This was a day that Rugby League history was made in Somerset. South Somerset Warriors played host to the Somerset Vikings at Ivel Barbarians RFC. This was to be the first ever competitive Rugby League match played between two Somerset sides, as well as being the first ever league game for the South Somerset Warriors.

The Warriors had a squad of 19 players to choose from whilst the Vikings only had 12 players available. Warriors Alec Plunkett selflessly stepped forward to play for the visitors. Warriors had the perfect start when Jon Humphrey scored a penalty after only 11 minutes. It was not to last as the Vikings started to get into gear. On 19 minutes they scored a try through Chris Richards.  The try was converted by Jason Holmwood. The match then went through a see-saw period as both sides tried to dominate. The Warriors were trying to adjust to a new style of play and link up with new team-mates. Joe Donnelly made a break from inside his own half for the Warriors but was tackled into touch just a few metres out. Warriors came back and scored their first try through full-back Aaron Hunt, the conversion coming from Captain Lee Jones. Then the Warriors moved up a gear and scored another try through Craig Moffatt, again with Jones scoring the conversion. The score was evenly balanced at this point, with the home side leading by 14-6. Then, in injury time the Vikings scored two more tries with one conversion. Vikings were showing the class they had in their ranks with Chris Richards, at dummy half-back being very influential with team-mates Tom Claydon (Viking’s Man of the Match) and Nick Francis working off him to great effect. They had vision to have strong running and passing and tackling with great effect. Warrior’s were not to be outdone with Rob Burnell, Hunt, John Clay and Head Coach Richie Metcalfe all putting in big hits, running lines and drawing in the tacklers.  

Half-Time     South Somerset Warriors   14       Somerset Vikings   16

The second half started with both sides starting to feel the effects of the heat. Three minutes in and Warriors had a chance to re-take the lead, but unfortunately Jones missed the penalty opportunity. This spurred the Vikings on and they scored another try with conversion to extend their lead. The strong running Rob Burnell then picked up the pace broke through the defence and scored under the posts, with Jones again adding the extra points. The game was back on. Warriors then scored another try through Paul Moretensen, Jones adding the conversion. Within a couple of minutes Richard Thompson had added another 4 points with a try, but Jones missed the extras. This was not a problem though as Warriors were finding gaps in the rapidly tiring Viking’s lines. Their reserves of energy and use of interchanges allowed all the points in the remainder of the match to come from the home side. This was where Warrior’s fitness, teamwork and attacking options began to dampen a spirited Vikings fight-back. First Aaron Hunt added another try to his earlier score; Jon Humphrey took over the kicks and scored a conversion. Next it was Dave Newcombe’s turn to get the 4 points, but Charlie Marr missed the extras. Then Jon Humphrey kicked into gear. He secured a try and conversion double, taking the Warriors’ score past the half century. Then came one of the wonder tries of the match, Metcalfe took hold of the ball and ran, and ran and ran. He scored under the posts, with Humphrey’s scoring the extra points. The final score of the game came from Warriors’ Man of the Match

Full-Time     South Somerset Warriors   64          Somerset Vikings  26