BUCS Final – Live Feed

Find information, twitter feeds and an online live video feed for the match here – http://www.bucs.org.uk/homepage.asp

Kick Off! – A lively cheer and we’re off, updates every five minutes!

Pre Game Chat: Welcome to the Tab’s live feed at a bitterly cold Twickenham. It’s hard to tell you exactly how cold it is but I’m struggling to type. The stadium is filling up to the sound of Maroon 5 and Olly Murs, both teams of supporters out in force.Five minutes to kick off…

18 mins: Scrum time again, descends into boredom on the half way line.  New regulations are shit, aren’t they? Anyway, Cardiff met finally get the ball out and they try a crossfield kick, landing perfectly in 11s hands, before a pass inside to 15 Guy Wood, who goes over! Cracking try against the run of play, and we have one try each. Their 10 misses the kick to the jeers of DURFC fans. 7-5 Durham

25 minutes: Treglown converts a penalty to bring Durham 5 ahead, he looks sparky today. Durham under pressure – Cardiff Met with an attacking lineout on the Durham 5. Crowd quiet for the minute.

30 minutes: Hammersley makes a great break out of his own 22 and nearly runs the length of the pitch, Lomu style. But Durham concede again. This Cardiff pack are huge, absolute giants. Durham with the ball again but in their own half, it’s pretty even at the minute – but Durham are dominating the set play.

35 minutes: Jack Pattinson flies down the wing like a man possessed. Durham looking to go wide but concede again. All the play in the middle of the field, both sides giving each other a good battering. To be honest – not much happening at the moment, after a cracking first quarter everything seems to have calmed down.

HALF TIME: It’s all gone quiet here. Cardiff Met make a scorching break down the wing to mix things up but he steps out. Durham reset within their 22 and win the penalty to kick clear. It’s good tight rugby here, but so good and so tight that it’s come to even stevens. Treglown finishes the half with a cross kick but Cardiff Met full back catches it easily on the full and mark is called. In they go…and the dance music is back.

45 minutes: A penalty a piece after some poor discipline from both sides after half time.

48 minutes: TRY TIME for Durham. Flanker Jack Pattinson forces his way over from 5 metres. Palatinate tide goes wild, as does commentator Charlie Goodwin up in the press gantry with us. Dave Treglown slots the conversion – 20-8.

50 minutes: Easy penalty for Cardiff Met, they’ve got a long way to come back but Durham need to tighten up the discipline.

55 minutes: The game is opening up now, end to end stuff. Pattinson is everywhere as per usual and Durham hands are flowing beautifully. Bilbo ploughs his way through and Durham threaten but concede again, for holding on. Cardiff Met come back at them with solid rugby but the Durham defence is akin to the walls of Troy, they don’t give an inch.

60 minutes: Cardiff Met with a long period of possession and they’ve had Durham inside their own 22 and under pressure. Met win a crucial scrum just outside the Durham five metre and set it well but the shove is held and the referee resets the scrum for a third time. The travelling supporters compete with namesake cheers. Met run hard at Durham, whose midfield defence is astonishingly hard, and win another penalty straight in front of the posts. Durham’s ill discipline is letting Cardiff back in here – 20-14 Durham lead.

65 minutes: Durham come back with a vengeance off the kick off. Cutting strong lines through the Met defence and quickly win a penalty off Met for coming in at the side. – Treglown puts it over and gives Durham some breathing space, they’ll want some more though. Durham clear their lines off the kick off but Met win a lineout on the Durham 22. Both teams still look fresh but for all of their energy, Met can’t make any ground against an omnipotent Pattinson. Met go to the back with an attacking lineout on the 5 but Durham are all over them in the ruck and clear their lines once again – will their defence tire?

70 minutes: A short break for injuries and water here. Durham look composed but the game is far from won. Bilbo getting some attention on the floor, Cardiff look impatient and the Palatinate crowd is giving them reason to be, strains of ‘I just can’t get enough’ ring around Twickenham as Met come at the Durham line once again.

75 minutes: Met finally manage to go wide but are knocked back again and again. Finnie’s work rate in the loose has been phenomenal and he’s at it again, tackling league style right round the ankles. Met lose the ball forward and lose possession, Durham substitutions are rolling on now and Bilbo receives a huge cheer as he limps off, a giant among men. Durham clear with a boxkick but Met are right back at them. Durham are visibly tiring now but the level of support will surely buoy them – the noise is overwhelming.

The last five: Met put another penalty over and the Durham substitutions roll on, they know they’ve won now. Durham hold the ball in the tight off the restart, they’re only six points ahead it’s all still to play for. Met throw the kitchen sink at Durham in midfield but to no avail, Durham win the penalty in the breakdown.. Treglown goes to kick a final penalty….and nails it, 26-17. Met are still coming at them in injury time but Durham win the ball back and hold it in the tight once again. Cardiff will not go down without a fight though, the huge crunching tackles continue into the last breaths of injury time.

FULLTIME: 26 – 17. Durham Win. Check out the celebrations on twitter!