‘Promotion to level seven has been long-term goal’ - Vikings coach

After a long hard season blighted by postponements – both weather and travel-disruption related – Vikings received the good news that their push for promotion from Counties Two Hampshire had been successful, well into the evening after their comprehensive 108-15 win over Chichester Seconds at Footes Lane.

‘It took about four or five hours after the game, before we got the confirmation that it was done, and it almost felt like a bit of a relief,’ said St Jacques coach Ray Smart, talking on the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast.

‘We normally like to be out there and win promotion by winning a game and you’re just celebrating at the end, so it was a bit weird, but just really relieved to get over the line and we can focus on on the rest of the season, which is the Fallaize Cup.

• Listen to the full interview with Vikings coach Ray Smart on this week’s Guernsey Press Sport Podcast

‘[The text] just came out of the blue, I thought it was my wife asking where I was, but it turned out to be the league and I just shouted across the bar that it was done. And that was it – enjoy the moment.’

Earlier that afternoon, Mitch Smith and Ed Duerden had both scored hat-tricks for Vikings in their victory over Chichesgter Seconds while Tom Bray and Jack Webber got a couple of tries each and there was one apiece for Darrin Bellingham, Tom Veillard, Keiran Williamson, Kieran Creber, Tom Creed and Cashel Cahill.

Smart added that the nature of that win emphasised the importance of going up a level for his side.

‘The first thing was to get the win and the guys were great. They went out and and really turned on a bit of style,’ he said.

‘They played really well. You don’t score 100 points if you’re not playing well.

‘But I think it’s also a reflection of the league we’re in that we need to go up. We don’t get an awful lot when you win by those margins and for the team coming over here and getting hammered, it’s not much fun for them either.

‘So all around, really pleased to go up. It depended on other results elsewhere just to go up on the day. Had it not happened, we would have got it on another game, so just nice to get it out of the way early.’

Promotion means Vikings will be playing at a level three rungs below Guernsey Raiders on the RFU ladder next season.

‘It seems a long time in the making, actually, so I think maybe getting this promotion takes us back to previous years and some of our previous aims,’ Smart said.

‘Actually getting to level seven has been a long-term goal, so to hit a long-term goal is a big milestone and we’re really pleased to get there.’