The UC Vikings have defeated the CSU NSW Country Eagles 37-13 at Woollahra Oval in Sydney.
The Vikings Super Rugby experience was evident from the onset, as the Canberra side claimed a bonus point victory in their first match of 2015.
In front of 2,623 fans, the Eagles got off to a flying start as Mark Baldwin burrowed over from close range off the back of a Jono Lance line break.
The Vikings hit straight back off the ensuing kick off, as Rory Arnold picked up the scraps off a dropped ball and handed off to Lausii Taliauli who dotted over in the corner, bringing the scores to 8-8 after twenty minutes.
The Canberra pack barged over the Country line for their next score,with hooker Robbie Abel picking up the five points. Isaac Thompson converted, and the Vikings went into the half time break with an 8 point lead.
That ascendancy continued after the break, as fullback Thompson hit a nice line and crossed over for their third try of the afternoon.
A crafty grubber from Vikings flyhalf Rodney Iona set up Nigel Ah Wong to put down the Viking’s fourth try, seemingly pushing the game out of the Eagles reach at 29-13 with ten minutes to go.
NSW Country hit back quickly though, as last years leading try scorer Andrew Kellaway finished off a nice backline move, showing good speed to pierce the Vikings line from twenty metres out, capitalising on some tired Vikings legs.
A yellow card to the Eagles’ Ed Stubbs five minutes from time capped off a tough day for the home side, with the one man advantage enough for Vikings replacement dean Oakman- Hunt to barge over just after full time, giving the Vikings a bonus point victory.
The Eagles have a bye round three, with the Vikings taking on the Greater Sydney Rams at Viking Park in Canberra.
UC Vikings 37 (L Taliauli, J Butler, I Thompson, N Ah Wong, R Perry tries; I Thompson 4 cons) defeated NSW Country Eagles 13 (M Baldwin, A Kellaway tries; J Lance con)
