Vikings show improvement but beaten again (From This is The West Country)

Vikings show improvement but beaten again

1:30pm Wednesday 8th July 2009

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Rugby League South-West Conference: Devon Sharks 30, Somerset Vikings 22.

THREE defeats in a row do not make for pleasant reading for Somerset Vikings fans.

This was, though, a much better performance for a team in a transitional state against robust opponents on their infamous sloping pitch overlooking Torbay.

A more settled Vikings side gave a good account of themselves apart from a short, and match defining, spell early in the second half.

Mark Lees opened the scoring for the visitors and was successful with the conversion. The Devon Sharks hit back with tries from ex-Vikings star Ryan Chivers, who powered his way through a hesitant back line, Ed Cribb, and Andy Dutton.

A fine solo effort from Henry Roffe-Silvester kept the Vikings in touch and the powerful Simon Bellamy scored close by the posts to take the Vikings to 16-16 at half-time.

Then the disastrous second half opened with the Sharks taking full advantage of playing down the slope.

First Ollie Hill and then Matt Allanson were given too much room by the Vikings defence scored to open up a ten point gap between the teams.

A break by Chris Richards provided a chance for ace finisher Chris Hurley to reduce the arrears and for Lees to add the extras from the touchline but that was as good as it got.

Determined Vikings pressure saw Lees and Paul Clark held up just short of the try line but the final thrust was missing.

Then, with minutes left, Allanson was given far too much space on the outside and the wingman outpaced the cover to complete the scoring.

Sadly, it now looks unlikely that the Vikings will be unable to make the end of season playoffs unless other results go their way.

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