After a few strong and inspiring words from Nick Koster in the changeroom the jerseys were handed out and The Cobras were ready. The game started at a frenetic pace with both sides giving it their all in the opening exchanges. Ubumbo serged hard in the opening 5 but The Cobras defence was impenetrable with play moving back up field in favour of the Cobras. After a well worked move down the left Cobras flyer VIVA JP Van Huffels made the telling break and offloaded to stalwart Olly Braithwaite who was greeted under the poles by half a dozen teammates sharing the moment with him. It didn't stop there as once again Ubumbo serged but again, and the story of the night, The Cobras defence was too much for the physical Ubumbo players.
The heart and commitment of every Cobra at the point of contact was something special, as Nick Koster said before the game, it's about the little battles on the field that win the games, and the contact situation was most certainly won by The Cobras.
After sucking up a lot of the big pressure from Ubumbo the Cobras played their patient game and with some tactical kicking made their way up into the Ubumbo half with a scrum. The experienced Kyle Rennie broke from 8, offloaded to Graeme Steen only to put Brendan Raubenheimer away to score just right of the upright, 12-0.
Again The Cobras sucked up the pressure, and after some massive defence held out only for Ubumbo to have a shot at goal, 12-3. The game continued with massive hit after hit as both sides weren't giving each other an inch on the field. The Cobras patiently made there way up field which forced a penalty which Warren converted making leaving the score at 15-3 at half time.
The Cobras were fired up and knew they were 30min away from a place in the final. The set pieces were being won, Warren Handley playing a massive role in the lineouts and scrums at hooker in only his second outing for The Cobras. The pack stood up to a far bigger pack than themselves and dominated from the word go. It was a great clinical performance from the Cobras as until the last minute the Cobras were being asked to defend with their lives. The game was won but still the hunger and heart of the men in purple in white paid off as the ref drew the curtain on what was a fantastic effort and great momentum for The Cobras ahead of the all important final which is on the 23rd of September.
Man of the Match went to Captain courageous Callan Artis, the man is unstoppable when it comes to looking for contact, he led from the front putting his body on the line every second of the game.
Another special fines evening happened straight after the game as The Cobras celebrated reaching their 3rd final in 5 years, which already is an achievement to be proud of. One more step to go...it was the type of semi any team would have liked to have overcome going into a final.
Touch SUNDAY 4PM BISHOPS.
Oh so brave
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