Sat 12 Feb 2022, 14:15
In the Manx Plate Western Vikings edged out Ramsey B 52-36 in a try-fest at QE2 while Vagabonds Hornets overcame Emerging Nomads 34-7 at Ballakilley.
Vikings got the better of the early exchanges and were in front after six minutes. The earned a penalty five metres out from the Ramsey line and prop Josh Hockney crashed in for the opening score which Ryan Burke converted. Four minutes later the lead was doubled. A Ramsey goal line clearance was held up in the strong wind. Vikings skipper Ed Knight fielded the kick around the twenty two and offloaded to a charging Jack Goodwin who powered in for the first of his two tries. Burke again converted and the lead was 14-0.
Twenty five minutes in Ramsey’s Connor Casey got his side on the board. He broke down the left wing and weaved through two tackles to score. It was however his last contribution to the game as he was knocked out in the act of scoring and left the field.
With five to go till half time, Ramsey trailed by nine and felt that with the wind behind them in the second half, the game was winnable. Vikings however struck three quick hammer blows in those five minutes which effectively sealed the result. The Western backline hit its straps and after six phases the Ramsey defence was stretched to its limits and Toby Poole-Wilson slid through for his first senior try. From the restart Ramsey briefly flickered back into life when Danny Howard raced in for a long-range score and Darragh Pilkington converted. That was the end of the resistance though. Vikings regathered their own restart and Morgan Armstrong-Paton crashed in for the try and he was swiftly followed in by Ed Knight wide on the left. Burke added both conversions and when the halftime whistle went, Vikings were 33-12 in front.
As the second half started Ramsey applied pressure. Ben Harding’s wind assisted kick gave them field position and the pack drove for the line. The drive was turned over though and Ed Knight ran clear for Vikings. His offload found Poole-Wilson with a clear run in from fifty metres and the youngster was uncatchable. Ryan Burke added another conversion and the Vikings lead was 40-12.
The Ramsey comeback started in minute fifty three. Kieran Kneale and Danny Howard interplayed down the Vikings left flank with Howard applying the finish for his second of the game. Eleven minutes later after a period of pressure on the Vikings line, Ramsey full back Dan Richmond sneaked over from a quickly tapped penalty. Pilkington converted and the lead was 40-24.
Ryan Burke restored the Vikings advantage but two tries in five minutes from Ramsey centre Jake Richmond got the home crowd twitching. He danced clear of the defence wide on the right for his first and backed up Paul Carine to finish off for his second and when Dan Richmond chipped over the conversion the Vikings lead was 45-36 with five to play.
With some order needed in the Vikings team, veteran Mark Bienvenu stepped up. The replacement prop broke clear from the halfway line and when his drive ended he offloaded to Jack Goodwin who had too much pace and power and he slid in for the final try of the game. Brother Harry added the conversion to claim the win.
Vikings got the better of the early exchanges and were in front after six minutes. The earned a penalty five metres out from the Ramsey line and prop Josh Hockney crashed in for the opening score which Ryan Burke converted. Four minutes later the lead was doubled. A Ramsey goal line clearance was held up in the strong wind. Vikings skipper Ed Knight fielded the kick around the twenty two and offloaded to a charging Jack Goodwin who powered in for the first of his two tries. Burke again converted and the lead was 14-0.
Twenty five minutes in Ramsey’s Connor Casey got his side on the board. He broke down the left wing and weaved through two tackles to score. It was however his last contribution to the game as he was knocked out in the act of scoring and left the field.
With five to go till half time, Ramsey trailed by nine and felt that with the wind behind them in the second half, the game was winnable. Vikings however struck three quick hammer blows in those five minutes which effectively sealed the result. The Western backline hit its straps and after six phases the Ramsey defence was stretched to its limits and Toby Poole-Wilson slid through for his first senior try. From the restart Ramsey briefly flickered back into life when Danny Howard raced in for a long-range score and Darragh Pilkington converted. That was the end of the resistance though. Vikings regathered their own restart and Morgan Armstrong-Paton crashed in for the try and he was swiftly followed in by Ed Knight wide on the left. Burke added both conversions and when the halftime whistle went, Vikings were 33-12 in front.
As the second half started Ramsey applied pressure. Ben Harding’s wind assisted kick gave them field position and the pack drove for the line. The drive was turned over though and Ed Knight ran clear for Vikings. His offload found Poole-Wilson with a clear run in from fifty metres and the youngster was uncatchable. Ryan Burke added another conversion and the Vikings lead was 40-12.
The Ramsey comeback started in minute fifty three. Kieran Kneale and Danny Howard interplayed down the Vikings left flank with Howard applying the finish for his second of the game. Eleven minutes later after a period of pressure on the Vikings line, Ramsey full back Dan Richmond sneaked over from a quickly tapped penalty. Pilkington converted and the lead was 40-24.
Ryan Burke restored the Vikings advantage but two tries in five minutes from Ramsey centre Jake Richmond got the home crowd twitching. He danced clear of the defence wide on the right for his first and backed up Paul Carine to finish off for his second and when Dan Richmond chipped over the conversion the Vikings lead was 45-36 with five to play.
With some order needed in the Vikings team, veteran Mark Bienvenu stepped up. The replacement prop broke clear from the halfway line and when his drive ended he offloaded to Jack Goodwin who had too much pace and power and he slid in for the final try of the game. Brother Harry added the conversion to claim the win.
