NRC: Savaged Vikings seeking finals redemption
by Paul Cook -
When UC Vikings head coach Wayne Southwell spoke about the need for his side to find consistency ahead of last week’s clash with the Sydney Rays, another loss and the concession of almost 60pts for the second week in a row was not exactly the uniformity he was after. In fact, the 58-14 demolition was the Canberrans biggest margin of defeat since the NRC began.
That they were so abject in the opening forty minutes at Pittwater Rugby Park, against an admittedly red-hot Rays outfit who had racked up a 46-8 advantage by the break, was something the coach himself was struggling to comprehend at the full-time whistle.
“That was more than just disappointing that one,” a clearly bemused Southwell told Rugby News. “A really poor effort in the first half defensively obviously, with six tries to one, and it’s hard to put my finger on why, other than first-up tackles that should be made. There was a lack of communication in the defensive line in the first half, and tha