Written by: Roberto the Great

Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay Vikings vs Natixis HKFC Dragons

The Vikings arrived at a scorching hot HKFC, after a hard and strenuous 3 months of pre-season, ready and eager for the encounter with the champions of the Premiership A 2018/19 season. Head Coach Thierry Barot and newly appointed assistance coach Ian Wilson, were optimistic about the teams readiness.

The crew of rapscallions return with Lawrence Tuck, Callum Tam, Jacob Rumball, Sean Casey and Jules Gallay bringing their expertise and experience into the forward pack, determined to become the best forward pack in the premiership A competition. Battle harden and most viking lookalike Jonathan CImmerbeck, leading the vikings for the first time, loads up the centres with Rodrigo Castanheira sitting comfortably on the wing after gaining some experience at the Premiership level from the Challenge Trophy. Hugo Denness, James Rees, Ed Nethersole, Karl Redmond, Thomas Guimbault and William Tope bolster up a strong reserves bench.

Players donning on the Vikings shirt for the first time were Talaiasi Toma (Lock), Cole Mosychuk (Flanker), Felix Bravi (Number 8), Tomak Tsang (Scrum Half), Jonathan Poon (Fly Half), Arthur Wagner (Wing), Maxime Guerrero (Outside Centre) and Alberic Renividaud (Full Back). From the bench Man Gangar (Prop), Victor Thomazo (Prop) and Edward Lee (Utility Back).

The Vikings started off well, phasing together several balls in the first half. However, it was football club to strike first with a snipe from the club scrum half 5 meters from the line. The football side ran in another two tries before the half time whistle, leaving the score 19-0 to the Homeside.

As the second half kicked off, the sandy bay side were determined to get back into the game. From a football club line out, an uncertain pass was picked up by hooker Callum Tam, cutting in towards the post. With football club defenders coming in, a pass connected to debutant and Canadian lumberjack Cole Mosychuk who slide in for his first try for the bay. Unfortunately, the kick was too wide for Ed Nethersole who was unable to convert the try. The club side hit back with an inside ball with no bay defender insight. The second vikings try came from French import Arthur Wagner, reading the play and picking off the pass from the club side; running from the opponents 10 meter to the try line untouched. The conversion was successful. Atlas, the well drilled football club side was too much for the fresh faced vikings, ending the game 36-12.

Overall, the game was a fantastic start to the season; showing both promise and optimism. Fitness and handling will be a main focus for the coaching staff for this weeks training sessions.

Coyote's man of the match: Cole Mosychuk

Come down and support the Vikings at their next game at So Kon Po with a 6:00pm kick off against the Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers 2.

#UpTheBay

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