Round 1 Review

Round 1 – Match Report – 1st Grade

With 2023 marking a major milestone with the 50th Anniversary for the mighty Vikings, 1st Grade  were ready to get stuck into the season proper after an excellent pre-season preparation and buildup leading in to the kickoff of the John I Dent Cup against the Wests Lions at Jamison.  The game would see a large contingent of players starting in the red and white for the first time including Sila Titiuti, Paddy Atkins, Lachlan Hooper, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Joe Wadman and Junior Time-Taotua.  Henry Palmer would also be making his run-on debut in 1st grade for the club and would also see the return of prodigal son, Sam Thomas rejoining the Viking’s clan.  A surprising lush Jamison Oval greeted the players on a bright sunny day to start a big year for the club.

With both teams taking a little while to settle into the match, the Vikings were looking to utilise their pacy outside backs, with Lachie Davis and Henry Palmer making good early in roads into opposition territory.  With the forwards setting the platform, a smart backline play and long cut pass from new recruit Joe Wadman would see the fleet footed full back Lennix Tovo scoot over under the posts with JD Lealiifano adding the extras just on the 15 minute mark.  It wasn’t long for the Redmen to strike again following some outstanding lead up from another debutant in Junior Time-Taotua and Lachie Davis to see the mercurial Seamus Smith snipe his way over the line following a quick tap to extend the lead to 12 points. The Vikings continued their forays in the West’s end of the park before the Lions were able to grab a 5 pointer out wide with 10 minutes remaining in the half.  Some desperate Viking’s defense right on half time to deny Wests saw the players off to the sheds with the Red Men leading the way by 12 to 5 but probably should have been further ahead on the scoreboard.

It didn’t take long for the Vikings to extend their lead after the break following some enterprising interchanges between the backs and forwards across the park with the towering Jack Wright plunging over the line from just short of the 22 line to grab a try with JD landing a great conversion from touch.  The Lions were next to trouble the scorers with a try in the corner to sneak back into the match with plenty time remaining with the score of 19 to 10 in favour of the Vikings.  The men in Red continued to pressure the Lion’s defense with another of the first timers in Lachlan Hooper diving over for his first try for the club, with the conversion extending the lead to 16 points.  After lifting the tempo with the forwards taking control close to the line, a sweeping pass out to Lachie Davis saw him stand up his opposite number to score a brilliant try in the corner with JD adding another great strike to see the score out to 33 to 10 with just over 15 minutes to play.  Another of the jet shoed flyers in Henry Palmer would scorch down the ground to win the race to the ball from a cracking kick by JD Lealiifano to score a scintillating touch down in the corner.  To add the icing on the cake, JD would add another superb conversion from the sideline.  Ryan Hoare would also run-on to mark his 1st game in the top grade for the club along with a couple of the younger brigade in Jake Wenzel and Shane Wilcox before Wests would grab a consolation try to make the final score of 40 to 17 to the Red Men in this convincing win to start the season.

With a number of outstanding performances across the park, following his best game for the club,  Lachie Davis would grab 3 Points for his industrious game on the wing, with scheming half back Seamus Smith awarded 2 Points with his halves partner, sharp shooter JD Lealiifano picking up 1 point. Robust flanker Baden Godfrey would pick up the Player’s Player award after a typical busy display.  On a day which saw the club win 4 out of the 6 grades, focus will now turn to next week’s first home game of the year against old foes Royals. It is also the annual Ladies Day for the club and is sure to be a memorable outing for all at Viking Park…. can’t wait for the action to begin…

Player’s Player:   Baden Godfrey

3 Points:   Lachlan Davis

2 Points:   Seamus Smith

1 Point:  JD Lealiifano

Round 1 – Match Report – 2nd Grade

The sun finally shone Jamison Oval, unfortunately not on the defending premiers, going down 25-22 to the Lions.  The Red Men came out strong in the first half dominating at the scrum with Swani starting at LH on promotion from white squad fronting up with Joel “Baby-face” Leiper and the now svelte TJ Sione.

A short ball from the oldest bloke on the team put the youngest bloke on the paddock into space, Shane offloading to Tom “the Pom” Hargan who left the Wests Fullback lying on his face to dot down in the corner.  A wayward exit left our right winger with a 50-50 defensive decision to make he jammed and the wests winger combined with the 13 to score a 60 m try and the score were tied 5 all.

Another dominant scrum put the ball into Hoaries hands he scampered and was pulled down short, pressure from the red-men caused the pk with the lions off feet. The resulting Lineout to Maul put the baby-faced Leiper over the line and red were 10-5. At the 27 minute mark another dominant red scrum allows some Old Man Thompson magic, a double pump creating time and space allowing the 18 year old Shane Wilcox to scythe through the defence and score under posts and finally knock the conversion over for 17-5 lead.  Another Try down our right wing with Pappy Douglas have to defend three Wests players at the 34 and half minute mark giving a half time lead to red 17-10.

A string of PKs straight after the start of the second stanza put Wests in a position to score with a 7m attacking maul. Resolute defence by the big men lead to an obstruction PK and an escape for Red. After exiting another not rolling PK followed by an offside at the maul put us back in the same spot with the red piggies not able to defend a third attempt and the scores were 17-17.

At the 56^th minute more ill-discipline puts us in the same position a dubious screen at the lineout-maul transition allows the Wests maul to gather momentum leading to a try in the corner 22-17 to Wests.  59 minutes Red with a 10m attacking lineout Leiper looking to replicate his first half score, Maul wheels with Leiper still head down and driving and we are held up.

62 minutes a flying Mututu manages to keep his feet on the right side of paint this time and he dots down in the corner to equalise 22 all with Wilcox unable to convert.  66 minutes with Red under pressure at the 22 and over-eager shoot out the line from Red 6 draws the referee’s ire and a PK allowing Wests to take the chocolates at the whistle 25-22.

Players’ Player: Dylan Challita with more tackles than a fishing shop.

3 Points:  Dylan Chalitta

2 Points: Swaniso Puteho

1 Point:  Bailey Goymer-Puteho

Round 1 – Match Report – Colts

On a somewhat agreeable day weather wise out at Jamison the Vikings Colts kicked off Season 2023 with an emphatic win over the Wests Colts 40-19.

It was definitely a match of two halves though as we started off slowly and tentatively, like a side that hadn’t played any footy together (ironically) but finished like a side that had played a lot of rugby together. In League parlance We started slow, finished strong!

Josh Hardy was ‘on’ and opened the scoring with the first of his brace followed by Travis Grady, finally off a Nudie Run that stretched back some years. Not sure Shorty wanted that try line any further away tho, his legs were pumping!! The Welsh Wizard Jacob Symes knocked over the two conversions to take us into oranges.

Some very stern words from Coach Southwood, flying solo this weekend as Coach Lealiifano was somewhere in a hammock in Apia Samoa, had the desired effect with us running in another 4 tries in a much better display of good running rugby and forward power. The forwards toiled all day to wear down their larger opponents with standouts right across the pack. Mention should go to Logan Pou who played the majority of the game out of position at No 6.

Scorers were Josh hardy with two, Travis Grady, Zac Lewis, Caleb Sione and Logan Pou. Jacob Symes knocked over another 3 conversions to take his personal tally to 10 pts for the game. Thanks to Langers for filling in and assisting David, who was even seen smiling after the game! Bigger thanks to Langers lovely wife Vonny for the treats, good to see you back at the rugby!

Players Player: Travis Grady

3 Points: Samson Lawson/Travis Gradey

1 Point: Josh Hardy and Will Taylor shared a point.

Back at home next Sat on Ladies Day against Royals, see you there!

Round 1 – Match Report – ViQueens

A strong win from the ViQueens to commence there campaign with pleasing performances across the Park. Wests started strongly to their credit, but in the end a wave of Red and White made their experience and quality count. Running away to a 41-0 victory.

Congratulation to the players on debut:

• Siena Edwards
• Martha Fua
• Erika Maslen
• Vika Ngata
• Shont’e To’a

In the votes this week:

3 Points:  Shont’a To’a

2 Points: Erika Maslen

1 Point:  Tayla Stanford