Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
The shoot-out where blazing over the bar is a good thing
Major rugby’s first shoot-out was followed, almost inevitably, by a tidal wave of complaints about how unfair it all was.
Leicester secured a slot in the final of the Heineken Cup, Europe’s premier club competition, after beating Cardiff Blues 7-6 “on penalties” on Sunday.
The teams were level at 26-26 after extra time and had each scored two tries, paving the way for a long-anticipated shoot-out.
Each team took five shots from in front on the posts on the 22-metre line.
The front-line kickers had little problem with such a straightforward test but once it moved on to boys who kick a rugby ball about as often as they celebrate a try by kissing a team mate, it got a bit sticky.
The fall guy turned out to be Wales and British and Irish Lions flanker Martyn Williams, who shanked his kick horribly wide, leaving Leicester number eight and former semi-pro footballer Jordan Crane to stroke over the winner.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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Reducing both teams by one player at five minute intervals throughout extra time with the winner decided by a golden score would avoid the result coming down to one man’s error.
Try count (not in this case, of course) followed by fewest yellow cards? Not as exciting but might encourage the right approach by the teams during the match.