Ray Smarts’ side were made to work hard in the most part for the victory, but ultimately scored 8 tries (7 of which were converted) against the team placed third in the league. Midhurst had travelled over with only 16 players, and after several injures they were reduced to playing with 14 players for a period before Blair Campbell excellently in the spirit of rugby, opted to play for the visitors for the second-half.

The result meant the Vikings have now not lost a match for a whole year, with Holbrook the last team to beat them back in November 2017.

It was not the perfect performance however from the Vikings, as they lost their shape during long periods of both half’s and found it difficult to string multiple phases together which frustrated the Vikings coaching team. In the final 20 minutes though they did finally start to build phases, and not surprisingly this was when much of their best rugby of the afternoon was played and they moved the wet ball around the park excellently and ran in several late tries.

Guernsey Colt Phil Le Noury was award man-of-the-match at full-time, which was a reward for an excellent display on the right wing for the young player. He scored one try and played his part in several others and was a menace on attack all afternoon, whilst he valiantly put his body on the line in defence all game.

The moment of the match was most definitely Mitch Smiths' try in the first half though. The second row who has scored 5 tries already this season, scored potentially his best try ever. After collecting the ball in midfield inside his own half he squeezed through the narrowest of gaps in the defensive line, before dispatching several would-be tacklers to sprint free of the covering defence which included the winger and full-back, and had enough in the legs to storm under the posts unopposed. It was a try any back would be proud of, but to be scored by a second row was quite marvellous.

The Vikings forwards were dominant, particularly in the lineout and scrum. They scored the first try after only a few minutes from a catch-and-drive lineout, where after gathering the ball well they thundered over the line with an excellent maul to score.

They scored a second forward dominated try from a 5m scrum not too long afterwards. The Vikings forwards produced an excellent drive with veteran prop Dave McGall spearheading the drive before captain James Regnard was able to touch down the most simple of tries over the line. He would go on to finish with two tries in total, and is now the Vikings leading try scorer with 9 in total for the season so far. From the try-scoring scrum Midhurst lost their hooker to injury and they game switched to uncontested scrums for the remainder.

By the end of the match the try scoring was completed with efforts from Lucas Barker and substitutes Brad Webb, Johan Greenberg and Cashel Cahill.

Whilst it was not the best performance from the Vikings, they scored 8 tries in total and showed when the settle into their shape and built phases they played some excellent rugby which will have pleased their coach’s.

Next up is Holbrook this Saturday at the KGV, 1.30 KO.