Round 7 Review

Round 7 – Match Report – 1st Grade

The Vikings were back at Viking Park to take on the Penrith Emus on a sunny but coolish day, with the team hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season. The game would turn out to be a very much one-sided affair with the Redmen running up a cricket score in their 17 try demolition of the men from western Sydney.

Running with the aid of slight wind advantage in the 1st half, the Vikings didn’t take long to trouble the scorers following a smart kick from fullback Lennix Tovo to a flying Lachie Davis to grab the 1st of his 4 tries for the afternoon. Sharp shooter JD Lealiifano would nail the conversion from touch in what would be a very successful day with the boot. Sam Thomas would soon score another of his trademark rolling maul tries before the Emus got on the scored with their own converted try around the 12-minute mark to take the score to 14 to 7 to Vikings. Fleet footed full back Lennix Tovo was creating havoc every time he touched the football. The scoreboard would continue to tick over for the remainder of the half with Max Ravouvou doting down for a 1st half hat-trick of 5 pointers along with Lachie Davis (again) and Junior Time-Tautoa adding to the try scorers list. Dead-eye JD would convert all 7 of the tries for the half as the Redmen trundled off to the sheds with a 49 to 7 lead over the Emus.

The 2nd half began with Vikings continuing to dominate the field position with that man again, Sam Thomas, grabbing his 2nd 5 pointer of the afternoon after more forward controlled mauling. The try scoring blitz would continue with Andrew Robinson, Jack Wright, Baden Stephenson, Joel Leiper, Junior Time-Tautoa (again) all managing to cross the line. Lachie Davis would nab another two tries with Titi Nofoagatotoa also grabbing a brace. JD would add 4 more conversion to his goal kicking haul of 22 points off the boot with debutant Tommy Lachlan grabbing a further 2 conversions. Penrith would grab two late consolation tries to see the final score of 111 to 17 to the Vikings.

With this overwhelming victory to complete the first round of the competition, the men in Red are now 11 points clear at the top of the table in the John I Dent Cup.

Twinkle toes full back Lennix Tovo would follow up last week’s effort to collect the 3 Points again along with grabbing the Player’s Player after another brilliant display. Barn storming no 8, Titi Nofoagatotoa grabbed the 2 points after his powerful game and work horse Baden Godfrey nabbed the final point.
After a wonderful evening enjoying the 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Red and White Ball, the Vikings now turn their attention to next week’s battle against the Eagles on their road trip to Nicholls in what is sure to be a willing contest. See you there…
Player’s Player: Lennix Tovo
3 Points to Lennix Tovo
2 Points to Titi Nofoagatotoa
1 Point to Baden Godfrey

Round 7 – Match Report – Colts

Always a sense of relief when the bus from Penrith rolls into the carpark, you never know if its coming or who is on it?

Foggy at first then cold where the conditions that greeted us at VP last Saturday for a later start than usual due to the unfortunate forfeiture by the Penrith 2nds. A changed line-up too with several regular starters left freezing on the pine (or steel in our case).

It was the Bushchooks who started strongly with a quick forwards try to go to the lead at the 12min mark 7-3 after a penalty goal to Zinny M who told me later he hadn’t actually practised any kicks till warm ups. Worked tho as he had a good day with the boot.

7 minutes later Tony L was driven over their line for us to take the lead back 10-7. At the 27 minute mark some very quick thinking and dexterity from Harry D saw him gather a knock on, flick it to the ever present Cooper W who then passed it to our guest player Henry P to dot down for the first of his 2 tries. First time this writer has seen an Emu trying to chase down a Bantam, Bantam won! With the conversion it was 17-10 to us. 4 minutes later after some wide ball and quick hands Henry P got his second, despite having the Bushchooks No 9 hanging off his arm for the last few meters to the line. The same Number 9 scored not long after that for Penrith with some of the quickest feet seen outside of the disco in the Penrith Leagues Club – he was in fact their best player by far.  At oranges it was 24-12 to Vikings.

A different Penrith came out at the start of the second half to rumble over next to the post making it 24-19. They then got another forwards try soon after to go to the lead 26-24 and some pundits were starting to think, holy heka surely we cant lose this one but…. that was to be the end of their scoring.

A missed line kick by Penrith saw a majestic salmon like leap in the air by Matty D who batted it back into the field of play for Henry P to run it before passing to Shane W to dot down in the opposite diagonal corner. Back in the lead 29-26.

Some very quick hands on their line not long after saw Corey T flop over and get off the nudie run – 36-26 and Penrith flagging big time..

Only 2 minutes later Shane W got his second after a very slick backline passing passage that had Coach Lealiifano giggling. Game over 41-26 and 3rd place on the ladder for us! Again, until changes were rung, our scrum dominated a solid Bushchooks eight that may have lacked height but made up for it in effort.

6 tries, 4 conversions and one penalty goal told the tale of the tape. As mentioned earlier Zinny got all cons and PG except for one by Taffy when Zinny went off. Coach Southwood was beaming after the game despite having to exit early to put his final decorative touches on the set up at the Realm Hotel for the ball later. Those flower decorations were a nice touch Coach. This meant he missed Wil T mangling the club song despite the words being right in front of him, he wasn’t so much out of breath (remember he sat in the naughty chair…again) but more his mouth was going quicker than his brain or so he claimed. Onto the Ball but those stories are for others to tell.

This Saturday we are out on the Tundra at Nicholls where let’s hope the sun makes an appearance plus we welcome back some of the troops missing through injury.

Players Player was shared between Shane Wilcox and Matt Levika.

3/2/1 was Henry Palmer & Shane Wilcox/Matt Levika/Zac Lewis

Round 7 – Match Report – 3rd Grade

A red-letter day for our third-grade side.  Certainly, a gutsy effort against a good side – From the KO Goulburn had their tails up thirsty for a win while we were a little off.

Goulburn drew first-blood in raid by their winger in the first five minutes.  Buoyed by early success Goulburn lift another gear and was under the posts again at the 10 minute mark with another try by the full back – their back 3 being good ball out wide after the Goulburn forwards put our red-men under pressure.

After the restart things went south quickly as dirty-reds lived up to their name – a scrum on the 10-meter erupting after some dirty play and words within the recesses of the scrum.  Vikings players clocked in front of the referee – yet only yellow for the Goulburn dirties yet red for Semisi for trying to avoid being hit again in a poorly executed jersey grab and duck and weave had a featherlike touch on the Goulburn players forehead.

Down to 14 men stout and strong – Vikings held out against a red-hot Goulburn side for another 25 minutes before the dirty-reds could breach our line –  the Goulburn No 8 crossing on the back of solid forwards efforts – and racking up 15 points for the game on the back of a strong boot.

With a strong defensive effort down a man – the toll started to bite – injuries coming think and fast as the bench was drained.  The importance of warm-ups stressed in the sheds after the match – with two injuries to players arriving late for warmup.

TJ Ikitau got on the board at the 51st minute mark – as the red-men found some space at last.  With trials up Vikings threatened the line a few more times but the late resurgence came too late – Aedan Billiards getting over the line with a sniping run right on full-time a drop kick quickly taken to get the restart – but the referee had seen enough.  Final Score Vikings 12 def by 35 Goulburn.

After 6 on the trot – we have come up against a better team on the day hungry for the points.  Goulburn will be the form team in the thirds comp. Plenty to take from this game – and some key knowledge to take into the last round rematch on the road.

Players-Player for third week in a row:  Matt Jolley

3-2-1s:

3 points: Malei Gadai – hard to stop and a defence champion chopping at legs all day

2 Points: Josh Davis – rugged and never taking a step back in the face of strong opposition.

1 Point: Aiden Billiards excellent defensively with Goulburn probing at the rucks – ran a marathon to get go forward when our forwards were met with stern resistance.

 Round 7 – Match Report – 4th Grade.

Big win for Frosty Fours – Farewell to Will Sanday

On a cold late autumn morning with very little sunshine, Vikings 4th Grade warmed up to take on the Dirty Reds 2nd Grade from Goulburn.

To be fair, Goulburn in this grade haven’t set the world on fire so far in 2023 and the trap was that we would believe we were in for an easy morning.

Sure enough, trap springs and Goulburn started like they were world beaters and despite our scramble defence being resolute and not allowing any score, Goulburn had all the territory and possession and were looking a side completely removed from their ladder position in the first 10 minutes.

Eventually, our frosty fours came to the party and with dominant carries from Matt ‘Waffles’ Wafer, Nathan ‘Skip’ Hacket, Tino Lolofau and Brandon ‘Mini Waffle’ Craig, the scoreboard started to tick over. Brandon Mini Waffle Craig was extremely happy to be off the nudie run, so happy that he ended up with a double scoring two cracking tries from close range.

Stephen and William Sanday had the honour of playing in front of their uncle, legendary Viking star John Sanday and both were eager to impress. William put many smiles on faces with a classic wingers try in his last game for the club (returning to study, in Fiji) especially his uncle.

Points continued to flow with a strong Ball Alive Game and James ‘Knighty’ Knight produced a rare feat – two tries for the second week in a row – a classic Double Double.

Brandon Gatto had his best game yet, controlling play with his direction to forwards and his backline, an astute general kicking and passing game and polished goal kicking.

Final Score after a nervous start ended up 54-5. This means two big wins in a row for 4ths who are now slightly ahead at the top of the table and will look to take on the greatly improved Eagles out at their picturesque nest in Nicholls next Saturday.

3 Points went to the dominant forward on the field in Matt Wafer. His mini me Brandon Craig scored two tries, two points and players player and Brandon Gatto received 1 point.