Whitley Bay Rockcliff Vikings 29 – Newcastle Ravens 0
The Vikings got Rockcliff’s senior men’s season off to a great start with a 29 0 win against the Ravens in CANDY 3 North. Although the score wasn’t as close as last season’s cup game between the two sides, the Vikings still had to work hard for their win.
The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of James McKain, a former player and Chairman of the Ravens, who sadly passed away recently.
Matt Dunbar opened the scoring, touching down in the left corner at the clubhouse end after seven minutes. Andy Dunn scored a great conversion from the touchline for 7 0. The game was finely balanced for the next fifteen minutes but increasing pressure from the Vikings led to a line out on the Vikings twenty-two. A catch and drive move followed, and the Vikings pack drove over the visitor’s line and Michael Cooper touched down, unconverted, for 12 0.
Good defence from the Ravens kept the Vikings at bay until halftime, and when the second half commenced, the Ravens strove to get on the scoreboard, and it was the Vikings turn to defend.
The next score would prove to be crucial, and it fell to the Vikings. Fifteen minutes into the half, Liam Bowman and Fin Davison combined in a powerful surge up the midfield, and the ball was spun wide for Noah Thompson to score in the left corner of the Memorial end. Ten minutes later, from a quick tap penalty, Andy Dunn broke through the visitor’s defence to touch down at the posts. Michael Marvell converted for 24 0.
As the game drew to a close, Locky Vodden finished off an attack, scoring the Vikings fifth try of the game. There was no conversion. In a final flourish, a forward break from the Ravens looked dangerous, but the final pass went astray and the game ended with the score 29 0 to the Vikings.
Many of the match for the Vikings was Andy Dunn, and Stu Walker took the accolade for the Ravens.
This was a positive start for the Vikings after having had to scrap league fixtures last season. They’re next in league action away to Blyth Marauders on 13th September.
The Vikings got Rockcliff’s senior men’s season off to a great start with a 29 0 win against the Ravens in CANDY 3 North. Although the score wasn’t as close as last season’s cup game between the two sides, the Vikings still had to work hard for their win.
The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of James McKain, a former player and Chairman of the Ravens, who sadly passed away recently.
Matt Dunbar opened the scoring, touching down in the left corner at the clubhouse end after seven minutes. Andy Dunn scored a great conversion from the touchline for 7 0. The game was finely balanced for the next fifteen minutes but increasing pressure from the Vikings led to a line out on the Vikings twenty-two. A catch and drive move followed, and the Vikings pack drove over the visitor’s line and Michael Cooper touched down, unconverted, for 12 0.
Good defence from the Ravens kept the Vikings at bay until halftime, and when the second half commenced, the Ravens strove to get on the scoreboard, and it was the Vikings turn to defend.
The next score would prove to be crucial, and it fell to the Vikings. Fifteen minutes into the half, Liam Bowman and Fin Davison combined in a powerful surge up the midfield, and the ball was spun wide for Noah Thompson to score in the left corner of the Memorial end. Ten minutes later, from a quick tap penalty, Andy Dunn broke through the visitor’s defence to touch down at the posts. Michael Marvell converted for 24 0.
As the game drew to a close, Locky Vodden finished off an attack, scoring the Vikings fifth try of the game. There was no conversion. In a final flourish, a forward break from the Ravens looked dangerous, but the final pass went astray and the game ended with the score 29 0 to the Vikings.
Many of the match for the Vikings was Andy Dunn, and Stu Walker took the accolade for the Ravens.
This was a positive start for the Vikings after having had to scrap league fixtures last season. They’re next in league action away to Blyth Marauders on 13th September.
