An extract from the Vikings web regarding the weekends game.
The Tuggeranong Vikings’ first grade team have put on a breakdown clinic to smash Uni-Norths at ANU North Oval.
The visitors conceded the first points after the Owl’s Sam Irwin nailed a penalty kick in the opening minutes of the game. The Vikings didn’t stay behind on the scoreboard for long, with Jake “the Snake” Knight finding space and connecting with Ernest Suavai who scored the first try on the left wing.
The story of the day often reads differently depending on which side of the fence you stand on, but even Uni-Norths players would admit to making too many unforced errors on a sunny afternoon. The Vikings made the hosts pay for their handling errors but weren’t immune to ill-discipline, giving away two yellow cards at different stages of the afternoon.
Vikings prop Sione Taula was sent off for 10-minutes for a high tackle within the first 20-minutes of the game. Irwin narrowly missed the penalty kick attempt, but made up for it moments later when Vikings conceded another penalty.
Tuggeranong scored three tries from the half-way line thanks to clever breakdown work by Iosua Tonga and Ben Hyne. Knight finished off the first when flyhalf Isaac Thompson split two forwards nearly 20-minutes into the game.
The try meant the Vikings regained the lead. The men in red would stay in front for the rest of the match, going into half time ahead 19-points to 6.
The Vikings welcomed back scrumhalf Joe Powell, released from Brumbies duties, for the first time in the season. Powell was replaced by Uni-Norths player Michael Dowsett on the bench for the Brumbies, making it a double blow for the Owls.
Tuggeranong scored almost immediately after half time and then again within a few minutes to stretch the lead to 33-6.
Knight had another opportunity to show his slippery pace deep into the second half when he linked up with Suavai again. Suavai made a break from the Viking’s try line and ran to half way before offloading to Knight who finished the job.
Vikings young guns Tyrell Lomax and Jordan Jackson-Hope missed the game, named in the Australian under 20s team to play in the UK in June. A reshuffle of the backline gave another Vikings prodigy his first start in the top grade – Sam Giltrap making his debut in the number 15 jersey.
Powell was the second Vikings player to be handed a yellow card for the afternoon, on this occasion for a professional foul. He would return to the field but not before the Owls found the chalk for the first time and only time through skipper Dave Bennett.
With the score 45-13, the Owls didn’t give-in to a fast Vikings outfit, particularly the young front row of Isileli Fa, Tom Read and Max Bode – all of whom are 20-years-old. Coach Tim Sampson made a number of changes late in the game and the fresh legs proved too much. The final score, 52-13.
Tuggeranong host the Queanbeyan Whites at Viking Park next Saturday afternoon. Its ladies day and the Vikings will be raising money for injured player Nikki Ayers, in hospital after dislocating her knee in a pre-season trial in March. Tickets are $30 before the game or $40 at the gate to assist in the fund raising efforts for Nikki.