GAGR’s Carl Unger headed down to Rat Park to watching his Rays battle the undefeated Canberra Vikings.
The NRC score-a-thons have rolled on with the Canberra Vikings taking down the North Harbour Rays 63-37.
Days of overcast conditions and rain had cleared in time for junior’s day at Warringah Rugby Park (aka Rat Park) and 3,000 people were on hand to watch some Saturday afternoon footy.
The last time these teams met it was a 21 all draw at Viking Park but with numerous injuries and gun players heading overseas to Europe the Rays were expected to cop a hiding from the Brumby laden Canberra Vikings team. On paper it was perhaps the biggest mismatch in NRC so far.
The paper got thrown in the bin early on with the Rays managing to get the best of the Vikings in the first quarter to bring the score to 24-8 but the sheer experience and skills of the Vikings became evident as they piled on try after try but every time they were about to put the match to bed, the Rays would answer back to keep themselves in the game.
Ordinarily when I do a match report, I like to detail each try, but when there are 9 tries to 5 scored with 100 points chalked up, I choose to spare the monotony.
Instead the basics:
- The try of the match went to the Rays when no.12 Reece Hodge threw a brilliant blind flick pass to set up winger John Porch who showed great speed for a try down the sideline.
- There were a total of 6 cards handed out by referee O’Brien which included 2 reds that were given to Tyrell Lomax and Nick Fraser for fighting.
- The Vikings pack put on a clinic at scrum time, far too experienced and dominant for the Rays.
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Game changer
The Yellow card to Harry Bergelin when the Rays had the momentum at 24-8.
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The GAGR MOTM
Many to choose from but Big Allan Alaalatoa gets the nod for his brilliant effort leading a dominant scrum as well as his strong involvements around the park.
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OZ Baabaa watch
A lack of uncontracted options at the Vikings means I look to the Rays and Marlins Mr Dependable Harry Bergelin, the brilliant no look flick pass makes up for the yellow.
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The details
UC Vikings 63 (J Butler 2, J Niumata, J Dargaville, R Arnold, N Ah Wong, I Vaea 2, F Fainifo tries; C Lealiifano 6 cons) defeated North Harbour Rays 37 (R Hodge, J Porch 2, D Pili-Gaitau, M Adams tries; H Angus 4 cons)
Photos courtesy of Tim Anger
