Vikings Scrape Home at Kiama

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2014 16 Kiama V VikingsIn an evenly contested round 9 Builders Club Premiership match at Kiama Showground on Saturday, Vikings managed to snatch victory in the dying minutes from Kiama to win 33 – 32. After being down by two at half time, and with a costly sin binning hurting Kiama, Blueys flanker Troy Tonkin scored wide out to put Vikings in front for the first time in the second half with less than three minutes to go. Both sides were perplexed by some confusing and inconsistent refereeing decisions during the match, but still managed a bonus point earning four try effort each.

Kiama had the best of the possession for the first fifteen minutes of the match but could only manage a penalty goal to full back Aiden Wade to take the lead at the sixteenth minute mark. Within minutes Vikings responded with a try to center Caleb Rae after a well worked backline move as Rae raced fifty meters to score beside the posts. A conversion by halfback Michael Maidment gave Vikings the lead 7 – 3 after twenty minutes.

With both packs failing to get the sort of go forward their coaches would have liked the teams continued to throw the ball around but poor handling on occasions and poor kicking let both sides down. Kiama were next to score when center Sam Moore got a turn over from Vikings and put busy flanker Michael Kauter in for a try for Kiama to take the lead 8 – 7. The lead was short lived however with Michael Maidment kicking two penalty goals for Vikings to take the lead back 13 – 8.

Kiama managed to pinch the lead back after veteran Fly half phone number library Michael Quinn was brought down just short of the line. After a couple of forward rushes at the Vikings line, little fullback Wade forced his way over to score. With Wade converting his own try, Kiama took a halftime lead of 15 – 13.

Wade increased the lead with a penalty six minutes into the second half but Vikings were next to score a try to even the match up at 18 all. After a succession of penalties enabled Vikings to gain field position, hard running fullback Andrew Barrett bumped off one defender and drew another to put winger Beau Midgley away to score at the fifty-three minute mark.

Kiama then played their best football of the match to score two tries and take what looked like a match winning fourteen point lead. Wade scored his second when Barrett lost control of the ball after making one of his blockbusting runs. Wade scooped it up and ran sixty meters to score. Three minutes later they were in again when big front rower Lindsay King Gee finished off a strong forward drive with a try. Wade converted both tries for Kiama to go to a 32 – 18 lead.

2014 17 Kiama V VikingsVikings were quick to respond with Nick Matts and Andrew Barrett prominent in the lead up play, replacement Matthew Barnes scored and with the conversion from Steven Sunderland it was game on again with Kiama leading 32 – 25.

In a major turning point in the game with nine minutes left, Kiama flanker John Wilkinson was sin binned by Referee Mario Cinello, after repeated infringements. Steven Sunderland kicked the ensuing penalty goal for Vikings to be just four points behind.

With three minutes remaining after a penalty deep in the Kiama half, Vikings quickly spread the ball from a tap with flanker Troy Tonkin finding the space to cross the line wide out on the left. Sunderland couldn’t convert the try but Vikings led for the first time in the half by one point.

Already with a twenty two point haul for the match, Kiama fullback Wade had the opportunity to steal the match for Kiama with a penalty goal attempt in the last minute. With his worst kick of the day going wide of the posts, it was Vikings who held on for a fortunate 33 –32 win.

For Vikings the return of Michael Ashby in the centers was welcomed as he had a strong game in attack with Flyhalf Nick Matts having one of his better games of the year. Kiama flanker Michael Kauter continues to impress with No.8 Leighton Cowley having a strong game as well. With twenty points under his belt fullback Aiden Wade can be happy with his game as well.

In the wash up though both coaches Shannon Fraser and Darryl Thomas would have been disappointed with both their sides failure to get any dominance up front.