In a game of two halves, Richmond Vikings showed grit and determination to secure a dramatic 26-24 victory over Barnes in a pulsating encounter at the RAG.

The first half was a scrappy affair, with neither side able to gain a clear foothold in the contest. Errors and turnovers dominated the early exchanges, and the game struggled to find rhythm. By the halftime whistle, the Vikings found themselves trailing 0-12, needing a significant turnaround in the second half.

After regrouping at halftime, the Vikings emerged with renewed focus and a much-improved mindset. They clawed their way back to level terms at 12-12 before a crucial moment swung momentum. A split ball in the Vikings' 22 gifted Barnes an opportunity, and they capitalized, dotting down to retake the lead at 12-17.

Refusing to back down, the Vikings piled on the pressure. Barnes were forced into multiple goal-line dropouts, desperately trying to clear their lines. Finally, the sustained intensity paid off. Attah displayed superb footwork along the touchline before offloading to Burne, who cut back inside and dived under the posts. With the conversion added, Richmond edged ahead 19-17.

The drama continued. From the restart, Richmond kicked loosely, allowing Barnes to reclaim possession. A series of kicks back and forth ensued before Barnes mounted an attack that exposed gaps in the Vikings' defence. They surged through to score, adding the extras to move back in front at 19-24.

But the Vikings weren’t done yet. A misjudged restart saw Barnes kick the ball into touch, gifting Richmond prime field position. From the resulting lineout, Gallen made a surging break and linked up with Xav Hastings, who powered over 10 meters in from the touchline to level the scores at 24-24.

With the match hanging in the balance, up stepped Tom Smith. With ice in his veins, he calmly slotted the decisive kick, sealing an incredible 26-24 comeback victory for the Vikings.

James Brooks summed up the performance: “After a slow first 40 minutes the boys showed great character to bounce back and get the win scoring some great tries.”

Special mention to the two props, Judge and Ayodele, who both put in a monumental effort, playing the full 80 minutes!

The Vikings play at the Richmond Athletic Ground on the 1st March against Bishops Stortford!