Punters finding rugby pools tough to master

The TAB's rugby and league pools are certain to break through the $200,000 barrier this weekend, as a string of upset results have kept the jackpot growing week by week.

The pool rarely grows above the $100,000 mark, so this hetfy jackpot total is an indicator of how tough it's been to pick the results of Super 12 and NRL matches this season.

Last weekend's pools, valued at an estimated $175,000 for first division (all ten matches correct), were not struck. Most punters were probably unable to predict the 20-all draw between the Cats and the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Saturday night (NZT).

A draw in a sporting fixture, while a legitimate betting option, is nonetheless difficult to pick and frequently causes the pool to jackpot a further week.

In the previous round of Super 12, the Brumbies and the Chiefs drew 28-all in Canberra - no doubt bringing the causes of many tipsters to grief.

Pools betting means the bettor has to pick the winning team and points margin (1-12 or 13+, or a draw) for ten selected rugby and rugby league matches each weekend.

The jackpot starts with $25,000 in the pool and continues to rise if it is not struck.

While not offering the get-rich-quick options of such gambling choices as Lotto, Daily Keno or a Pick Six horseracing bet, the rugby and league pools offer the armchair sports expert a chance to get rewarded for accurate predictions on match outcomes.

And as if knowing the form of all the New Zealand, South African and Australian teams intimately wasn't challenging enough, with the Super 12 round robin finishing yesterday, the bookies at the TAB have had to look further afield to come up with ten fixtures for next weekend.

So this coming weekend's pools include two British rugby league matches (Wigan v Huddersfield and London Broncos v Salford).

Time to get the form book out and start studying seriously, if you want a share of that two hundred grand.