The match got off to a bright start for the home side, as Matt Lomas-Lloyd slotted a penalty inside five minutes after Sandown were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck.

Early possession was shared, with both teams looking to strike first through open play. Will Forbes-Lee, making his first start of the season, wasted no time getting into the game with a sharp break through the Sandown line – the first of many in a standout performance.

The opening try came soon after. Following a penalty deep in Sandown territory, the Vikings kicked to the corner and executed a well-controlled maul from the lineout. James Mroch touched down at the back. The conversion was narrowly missed, but the Vikings led 8–0.

Sandown responded strongly and nearly capitalised on a loose clearance kick, but the ball was knocked on just short of the line. They came close again moments later after a scrum turnover, but solid defensive work from the Vikings forced a maul and held the ball up out wide.

Despite long spells of possession, the Vikings couldn’t add to their lead, and it was the visitors who struck next. Sustained pressure eventually led to a converted try from close range, bringing Sandown back into the game.

With the visitors building momentum, they looked set to score again, but Kieran Creber showed superb awareness and athleticism to intercept a pass on his own 5-metre line, snuffing out a certain try.

That moment proved pivotal, as it was the Vikings who landed the next blow. From a scrum near halfway, the hosts launched a slick set play. Forbes-Lee broke the line and offloaded out the back of his hand to Creber, who raced home from 40 metres to finish off an outstanding try. Lomas-Lloyd converted expertly from the touchline to give St Jacques a 15–7 lead at the break.

The Vikings looked to build on their lead after the interval and nearly struck early. Corey Wallis made a strong break, and Mitchell Smith was on hand to finish it – but the final pass was judged to be forward.

St Jacques kept the pressure on and were soon rewarded. After a period of sustained possession, captain Tom Veillard spotted a gap and executed a perfectly timed ‘show and go’ to glide through and score under the posts. Lomas-Lloyd converted.

Sandown hit back with two scrum penalties to build pressure and eventually scored a converted try from close range after multiple phases.

Lomas-Lloyd responded with a penalty, but Sandown capitalised on a mistake at the restart when Chris Croft was turned over in the tackle, and they scored again. Another conversion brought the visitors back to within four points.

The Vikings then mounted a key response. Gearoid Lee made an excellent break down the right, and the ball was quickly recycled before Creber was stopped by a high tackle, which earned Sandown a yellow card.

From the penalty, St Jacques worked through a series of tight carries before Croft powered over from close range. The conversion stretched the lead to 32–21.

Still not out of it, Sandown used a scrum inside the Vikings’ 22 to force another score, narrowing the gap once more to six points heading into the final moments.

But the dramatic finish never materialised, as Lomas-Lloyd added his third penalty of the match, ensuring the hosts came away with a deserved nine-point win.

Will Forbes-Lee was named Man of the Match, marking an impressive return to the side with several key breaks and an assist for one of the tries of the match.

The result continues the Vikings’ positive momentum and lifts them to seventh in the Counties One Hampshire table, with one game left to play. A final-day victory over New Milton could see them climb even higher to close out the season.