Not many teams this season have matched St Jacques both up front and in the backs so far this season, but the English visitors on Saturday produced a meaningful challenge, and it took a very solid second-half performance from the home side to see them off.

Playing in their green-and-white alternate strip, Smart’s Vikings showed plenty of control in their performance, which will having be pleasing considering they had several regular players unavailable or playing for the Guernsey Raiders.

Both teams started brightly, but it was St Jacques who got on the scoreboard first, following a series of dominant phases which led to Darrin Bellingham driving over. Tom Veillard converted.

The Vikings were expertly controlled by Veillard at fly-half, whilst the performance of Will Forbes-Lee on the wing was a real standout. He was a real threat all game, and after missing all of the season so far through injury was a real boost to the side.

Both teams had prolonged periods of possession but it was not leading to scoring chances. United Services had a penalty attempt at goal, but this fell short.

Forbes-Lee very nearly scored after impressively showing great footwork to evade several defenders close to the left touchline, but he was stopped on the line. The home side knocked the ball on from that play, but very quickly scored.

From the resulting scrum the home side applied great pressure which led to Tom Creed charging down a box kick on the Portsmouth line, he managed to impressively gather the ball to score on his 50th appearance for the club. The conversion was missed.

On the stroke of half-time the mainlanders had another penalty attempt, but this was missed as referee Steve Roussel blew for the break.

The visitors started brightly in the second half, as they exploited some poor defending from the home side to score a good try, which was converted.

They very nearly scored again from the restart after showing some great handling to exploit an overlap out wide, before a forward pass derailed the opportunity when they were through to score.

In cruel fashion it was the Vikings who scored next though, after they kicked to the corner following a penalty. They drove close to the line with a good maul before Darrin Bellingham muscled his way over the line the next phase. Veillard missed the conversion.

With the wind at their sails the Vikings pressed on, and worked into the USP twenty-two through a penalty. They mauled towards the line, before Corey Wallis showed impressive speed and agility for a prop to evade the defenders and muscle his way over the line for the bonus point score. Veillard added the conversion.

The visitors had a great opportunity to score next from a 5m lineout, but Tom Yarwood managed to disrupt the lineout and turn the ball over. He then produced another hugely essential defensive intervention to deny the onrushing full-back who had kicked towards the line, just beating him to the ball over the try line.

Portsmouth were still a threat with ball in hand, they had good skills to find the edge of the pitch regularly, and were testing the Vikings resolve , but mistakes were preventing scoring opportunities.

St Jacques nearly had their fifth try after another dominant maul, but Darrin Bellingham was ruled to have dropped the ball in the acting scoring.

United Services did get to score that second try that they deserved, and what a try it was. They gathered the ball in their half, before racing ahead and kicking over the top, before collecting the ball to run in. No less than they deserved for a spirited performance. The conversion was added.

That was the final act of the game, the Vikings deserved their victory, but it was far from plain sailing against a strong opposition.

The win ensured they went top of the league, with a tough fixture against second placed Sandown & Shanklin to contend with next weekend.