The Battle of Sydney; West Sydney Razorbacks vs Sydney Kings - Sydney Superdome - 28/01/06

Ethan Switch - Sunday, 29 January 2006 - Print Version

Tight pants in fishnets walk the aisles handing out bats for those too lazy to stand on the outside rustling through the hands. Tiny dazzlers dole out the tattoos, no spit or water for those without. Dead red on the ends and the upper levels of the Superdome are just as empty save for a few sitting behind glass.

Kings lip the tip and Jason Smith out is out quick with two threes to hold over the hosts' double take. Pedestrian moves endure the length of play, spectacular swatting on show. Lack of finesse is stunning, the lag just filthy. Scores swap leads quick and with no perceptible upper hand for either side. Shuffling forth and back, the two hop on the other with no breath on black. Horns lock out the first, each with 27 on the board, pigs hard to the trough.

Double up on the half size, the Razorbacks Lazor Cheersquad dancers dance out to end on a splash. Height plays a game and the results read a rank filling numbers with new faces and braces. The minis are half the size and double the number. One act nearly flings a tot into the floorboards, shy of splat.

Ben Knight and David Barlow pair to power the Kings in the second. Their swing moves a slight toward action on the ends, Razorbacks' Scott McGregor and Cam Rigby pop up for some salvage points. Luke Kendall rocks the outers with a consistent and strangely quiet effort. It's a blooding and the visitors continue taking the points away from home. West Sydney down 46 to 59 into the second half.

Under twelves squeak on and the favourite is a lad with knee high socks. Apparently everybody loves this kid as his every move makes the crowd cheer out of their doze. A sweet three in the middle of an untimed play making the break. Other players wear tennis socks or ankle huggers. No score to keep track of the game, the bookies lose out over conjecture.

Fury and fight tempers the flare for the third. Clotheslines hit but nobody falls down to pick up the laundry. Graeme Dann takes to Mark Worthington to start a near all out brawl. Play stops and the fists get ready to fly with the mop boys begging for red to sweep. Tempers cool. Nothing, the fun relays into the fourth but not without stubble fresh Sedric Webber slamming out a block shot. Nasty energy boils as Razorbacks watch on with the Kings strong into the last, 76 and 82.

Rigby squeezes out early in the fourth picking up a nice six pack of fouls. Smith slams hard on the ring only to see the ball hit the hook and bounce out of nowhere and back into the field. Webber and Dann are head to head on the scoring beat. Razorbacks power through and seriously put some edge on their hustle. The spread moves closer to zero and ties at a stage. Despite the late rush, it's not enough and the home side lose against the reigning champions. 99 and 110, Kings the best of Sydney.

Ethan Switch