Vikings vs SCU Marlins – Major Semi Final
The Viking Club will host the UMNCRU Grand Final at Oxley Oval on August 27, courtesy of the First XV’s defeat of SCU Marlins, 24–7 in the Major Semi Final. In a physical encounter the Viking team were behind 7-0 early but remained patient and weathered the student’s early onslaught and the tries eventually came, four in total to flyhalf, Snowy Kennedy, hooker Hamish McCormack, flying lock Agapei Eukaliti and the final effort by winger Rohan Toft. The Vikings will face the winner of next week’s final in Coffs between Marlins and Port Pirates who defeated Snappers 36-19 in the Minor Semi Final on Sunday.
The Viking Reserve Grade were the only Minor Premier team to not progress directly to the Grand Final losing at the death 20-21 to a late Pirate try. They will need to defeat Kempsey next week to have another shot at the Pirates on Grand Final Day.
The Viking Under 16’s team shared the exact same fate on Sunday losing to a late Pirate try to go down 12-17 in a game they should have dominated, the Pirates at one stage down to 12 players having three in the bin. Their season is now over.
18’s will join Reggies in Coffs next week after defeating the Grafton Redmen 29-12 on Sunday at Stuart Park. This talented team will go head to head with the Port Pirates in what will be a cracker of a match next week. The winner gets a chance to inflict the Kempsey team’s first defeat of the season in the Grand Final.