Vikings
Matches
Sat 20 Oct 2018  ·  SUSSEX DIVISION TWO - 'ARMADA ALE'
Worthing Azns.
3
66
Guernsey St Jacques Vikings
Vikings
Tries: N Alexandre (2), J Le Roux, L Collenette (2), J Regnard, C Croft, G Shannon, M Lomas, M SmithConversions: M Lomas (8)
Vikings score 10 tries in solid victory over Worthing Azurians

Vikings score 10 tries in solid victory over Worthing Azurians

James Mroch22 Oct 2018 - 13:29
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St Jacques Vikings maintained their 100% winning start to the season with a comprehensive 66-3 away victory over Worthing Azurians on Saturday.

They produced a strong performance after weathering an early Worthing onslaught in the opening ten minutes, to go on and score ten tries and demonstrate how lethal they can be at this level. Impressively for the second match in a row they kept their opponents from scoring a single try, and they were forced to settle for a solitary penalty kick.

The weather conditions were perfect for running attacking rugby, which is exactly the way Ray Smart wants his team to play, and they executed his wishes perfectly. The backs were in a lethal mood, orchestrated excellently by fly-half Matt Lomas they gave a lesson to the Azurians in how to make and take your opportunities. Fullback Leon Collenette was awarded the man of the match for an excellent performance, which included two tries as well as setting up several others, and demonstrating his rapidly growing experience for an eighteen year old man.

The game got underway with Worthing kicking off to the Vikings, and they were very up for the game and keen to cause an update. They applied pressure on defence and eventually earned a turnover, from where they were determined to use their forwards to try and bash through the Vikings defence. Whilst they were not making significant gains into the Vikings half they were retaining possession and eventually earned a penalty in front of the posts. The Worthing kicker missed with his attempt, but very shortly after they were awarded a second penalty and on this occasion he did not miss.

With ten-minutes near up on the clock the Vikings got their hands on the ball inside the hosts half for the first time. Matt Lomas identified space on the right hand side and quickly distributed the ball to the outside where it eventually ended up in Nico Alexandres' hands and the scrum-half made no mistake in leaving the defenders in his wake to get the Vikings on the scoreboard, scoring under the posts. Lomas added the conversion.

The Vikings never looked back from this position as they were in full control and quickly scored again. Once again they assessed where the space in the Azurians defence was, and after collecting the ball in their own half following a Worthing clearance kick, they attacked with pace and set winger Joe Le Roux free down the left hand touchline. He eluded the defenders excellently and managed to stay in field to score in the corner. Lomas was unable to extend the lead.

Worthing were continuing to have opportunities to attack, but struggled to find a way through the resolute Vikings defence. These opportunities were handed to them more frequently as the Vikings were ending up on the wrong side of the referees whistle, albeit some in the Vikings camp appeared to believe some of his calls were questionable.

Worthing were choosing to kick away possession on regular occasions as the line speed of the visitors was leaving them with little options. This played directly into the Vikings hands as fullback Leon Collenette was attacking straight back and making significant metres at will. It was from one of these breaks that he scored his first try, he jinked his way through the defenders eventually finding enough space to run free and score the Vikings third try inside the opening twenty minutes.

Almost immediately from the kick off following his last try did Collenette score his second try, and this one was from an expertly executed set move straight off the training pitch. Worthing kicked off and from a resulting ruck a phase later the ball was fizzed out to Lomas who short passed the ball to inside centre Lucas Barker, he took the ball flat to the line before passing back to Lomas who had looped around, and with the defenders held in the midfield Collenette stormed through on a excellently timed run to collect a short pass from Lomas and run through unopposed to score a great converted try under the posts.

With the Vikings in a ruthless mood, they continued their onslaught and Nico Alexandre grabbed his second try, however unfortunately in the process of scoring he was injured and had to be withdrawn. His try was exceptionally similar to La Roux’s, the Vikings expertly attacked the space down the left side and Alexandre had just enough space on the touchline and speed to avoid the defenders to dive over in the corner. However as he placed the ball a covering defender attempted to tackle him and dislocated his shoulder.

The Vikings were not done scoring for the first half and after the backs had scored every try so far, number 8 James Regnard made sure the forwards got in on the act. The big man scored from inside the Azurians twenty-two after he attacked the short side and there was no one able to stop him from there, scoring under the posts for a try converted by Lomas.

The half-time score was 38-3 to the Vikings, and with the performance they had produced so far there was little chance of them easing up, which is something Ray Smart has been trying to get instilled in his squad as on too many occasions previously they have become complacent after the first period.

In the second half the game opened up even further as the home defence became tired and bigger gaps were appearing. It was not long before the black and yellows further extended their lead, with young flanker Chris Croft going over to score after a good break, with Lomas adding the extras once more.

Prop George Shannon scored next after another big break by his colleagues in the middle of the park. He tracked the ball and was able to collect a good offload before bumping off a defender to score another Lomas converted try under the sticks.

Matt Lomas then got the opportunity to attempt to convert his own try, as the fly-half cleverly saw there was no defenders at home behind the defensive line and he chipped over the top only for the ball to bounce precisely into his hands as he chased his kick and he ran in under the posts before converting.

As the game approached the final ten minutes Joe Le Roux could have scored a hat-trick as he found himself on two occasions with plenty of space down the left wing and free of any would-be defenders, however the referee controversially on both occasions adjudged the pass to him to be forward and called him back.

Mitch Smith had the final say though as the second-row very similarly to Shannon tracked his colleagues as once again they made a break down field and was on hand to collect a simple pass to run in unopposed on the left hand side. Matt Lomas saved his best conversion attempt for last as he slotted over a tricky effort from the touchline to bring an end to the game.

It was a solid performance from Vikings who look to be improving with each game. They are next in action in the first home fixture of the season this Saturday, hosting Shoreham at the KGV, where they will hope to back up this performance in front of their home supporters.

B Paul
L Gardner (c)
G Shannon
M Smith
B Webb
C Croft
T Rihoy
J Regnard
N Alexandre
M Lomas
J Le Roux
L Barker
C Gladstone
C Le Prevost
L Collenette

J Mroch
A Lock
C Sullivan

Match details

Match date

Sat 20 Oct 2018

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

SUSSEX DIVISION TWO - 'ARMADA ALE'

League position

4
Worthing Azns.
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Bronze Sponsor - Deloitte
Player Sponsor - Barber Jay
Player Sponsor - Sacred Hand Tattoo
Player Sponsor  - Specsavers
Player Sponsor - Grant Thornton
Player sponsor  - Raise The Bar Fitness
Player Sponsor - GFF
Player Sponsor - Collas Crill
Player Sponsor - JW Rihoy & Son
Shirt Sponsor - Ravenscroft Stockbroking & Investment Management
Sponsor  - Granite Le Pelley