VIKINGS COLTS CARRY THE COLOURS
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:21 am
vikings logo 0It’s been a pretty good year for the Blues. Four teams into the Semis. Three teams through to the Finals. One team through to the Grand Finals, this being our promising colts side.
The Finals played at Shamrocks Ocean Park last Saturday determined the match-ups in the Grand Finals next Saturday at WIN Stadium. These are Camden and Avondale in First and Second Grade, Tech-Tahs versus Avondale in Third Grade and Vikings having their last opportunity to turn the tables on Shamrocks in the Colts Fixture. The Third Grade Final last Saturday saw Avondale beat Vikings by 20 points to 5. Vikings Thirds have put on some very good performances during the season. Unfortunately this was not one of them. Poor ball security at point of contact amongst the forwards saw much of Vikings’ possession turned over. The resultant loss of continuity made it difficult for the back line to establish rhythm and Avondale seized every opportunity presented to it.
Avondale scored the first try following a misunderstanding phone number list the Viking defenders, but Vikings replied soon after with a try to promising flanker James de Salis to tie the score up at 5 all. Unfortunately for the Blues it was all downhill for Vikings for the remainder of the first half, with Avondale feeding off Viking mistakes and scoring two more tries, converting one for a half-time lead of 17-5.
With the assistance of a Southerly wind Vikings were more competitive in the second half but were still unable to reduce their error rate sufficiently to put themselves back into the game. In an effort to get things moving, Vikings tried to play “catch-up,” rugby rather than opting for composure and consolidation. Loose carries abounded and frustration followed. Vikings chances of a come-back were further reduced when one of the backs was quite rightly given ten minutes in the sin-bin for heatedly dissenting with a refereeing decision. Frustration is a powerful emotion in the heat of battle, but all rugby players must learn self-control as part of the package they bring to their game. I have yet to see a referee respond positively to abuse. Nor do they deserve it.
The only points scored in the second half were from an Avondale penalty goal giving them a 20-5 win and a passage into the Grand Final. Playing well for Vikings in the forwards were experienced prop Andrew Stanton, lock Nick McCauley and young flankers Blake Tolhurst and James de Salis. In the back line five eighth Shannon Fraser and centres Josh Devitt and Darcy Crane showed out. I have watched Vikings Third Grade with interest this year. The ways in which Michael Crane and Marcus Claridge, assisted by some older players have introduced so many youngsters to the joys of rugby both on and off the field have made a great contribution to Vikings Rugby Club. It will pay off.
Vikings Colts had a torrid time in defeating Engadine 26-19. Whilst happily conceding that Rugby is a physical game, I must add that the physicality has to be expressed within the Laws and spirit of the Game. Most Engadine players accept this restriction but there is a minority who still don’t get it. They do a disservice to their Club, a club which has the potential to become a force in the IDRU. A number of yellow cards were presented to Engadine players throughout as well as one red card.
The Finals played at Shamrocks Ocean Park last Saturday determined the match-ups in the Grand Finals next Saturday at WIN Stadium. These are Camden and Avondale in First and Second Grade, Tech-Tahs versus Avondale in Third Grade and Vikings having their last opportunity to turn the tables on Shamrocks in the Colts Fixture. The Third Grade Final last Saturday saw Avondale beat Vikings by 20 points to 5. Vikings Thirds have put on some very good performances during the season. Unfortunately this was not one of them. Poor ball security at point of contact amongst the forwards saw much of Vikings’ possession turned over. The resultant loss of continuity made it difficult for the back line to establish rhythm and Avondale seized every opportunity presented to it.
Avondale scored the first try following a misunderstanding phone number list the Viking defenders, but Vikings replied soon after with a try to promising flanker James de Salis to tie the score up at 5 all. Unfortunately for the Blues it was all downhill for Vikings for the remainder of the first half, with Avondale feeding off Viking mistakes and scoring two more tries, converting one for a half-time lead of 17-5.
With the assistance of a Southerly wind Vikings were more competitive in the second half but were still unable to reduce their error rate sufficiently to put themselves back into the game. In an effort to get things moving, Vikings tried to play “catch-up,” rugby rather than opting for composure and consolidation. Loose carries abounded and frustration followed. Vikings chances of a come-back were further reduced when one of the backs was quite rightly given ten minutes in the sin-bin for heatedly dissenting with a refereeing decision. Frustration is a powerful emotion in the heat of battle, but all rugby players must learn self-control as part of the package they bring to their game. I have yet to see a referee respond positively to abuse. Nor do they deserve it.
The only points scored in the second half were from an Avondale penalty goal giving them a 20-5 win and a passage into the Grand Final. Playing well for Vikings in the forwards were experienced prop Andrew Stanton, lock Nick McCauley and young flankers Blake Tolhurst and James de Salis. In the back line five eighth Shannon Fraser and centres Josh Devitt and Darcy Crane showed out. I have watched Vikings Third Grade with interest this year. The ways in which Michael Crane and Marcus Claridge, assisted by some older players have introduced so many youngsters to the joys of rugby both on and off the field have made a great contribution to Vikings Rugby Club. It will pay off.
Vikings Colts had a torrid time in defeating Engadine 26-19. Whilst happily conceding that Rugby is a physical game, I must add that the physicality has to be expressed within the Laws and spirit of the Game. Most Engadine players accept this restriction but there is a minority who still don’t get it. They do a disservice to their Club, a club which has the potential to become a force in the IDRU. A number of yellow cards were presented to Engadine players throughout as well as one red card.