If ever you wanted an example of why Sports Betting can add so much excitement to a game then last weeks clash between the Reds and the Waratahs in Brisbane is a case in point.

Bookmakers had priced up this game a couple of weeks before and the Reds who were at home were priced at (-3.5) point favourites. A number of shrewd punters studied up on the likely squads and came to the conclusion that the Reds should be bigger favourites for this match. Armed with that opinion they stormed into the Reds (-3.5) and the handicap shifted out to (-7.5), meaning if you backed the Reds on the handicap they had to win by 8 points or more whereas those who got the early value only needed the Reds to win by 4 points or more.

Match day came and the Reds stormed into the lead and looked like delivering the bets fairly comfortably. The Waratahs were having none of that though and came fighting back and with time running out the scores were level. The Reds were awarded a penalty and James O’Connor stepped up to take the pressure kick. This would win the Reds the match, although for those who took -3.5 it wasn’t going to be enough. The kick landed and the Reds led by 3 and the majority of punters were rueing a narrow loss.

They fought their way back into the Waratahs half and got another penalty with under a minute to go. I have seen many cases like this where the team waste time only to tap it and kick it out to end the match but James O’Connor decided to have another go at 3 points.

To the average fan watching this game this kick meant very little as the Reds had already won the match, but to those who needed them to win by at least 4 points it was edge of your seat stuff. The kick was well struck and sailed through the posts and based on the number of messages and voice notes I received the relief was palpable. Not only did this show that every kick or point is important, but also how crucial it is to get the early value.

What was I on? Unfortunately (-6.5) so for me that kick genuinely meant nothing, but I was very happy for my fellow punters.

Twitter: @BrentGraham.

This article was written for the CitiGaming supplement of the Citizen Newspaper and was published on the 16 July 2020.

Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and sends a free weekly e-mail list just CLICK HERE to register