed like Manawatu players were standing on the side of the ruck kicking at our ball making it messy. If they want the new rules to work they need to tidy up this kicking at the ball at ruck time - I prefer the old rules in that regard where you had guys on the ball, rather than using their feet.

Gunner

Fucking disappointing, seemed to run out of puff in the last quarter - there were soft turnovers, soft penalties, no ball control at the rucks and we just didn't fire a shot. 
Tough 4 games on the road now... As TR has said, it's entirely possible that we'll be 0-5 before our next home game.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="606804" data-time="1471598777">
We should have kicked for the corners in the last 10 minutes. Played too much rugby around our half. 
It seemed like Manawatu players were standing on the side of the ruck kicking at our ball making it messy. If they want the new rules to work they need to tidy up this kicking at the ball at ruck time - I prefer the old rules in that regard where you had guys on the ball, rather than using their feet.</blockquote> Was thinking the same thing. I've never seen so many players come through (or around) a ruck and just boot the ball. It becomes a free for all and not good watching. 
Also very much agree with playing too much in our own half, especially as they were coming up fast and smashing us back well behind the advantage line time and time again. 
It felt like the last try had an air of inevitably about it, as I said before, we ran out of steam, which is a concern.

kev

I thought the performance was good in parts - set piece worked well and the outside backs looked good. Defence with straight lines needs some work. 
Yes we dropped off in the last 15 minutes. Thought we lacked control at this critical time. 
But the performance was miles better than last year. If they can build from this we will win some games. 
Nb: Macalai is such a quality player now. His time with the Crusaders has improved him as a rugby player.

The Silver Fern

V Manawatu