Round 10 Review:

Round 10 – Match Report – 1st Grade

After the week off, the Vikings were back at home to play Uni-Norths on the annual Sponsor’s Day for the club, while trying to keep the Hitchcock Shield in the Valley. The game also marked Captain Colossus, Cameron Holt’s 100th game for the club, which would see the Redmen run out convincing winners against the students to keep the number one spot on the John I Dent table.

Running with the aid of good breeze on a clear but coolish afternoon, the Vikings were first to trouble the scorers around the13 minute mark after some enterprising backline play and a smart kick from Lachie “Lippy” Davis that would see the wily Seamus “Mouse” Smith win the race to the ball to nab his 1st try of the afternoon, with JD Lealiifano adding the extras.  The game settled down with both team’s defense holding strong until the students grabbed a converted try to level the score with 10 minutes remaining in the half.  Clever play from half back Smith would see him snipe over for his 2nd try of the half to bring the half time score of 14 to 7 in favour of the Vikings.  Following a rather subdued 1st40 minutes, the boys were ready to up the tempo and physicality after an encouraging half time chat in the sheds.

It didn’t take long to convert field position and forward dominance to see Junior Time-Taotua scamper over for a converted try just after the break. After some great lead up play, Cameron “Hammer” Holt would do his best impression of a monster truck to smash his way through the defense and dive over to duly mark his 100th game to see the score skip out to 28 to 7 with plenty of time remaining.  The Redmen would continue to put the pedal to the metal with JD Lealiifano grabbing an intercept to then boot through for Smokin’s Joe Wadman to grab his own 5 pointer with just on a quarter of the game to play.  Next up to join the try scoring list, as he has done all season, was Slammin’ Sam Thomas to get another try for the season, with JD converting for a perfect 6 out of 6 conversions for the afternoon.  With time up, replacement winger Henry Palmer would blitz his way over for a brilliant try after standing up the defense to then see skipper Holt ice the conversion for a decisive victory of 49 to 7 in favour of the Vikings.

With the Hitchcock Shield safely in the cabinet for another week, the Vikings still remain undefeated for the season. Captain and centurion Cameron Holt would collect the 3 Points after a dominating display in the pigs along with the Player’s Player award.  Cheeky halfback, Seamus Smith nabbed the two points with a busy display with mercurial fullback, Lennix Tovo continuing his fine form to take the final point.

The Viking’s are back at Viking Park for the annual Charity Day next weekend, with Head Space as the Charity partner, as they take on the 2nd placed Wests Lions in what is going to be another ripper afternoon of rugby. See you all there…

Player’s Player:  Cameron Holt

3-2-1’s:

3 Points: Cameron Holt

2 Points: Seamus Smith

1 Point: Lennix Tovo

Round 10 – Match Report – 2nd Grade.

It was a beautiful sunny day in the blessed land of the Viking. Perfect footy weather for Sponsors Day with only the wind shooting off the mountains occasionally to remind us it was winter.

A strong start to Red with Harper Kemp “dotting down” in the corner in the second minute (Harps I’ve already told Dennis you owe him a beer for that one). This was followed up with a scything run from Andrew Robinson opening the gap between 13and 12 for an untouched try at 6:30.

A sneaky snipe from the base of a 5-metre scrum allowed the green 9 to dot down for Uni before some beautiful interplay between Dewy Hoare and Travis off the back of a Red scrum put Dash Palmer over from a sweet inside ball. 22-5 Red.

Scores remain locked as Referee Beissner channelled his inner Nic Berry to deny a try to Teapot Hargan 24 minutes in. Probably karmic balance for awarding Harper’s. Swaniso “running” off Travis’s hip 45 seconds later puts him over the line. 26-5.

31-5 at Oranges.  The second half saw the game dribbling to a finish of 43-20 in the red-men’s favour.

Tries: Dash Palmer (2), Harper Kemp, Robbo Robinson, Swani Puteho, Pappy Douglas and Jak Mac. Conversions: Teapot Hargan 3/5, Tommy Lachlan 1/2

Players Player:  Henry “Dash” Palmer

3-2-1’s:

3 Points: Andrew “Robbo” Robinson

2 Points: Henry “Dash” Palmer

1 Point: Ratu “Oscar” Maleli

Round 10 – Match Report – Colts.

We all had great expectations of a grand conquest against the Students on a Bluebird winters day at Viking Park and those expectations were very real up until the last 10 mins when it became a Rugba Leeg team up against a Rugby Union team (we had 3 sent from the field) and the inevitable happened – numbers too great out wide and they scored very late to win it 32-28– this was after we had every chance to hold them out and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But young minds see and think things differently and we will learn here.

After losing to them 12-11 in the first game this result was crushing – especially for the coaching and management staff.

Onto the positives, we attacked well in part and defended well in part but for some brain snaps and weird decisions we definitely had skin in the game.  We did manage to pickup 2 points from the game by scoring 4 tries and losing by less than 7 points.

Harry Davis was deadly in our lineout, and theirs as well, stealing plenty of ball! Captain Davis had a special moment in the game, scoring his first try for 2023 and getting off the nudie run – well done young man!!!

Matt Davis was duly industrious and was rewarded with 2 more tries. The scrum was again dominant and now needs to go into every remaining match psychologically tuned up to continue that dominance – well after the first shunt. As the Wallabies Scrum Doctor recently stated “ We don’t need angels at scrum time, we need to attack’

Jason Ayun had a good debut before being subbed at halftime, no doubt with more minutes under his belt he will be very dominant on the wing.

Goal kicking was off and valuable points were left on the Park and no doubt Taffy Symes will be analysing this in an effort to get his mojo back for the run into the finals. There are now only 6 games left for the Colts and even though we slipped from 2nd to 4th we are still in the game. Good to see big Caleb back on the paddock and hope to see Zinny Makene back on his feet soon. Peron ‘Ron’ Fiamalo will be a welcome addition to the squad after missing a few games injured, his enthusiasm will be obvious and welcomed. Restart against Wests this Sat at home!!

Players Player: Zac Lewis

3-2-1’s

3 Points: Jake Wentzel

2 Points: Soma Tuilagi

1 Point: Matt Davis

Round 10 – Match Report – ViQueens

Players Player: Zali Waihape

3-2-1’s

3 Points: Tabua Tuinakauvadra

2 Points: Sharon Waihape

1 Point: Lauren Freeman

Round 10 – Match Report – 3rd Grade.

Celebrating a significant milestone – George Uilelea after a recount or two – finally reaching Centurion status bringing up his 100 game:  a 50 meter tunnel of the Viking faithful ushering him onto the field. Well deserved for a popular player and clubman through and through.

Two owls playing Rugby. One owl said “Two Hits.” The other owl said, “Two hits to who?” However, “two-hits to who” didn’t prove Owl-inspiring as the Owls defence floated like a feather and stung like a one twit-twhoo – so said Muhammad Owlee. Eddie Waqa soaring with a quick double – at the 3 min mark and again at the 11-minute mark.

Five tries to Vikings within the first-semester (deja vue from round 5) showing the Owls our Vikings men had studied hard – proving to ‘know-it-owl’ in the return game, but it was an open book to see if our Red-Men had studied hard to maintain the efforts in the second semester.

Maleli showed what ‘Muhammad Owlee’ meant as he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee to cross the line after some excellent backs’ quick hands and silky light as a feather on his feet.

A fired-up Centurion George was everywhere hunting Owls making hits and looking for work –rewarded in the 24th minute scoring next to the posts after some sustained pressure and forwards pick and drive.  The loudest cheers from the bench and around the ground for George.   Granni Lukins rounded out the Vikings scoring in the half with a swooping visit to the try line.  With our eyes set on the break – Owls finally found an ‘owl-let’ for , their efforts crossing the line with a couple of minutes to go in the first semester. Half-Time 29-5 a copy-cat effort of our white squad brothers full-time score line.

A quick study break – with water, lollies and call to quieten down a certain ‘Owl-itating’ hooting-prop –  who was probably a frustrated half-back in a previous life – our red-men were a quick study on the game-plan to put the Owls to bed – calls to ensure we learnt our lesson from Round 5 to not let them back into the game.

Some hard-hitting defence marked the first 5 minutes of the second semester as our red-men looked to teach the students a lesson form the university of hard knocks – unfortunately some of the half-time lollies providing an extra sugar rush to both Tommy and the referee – a text book hard tackle deemed dangerous –Tommy with 10 minutes on the bench.   The red-men lifted a gear and took it to the Owls – Matt J revving up busting tackle running to faces instead of spaces and bowling over the hapless students in his wake as he made a now trademark run for the line:  try converted for a 36-5 buffer early in the second semester.  However, capitalizing on the extra player the Owls crossing the line with a converted try, scores 36-12.

The final 15minutes Vikings and the Owls traded blows next to score were the Owls – with tails up looking to get back into the game – however it was quick counter blow with continuing dominant effort from the Centurion to cross the line after an ‘owller’ of an error in the restart saw Vikings back in possession and rumbling up the middle once again deep in the Owls red zone.  George crossing the line for his second try of the day – the drop kick conversion by George unsuccessful – Vikings looking to seal the game 41-17 with 10 mins left on the clock – however the day wasn’t done for either side – Vikings to press home their dominance – Amani crossing in the final 2 mins to make it 46-17, however the Owls with a quick restart and reclaimed ball sniffed some opportunity to have the final say – crossing the line in the final minute, try converted for a final score of Vikings 46 – 26 Owls.

Players-Player:  There could be no one else – George Uilelea

3-2-1s:

3 Points: George “Centurian” Uilelea grabbed a double in his 100thmatch.  Immense across the park all game and after!

2 Points: Matt “waffles” Wafer

1 Points: Tino “winging-it” Lalofau

Round 10 – Match Report – 4th Grade.

Frosty Fours return to winners list.

A very cold early morning was soon forgotten as blue skies and a firm track welcomed 4th grade home to VP to start a big day of proceedings v’s the students. It was a dangerous game as Uni/Nths had defeated us last round and their youth, speed and fitness were likely going to be a concern again. Missing our dutiful manager and finishing prop, Ogre, who was busy as a one-armed bricklayer prepping for Sponsors Day, Ant Davies from 3rdgrade covered the job of keeping Trendy calm and focussed with aplomb, thanks Ant.

We shouldn’t have been so worried as the Redmen had really come to play; after an arm wrestle between the 22s for the first 12 minutes, we clicked into gear. The forwards led the way with a dominant scrum and direct carries from Tui Fokololo, Rob McNeil, new to flanker Ollie Kemp and skipper Nathan Hackett leading the way. The evergreen father time warrior Adam Meyer was the dominant player on the field (note: Adam last played for Trendy in the 2003 Reserve Grade premiership team, a mere 20 years ago). Ads was immense, winning lineouts, turnovers and chop tackling anything in blue or green (should never be seen). Supporting the dominant pack was the 1,2 combo of Jack Van Lohousen and Caelan Caldwell as scrum halves and Surrey Beaver Brandon Gatto at flyhalf. New player Brandon ‘Becks’ Mauava was a constant threat with ball in hand and Nathan Hutchinson ran for a million metres from fullback.

Players Player: Adam ‘Father Time’ Meyer

3 points: Adam ‘Father Time’ Meyer

2 points: newby Bex Mauva

1 Point: to our try scoring THP Robbie McNeil.

Honourable mention to our front row who all played full games. On to the paddle pop Lions next week.