Shanghai Tigers hold off fast finishing Beijing Bombers in tight first round of China Cup
Last weekend, 14 June 2014, Game 1 of the 2014 China Cup was held in Shanghai. The Cup is played twice each year between the Shanghai Tigers and the Beijing Bombers.
Below, the bombers report.
With the ball deep in the Bombers foward line, the Gong sounded to end another China Cup Classic with the Shanghai Tigers holding on to beat the fast finishing Beijing Bombers by 4 points.
The Tigers’ 3/4 qtr time time lead of 17 points was soon extended to 23 points and the the pro Shanghai crowd was filling the champagne glasses and starting to celebrate what they were thinking was going to be an easy victory.
Then came the move of Nobby from Fullback into the ruck and which gave the Bombers the advantage in the centre and, with two quick goals, it was ‘game on’ again.
Shanghai again extended the lead out to 17 points with a goal quick turnaround from a controversial decision in the Bombers forward line. The Bombers did not give up and booted another two goals which then left a 4 point game with 4 minutes to play.
The game was then played out between the half forward lines as now all players, exhausted, kept giving their all. With the ball heading down to the Bombers’ goals, the going was hit and victory went to the Shanghai Tigers.
It was a great day with Shanghai combining the game with a Ladies Day function which saw some of Shanghai’s finest watching the contest as well as making sure their champagne glasses stayed full.
The Tigers now take the lead in the head to head China Cup with 7 wins to the Bombers 6 wins. The return game is scheduled for September in Beijing and the Tiger will take a 4 pt buffer into that game with the China Cup being decided on aggregate scores of the two games.
Final Scores
Shanghai Tigers: 1-3, 4-4, 7-5, 9-6 (60)
Def.
Beijing Bombers: 2-0, 4-0, 5-0, 9-2 (56
Goals
Bombers: 4 – Fab. 2 – Nige. 1 – Timmy R, Stevie, Chris O
Best
Bombers: Timmy R, Fab, Tommy D, Chris O
