by Paul Cook - ********************** THE WARM-UP: ********************** This was the eagerly awaited clash of the NRC season so far. Two unbeaten teams, chock-full of Super Rugby talent and averaging almost 50pts per match between them, meant this game was being viewed as a potential grand final rehearsal. And with a Minor Premiership and home advantage in the finals at stake, it all pointed to a thriller. City came in off the back of a 58-0 demolition of third-placed Sydney Stars the week before, a result that stretched their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 games including their run to the title in 2014. The Vikings meanwhile, were fresh off a clinical 42-16 dispatching of fellow challengers, the Melbourne Rising, as they looked to put down a marker in the sand as the real deal in 2015. Something had to give… ********************** THE BREAKDOWN: ********************** It was the home side that drew first blood, and from a familiar source, Jarrad Butler claiming his 7th tr