Rugby: Drama as late penalty seals win for Vikings against lead leaders

Monday 18 March 2024

Matt Lomas was the hero for St Jacques Vikings on Saturday afternoon, as the club captain kicked a dramatic late penalty to secure an impressive victory over the league leaders Sandown & Shanklin.

On a damp day on the club pitch at Footes Lane, the game saw the lead change between two evenly matched sides several times, before the result was decided in the 80th minute from Lomas’ boot.

The Vikings were humbled by the visiting ‘Hurricanes’ in the Isle of Wight in December, so this game has long been earmarked as a chance to put that right.

Chris Croft got them on the board early after the home side started quickly, playing with intensity that had Sandown struggling to contain them. Gearoid Lee made a break into the Sandown twenty-two, and several phases later Croft forced his way over. Lomas added the conversion.

The visitors had some early chances with the ball in hand, and they were showing themselves to be well organised. They tested the Vikings defensive line repeatedly, but the home side were resolute.

The Vikings looked like they extended their lead after prop Darrin Bellingham powered his way over the line. But referee Richard Smith adjudged the ball to be held up.

The St Jacques forwards were having a busy game in the first half, being made to work hard to gain territory. Jacob Smith and Tom Creed were two of the big men getting through a lot of work, both causing issues for the Hurricanes.

After again working their way into the Sandown twenty-two, it was Dan De Kock who powered himself over the line to score. Lomas converted.

Sandown & Shanklin narrowed the gap with a straightforward penalty kick.

As the half wore on the Isle of Wight side were growing into the game. With momentum behind them they are a formidable team, and with this pressure they eventually cracked the Vikings defence to cross the whitewash. The try was converted.

St Jacques lost De Kock to an ankle injury shortly afterwards, he had until that point been a thorn in the visitors side with strong defence and important carries.

The play was mostly all Sandown at this point, they continued to have the ascendency and were showing good phases with solid handling in difficult weather conditions.

They made this count once again as they exploited space on the left, to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving a slender one-point lead for the visitors at the break.

Both sides started brightly in the second period, but indiscipline from the home side was costing them territory.

The visitors made this count once again following a set piece move from a lineout that got them into the Vikings twenty-two. From there they moved the ball out wide and touched down in the corner. The conversion was successful.

St Jacques needed to score next, otherwise it could have ended up being a long afternoon for the black-and-yellows.

They got just that after their forwards made many metres from a driving maul. They marched towards the line before being stopped short. But Creed was able to powerfully force his way over in the corner after some quick hands from flyhalf Tom Veillard. Lomas pushed the conversion wide.

Smith was having one of the games of his life, as he was continually the man the Vikings turned to, to gain territory. 

Unsurprisingly it was Smith who scored next after another sustained assault by the Vikings. Lomas converted the score to give them a four point lead.

Sandown came back with another try, but crucially the conversion was missed, leaving the visitors one-point ahead as they game drew towards the conclusion.

Ray Smart’s side had to score, but they were in their own half. They had their half-backs Pierre de Garis and Tom Veillard marshalling the side expertly, as they looked to retain possession and make yards.

They went through multiple phases as the forwards worked tirelessly to get them within scoring range, before referee Richard Smith awarded a penalty 30 metres out in front of the posts, following a Sandown infringement at the breakdown.

Lomas stepped up to take the vital kick with the time up, as Footes Lane fell silent. He calmly slotted the kick over as the crowd roared to celebrate the comeback.

Sandown left with two bonus points, which may yet prove to be very important in the title race.

The result narrows the gap on the league leaders in Counties 2 Hampshire to twelve points, with St Jacques having two games in hand over them, and four to play in total. Next up for Smart’s side is a trip to ninth placed Fordingbridge on Saturday.

VIKINGS: Bellingham, Le Noury, Bray, Creed, J Smith, Croft, De Kock, M Smith, de Garis, Veillard, Lomas, W Creber, Le Roux, Forbes-Lee, Lee. Replacements: Wallis, Williamson, K Creber.

Guernsey Raiders left Canterbury empty handed after a 33-19 loss in National 2 East. 

They had trailed 19-0 at the break, but came back to try and hunt down a bonus point. Ethan Smith scored two tries and Tom Ceillam one, but it was not enough.