To conclude the 2010-11 season Virginia 1st XV were playing the club’s over 35’s, the Virginia Viking. The Vikings took the pitch full of confidence after a convincing performance against the Emerald Warriors the previous week and still beaming from their 1994 Minor league title. In their rank features some players who made the legend of this club, Andy O’Neill, Malcolm Johnston, Packie McQuade, Douglas Kinkade, Ruari Gibney and others. Though due to a shortage of players in their pack the Vikings were reinforce by back rower Finton O’Reilly. The team captained by Kevin Cunningham, were fielding a good strong pack and a threatening pair of centres Johnston/Crowley. The Vikings were smelling blood, confident that they could take on a struggling senior team and register a memorable win.
On the other side the club 1st XV led by Captain Ben Gilmore were fielding their usual team Agasse, McQuade, Daly in the front row, Martin and Owens in the engine room, a nifty back row of Murtagh, Brady and Gilmore, Timmins and McNally as half-backs and the usual back-line of McLaughlin, Doughty Brady and Smith was bulked up by the addition of O’Reilly in the centre. The senior team’s approach was simply to try to quicken the game and put as many point on the board as quick as possible.
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Due to the lateness of Packie Mcquade and Douglas Kinkade the Vikings opted for the scrums to be uncontested but lifting was allowed in the line-outs, no kicking out of hands outside the 22m, after that all other normal rules apply (or so we thought). The defibrillator was on hand and the oxygen cans ready, the Over 35 were ready to roar! The Vikings started the game with the wind, the referee and both linesmen in their favour. Out-half Hugh Brady kicked-off, game on!
The first exchanges were fearsome with good tackles being put in by both sides and hard rucking also. The Vikings relied heavily on O’Neill and Johnston as ball carriers but each attempt to break the line were repealed by good defensive work from the seniors. Unfortunately the Vikings were not aware of the latest updates in the laws of the game and were happily piling up on the ball at ruck time; the slowing down of the ball remained unpunished by the referee playing into the Viking’s hands.
However on one occasion the official surprisingly awarded a penalty to the senior for an offence by English man Trevor Gordon, quick tap from prop Damien Agasse and the ball travelled through the back line hands up to Tony McLaughlin who fixed the last defender and passed to Stevie Smith for the first try of the day.
Decisions from the official were not helping the flow of the game, unsurprisingly the Vikings seemed to benefit from most of them. Despite the referee’s bias, the seniors managed to score their second try half way through the first act. It was a carbon copy of the first one where after good work from the forwards the ball reached out-half Gary McNally. He sent his defender into the nearby forest after one of his famous dummy-pass to set up Tony McLaughlin for a clear run to the line, try number 2. Try number 3 came from greedy Breffni O’Reilly forcing his way from 2 metres from the Viking’s try line after countless pick and go when there were acres of spaces wide and Ben Gilmore hugging the touch line calling for the ball.
The first half was wrapped up when, once again, speed merchant Steve Smith was released after a quick turn over ball. He out-paced the last defender and scored under the post. Even with their best effort and the referee‘s help, the Over 35’s were trailing 4 tries to nothing at half time…
The senior team made a few changes and gracefully decided to remove their fastest man on the pitch to even up the game. In the other corner of the pitch Team manager Pat Mullen stepped in for the Vikings and decided on a change of approach. The master tactician reverted to a proven formula that brought so much silverware to the club at under age level…Mullen aka the Irish Napoleon is an Armagh Blitz multi winner at U10 and U12 level!! He urged his players: ”Lads put it up the jumper and maul your way down the pitch! And if it’s doesn’t work give the ball to Andy or Malcolm!”…this approach was seconded by Douglas Kinkade “Aye, feck that running! I’m knackered” he said. Everybody else nodded still gasping for air.
In the mean time the referee was brushing up on his law book…
In the second half the senior team lost a bit of shape due to the constant rolling of substitutes on and off the pitch, whilst the pack was holding on the back line lost a bit of sharpness. The Vikings put into practice their coach’s tactic and put their hand on the ball for long periods of time to the delight of the crowd. The seniors held well and repelled maul after maul. Then after 15 minutes in the second half the seniors managed to score their fifth try of the day. From a line-out on the right hand side of the pitch the ball was sent to centre O’Reill y to crash and fix the Viking defence. Two rucks later the Vikings defensive line was inexistent then McNally throw a long “flat” pass to Captain Gilmore who was once again hugging the touch line and screaming for the ball for at least the previous 5 minutes. Try number 5.
The Vikings had the upper hand for the last quarter of the game, once again well helped by the referee. From a good line-out catch they started possibly the longest rumbling maul ever, that would even make Munster supporters drool! The Vikings huffed and puffed egged on by the spectators and an over enthusiastic Thomas McQuade! Finally after what seemed an eternity and after countless “truck and trailer” offenses kindly ignored by the official they reached the senior’s try line. A few pick and goes later Fintan “the traitor” O’Reilly extended his long arm to ground the ball! The crowd erupted and the Vikings exulted!
Both teams pushed hard for the last few minutes of the game. With only few minutes to spare club treasurer Ruari “Bob” Gibney extracted himself from a maul and started to run along the side line. The tongue was out, the left arm extended, the ball tucked under his right arm and up he went. After a magnificent hand-off on Ben Gilmore only 40 metres were left between him and the try line! Unfortunately the escape only lasted for 5 metres, the time for Ben Gilmore to get up, brush the dust off his shorts, fix his hair and catch up with Gibney to tackle him…After few more exchange the ball went out and the game was over. Good game overall and good craic on and off the pitch.
