Round 8: Vikings First XV vs Kempsey Cannonballs

The Vikings First XV continued their unbeaten run in the UMNCRU competition thumping Kempsey Cannonballs 61-5. The Kempsey boys stuck it to the Viking pack in the early exchanges but lock Agapei Eukaliti proved to be far too skilful as the Kempsey lads began to tire. Agapei scored the team’s first try after 15 minutes. A tight head scrum win soon after and quick ruck ball saw Welsh import Tyla Murvai over for the Vikings second try and a 14-0 lead. Adam McCormack laid on the third 5 pointer putting centre Matt Fieldsend over out wide. The Vikings bonus point fourth try came in the dying stages of the first stanza when Kye Alpen was illegally flattened, sustaining a serious hand injury that saw him leave the field. A rolling maul from the lineout penalty showed the power of the Viking pack and Hamish McCormack scored the try. At oranges the Vikings were up 26-0.

In the second half Kempsey struggled to gain field position as wily fly half Snowy Kennedy continually turned them around with pinpoint kicks to the corner. Agapei scored again early in the half and after sustained pressure by the Viking pack Ags intercepted a Kempsey pass and galloped over for his third. Murvai scored again soon after then Jeremy Segol found the line after once again Kennedy made excellent ground with his accurate boot. The final Viking try came from a tight head scrum win where Ags picked up and split the defence as he had been doing all game, passed to Adam McCormack who deftly put Alpen’s replacement, Josh Crilley, over for the try.

The final score of the game went to Kempsey when from a quick tap inside their own 20 and a great offload they went the length of the field and scored under the posts. Summing up their afternoon the conversion from in front missed.

Another great team performance although Ags was an obvious standout in the match and justly received the Players Player award. Next week is the first local derby against the in form Pirates team at Stuart Park. Bring it on!