Sat 11 Oct 2025
As if the two Matevesi brothers gracing the first team pitch wasn’t enough to bring in the pundits, but it was 1st against 2nd as the Vikings made the short trip to the home of Syston 3s. For many it was a familiar trip, with no less than 12 of the away sides 20 man squad having called Barkby Road their rugby home at some point during juniors or adults. More than points were on the line.
The home side had much the better start. Vikings indiscretions cost territory and possession, and Syston were able to claim the first try of the game from an excellent maul. The story was the same at the end of the half. With Kian Wright & Mattie Lewis finding themselves in the bin for persistent team infringements the away side’s 13 men held out as long as they could, finally succumbing to the opponents pressure for a 7 point score. In between, the Vikings had the better of the play and twice could have gone over. First, the ball took a wicked deviation to the right denying Alfie Holmes from a kick through by Jon Griffiths. Then, Mattie Lewis knocked on over the line having beaten three defenders. At times it felt like it might be Syston’s day. However, winger Zak Loveridge broke down the right, fed prop David Startin who finally put in Jack Chantrell for the score – made in Syston, perfect by Sileby. The score at half time was 12-7 to the home team.
The first 10 minutes of the second half were a nervy affair; Vikings having to overcome being men down. Once they were over, it was a blitz. First, centre Nathan Thornton carried hard to the line of a scrum. Two phases later Mattie Lewis delayed his pass to put Startin into space. Then it was a question of executing a 3 on 2 then a 2 on 1. Loveridge went over in the corner. From the resulting kick off, what is surely to be a contender for try of the season. Dave Collison fielded the kick, darted towards the touchline and offloaded to Adam Mayes. Mayes then found the bounding prop Dave Tate. Tate offloading to Jacob Moore who was taken to ground. Then Jack Chantrell saw the space, executed the cross kick and Loveridge was in for his second of the game.
Delerium on the sideline. But it only got better. The Vikings were in possession on the Syston 10m. A hard carry from Player of the Match Dave Maguire tempted the home side’s cover defence into biting at a possible turnover. The backfield was exposed. Jon Griffiths burst through, touching down the kick from captain Ross Spencer. 12-28 with 20 to go. It was mainly defending from there on out, albeit it wasn’t until there was about 5 minutes to go before Syston found their way to close to the Sileby try line. A try saving tackle by Lewis held off the home tide; however he would then earn the ire of the referee and receive a second yellow card and an accompanying penalty try decision. However, it would not change the result – the full time whistle confirming that the Vikes would take all 5 points back to Platts Lane.
Jubilance. 4 from 4.
