Vikings schooled by Brumbies Academy in PreSeason Trial

Vikings schooled by Brumbies Academy

Andrew Johnston

The Brumbies Academy has registered an emphatic 73-17 victory over the Tuggeranong Vikings in their preseason match played at Viking Park on Saturday.

In a match played in perfect conditions, the final result was never in doubt with the Brumbies Academy leading from start to finish, scoring 11 tries to 3 in an impressive display.

Australian Schoolboys representative Robbie Coleman was a standout for the Brumbies Academy, scoring four tries and controlling the match in attack.

Coleman, who along with midfield partner Ed Stubbs terrorised the Vikings defence, was understandably pleased by his teams' performance.

"The boys have been training together for five months now and to bring it together and put a solid performance in was really good," Coleman said.

In a scrappy opening 10 minutes Vikings had the better of the early exchanges as ill discipline cost the Brumbies Academy who conceded a number of penalties.

But Vikings were unable to convert their wealth of possession into points and it was the Brumbies Academy who struck first when Coleman finished off a length of the field movement to score his first try of the evening.

It was the beginning of a forgettable night for the home team as the talented Academy side ran in four more tries to take a 31-0 lead into half time.

The Brumbies Academy continued their good form after the break with Coleman brushing off defenders to score his second just two minutes into the second half before an easy try to Brett Hamlin saw the Vikings trailing 45-0 with half an hour still to play.

A pushover try to Vikings prop Pieter Van Der Merwe brought a cheer from the home crowd but it was to prove little consolation as the Brumbies Academy continued to score points at will with their last try the finest of the night.

Surrounded by defenders and with no time left on the clock, replacement back Brendan Taueki managed to soccer the ball forward twice before Dan Yakopo collected the rolling ball and barged his way over the line.

Vikings coach Glen Christini could find little positive in his sides performance.

"To be frank we were just absolute rubbish to be honest…it was just a mental attitude thing we just didn't listen, didn't execute so yeah pretty much an absolute write off," Christini said.

Vikings will need to regroup before their next match on April 4 against Gunghalin Eagles.

Brumbies Academy 73 (R Coleman 4, E Stubbs 2, T Melusula, B Hamlin, T Jones, D Yokobo; B Johnston 6/8 goals, Tyler 3/3 goals) def Vikings 17 (P Van Der Merwe, K Rech, D Auliitia ; C Wilkinson 1/3 goals) at Viking Park.