The maul stagnates and Phipps feeds his forwards on the fringes. After four or five phases, they cross but the ball is held up. Scrum.
Rebels looking a lot more confident this half, whilst Blue looking more and more uncertain. Fuglistaller making some terrific hits and crucial turnovers. The Rebels just earned a penalty from a scrum inside Blues' territory. They opt for the corner and set the maul..
Very simple try in the end. This time Higginbotham serves the ball to Phipps off the base of the scrum. Phipps zips a skip pass out to Mitchell. Ranger scrambles to cover but Mitchell runs straight and hard and crosses. Woodward attempts from close to the touch-line, but the ball just drifts wide of the uprights.
TMO decision pending. Rebels split left off the back and the forwards begin to grind. Nic Henderson looks to have crossed.... But TMO can't see a grounding. Scrum.
Strong start to the half for the Rebels, currently with a scrum on the Blues' five after being held up moments ago.
@Joe, yeah Roberts picked up an injury too. Hegarty's the third choice out-half, making his debut too.
Referee Garrett Williamson brings a close to a highly entertaining, frantic half of rugby. Bonus point secured for the Blues. Rebels lucky to snap up two tries, capitalising on the Blues' complacency following the kick-off. Inconsistency letting the Blues down once more, giving Rebels a foot-hold in the game. Comeback looks unlikely however; too much talent in this Blues outfit. Second half to come..
Shite kicking
See they lost his replacement as well shortly after that too, not looking good for the rebels.
@Joe, Yeah very unusual! Nope, O'Connor took a bang early on and looked to be holding his sternum. Five minutes later Ranger bulldozes through him and O'Connor walks off, clutching his chest..