Second grade started the game with some very strong defense and it looked as though this game was going to be a cracker. Josh Dennis laced up the boots for his first game in the green and gold in many years and boy did he turn the clock back with the trademark 10 crash and stepped his way over the line.
Shoals hit the front. The next 40 were a highly contested passage of play with both sides ripping into each other. Vikings scored to get them level with the shoals. Shoals then got a penalty and looked to Tom sims to put them back in the lead and as “Welshy” would say “I could have hit that from 50 easy” and put the shoals up 10-7.
The last passage of play was very even and some missed tackles had lead to Vikings making there way down the field. Vikings went over in the final 2 mins to close the game out 10-14.
Very hard fought game and 2nds should be very proud of there efforts. Standouts Alex Adams, Ben Dennis and Josh Dennis.

First grade shoals kicked off there season with a very good game against the Vikings and from the starting whistle it was very competitive with no points coming until the second period of play.
Harri Hibbs was very unlucky after a lot of penalties to be given a yellow card. The first half was very exciting with lots of opportunities but both teams had perfect scramble defense. Vikings opened the scoring with the first grade Shoals tiring from so much defense covering up from Harri being in the bin. Vikings 5-0.

The Shoals hit back with a lot of ball kept in hand as we powered up the field. Penalty to Shoals 10 out and Sam watts was off to the races headed towards the posts catching the Vikings offside and giving shoals the advantage. Before Sam could pass the ball: like a seagull on a chip Angus Maddinson stole the ball from him and dived over to score right next to the posts.
Vikings 5 - Shoals 7.

The struggle for dominance continued and it was swinging from Shoals to Vikings as the game continued. The Vikings were next to strike with a string of penalties handing Vikings good field position and the pressure built Vikings crossed and got back in front.
Vikings 10- Shoals 7.

With the game getting closer and closer to finishing shoals got a chance with a scum on the Vikings 22 with the Brandon boys lined up the left side. Sam got some sloppy ball from the scrum and passed it to me as I was moving towards the defense and I stepped a few and put Marky away down the wing to go over untouched.
Vikings 10 - Shoals 12.

The game wound down and the another rough call sent our new recruit Lachie to the sin bin for a “tipping” tackle which was very unlucky.

The ball got kicked down the field and Vikings attacked straight away and got a nice play down a short side to snatch the lead with the clock almost expired.
Vikings 17 - shoals 12.

All in all a great game from the Shoals and much improved from start to finish.
Standouts the Irish contingent David Priestman, Michael Raftery and Aaron McDonnell.