Vikings find a way to win

Tuesday 16 January 2024

St Jacques Vikings came from behind to scrape an important win on the road.

After a strong first half showing from Tottonians, Ray Smart’s side responded to win by just one point, 33-32.

Playing on a narrow and short pitch, Tottonians made perfect use of their home surroundings to get off to a great start.

They scored the first try of the match after having worked themselves into the Vikings 22. 

Their impressive fly-half Robbie Searle was controlling the tempo well and getting his players on the front foot, before distributing wide to take advantage of space left by the Vikings to score an unconverted try.

Vikings responded quickly and it came from what is proving this season to be a potent attacking weapon, their driving maul. 

Having won a penalty, they kicked up field just inside the Tottonians 22. 

James Mroch delivered the ball at the lineout and was on hand to regather at the back of the maul, which marched the home side back towards their line. Mroch remained on the ball until a few metres out before driving over to score. Lomas converted the try. 

The home side regathered the lead through a straightforward penalty, before scoring two further unanswered tries, taking advantage of some weak defensive efforts from the Vikings.

As half-time approached Tottonians added another penalty to take 25-7 lead at the break.

The impact of the Vikings bench was going to be needed in the second period, and they had to find more if they had any chance of getting back into the game. 

They found the desired impact through the introduction of Dan Brown. The big second row was a menace when he entered the action, making several marauding carries to get the Vikings back onto the front foot, as well as securing two quick turnovers. It was no surprise that it was from one of Brown’s forward charges the Vikings scored first in the second half. 

He gathered the ball inside the home teams’ 22, from where he powerfully saw off four would-be defenders to force his way under the posts. Lomas converted the try. 

The black-and-yellows were now starting to show why they never feel out of a game, playing much better rugby both with and without the ball.

Taylor Quate was producing an inspired performance in the centres, with big important tackles and making metres with the ball in hand. He would later be named man of the match. 

The Vikings narrowed the gap after a break from Tom Veillard. He found space in the Totts line and charged though, before kicking ahead for Quate to chase down. He was stopped short of the line, but Mitchell Smith was on hand to pick up and dive over the line for an unconverted score. 

Both Ivan Donaldson and Joe Le Roux were now on the field from the bench, and they had an impact on the game. 

Quate may have just missed out on scoring earlier, but it was not long until he got a chance to put that right. 

The Vikings had a lineout 25m out, they gathered and drove towards the line before the maul stopped. 

The ball was passed out to a waiting Quate who showed impressive footwork to evade several defenders and score. Lomas converted and the Vikings were in front again. 

Having defended so well in the second half, the Vikings then slipped up as Tottonians found a gap in their line which they exploited to maximum effect. 

They charged upfield, rounding the final defender Gearoid Lee to score under the posts. Searle converted to put them back in front by six points. 

But Vikings were creating opportunities as the pressure began to tell. 

From the base of a scrum 10m out, the St Jacques no 8 Mitch Smith picked up and was quick enough to evade the defenders to score close to the posts. Lomas added the vital conversion and the Vikings again had the lead by one point. 

Tottonians were not done in trying to create an opportunity to win the match, but the Vikings stood firm.

As the game came towards the end Le Roux suffered a head injury that forced a lengthy stoppage in play. He was swiftly attended to by the Vikings medical team, and eventually left the field on his feet much to the relief of everyone at Water Lane. 

Once play restarted Pierre de Garis gave the Vikings a final chance to put the game to bed. The scrum-half spotted a gap down the blindside which he quickly exploited and charged towards the line. He was halted just 2m out and bundled into touch, as the referee blew for full-time. 

After the match Head Coach Ray Smart was a relieved man, having seen his side score 26 points in the second period.

“We were not great in the first half today, we had to have a very honest chat at half-time, and thankfully the guys responded well. We came out firing in the second-half and got three tries back quickly. I was really pleased how the lads responded, and with the heart they showed to get themselves back into the match.

“We know this league is competitive, but it says a lot about our guys as they find a way to win, they’ve got great desire. To find a way to come back into the game, and to not make mistakes at the end of the game is great habit to have. We just have to work on not putting ourselves in that position moving forwards.”

Next up for the Vikings is a home clash with Locks Heath Pumas on Saturday. That match will be on the club pitch at Footes Lane, kick-off is 1.30pm. 

St Jacques sit third in Counties 2 Hampshire, six points off Sandown & Shanklin in top spot, but having playing a game less.

St Jacques Vikings: Wallis, Mroch, Bray, Williamson, J Smith, Webber, Yarwood, M Smith, de Garis, Lee, W Creber, Veillard, Quate, K Creber, Lomas (c); Brown, Donaldson, Le Roux

All pictures by Murray Palmer.