The "only" 12 fit, available and willing players we had, attended the Kent 7's with a modest expectation in reality but a hope we could do well enough to hold our own against some stiff oposition and maybe reach the Quarter Final stages.

Well our expectations were beyond anything anticipated as the boys stormed through their pool games winning 33-0 against OE's B, 33-12 against Folkstone and 40-14 against Beckenham before an assault on Judds 47-0 in the Quarter Finals. At one point we had 5 "Jacks" on the field of play as well from our squad…… A bizaar and useless statistic but what the heck.

The Semi Final would be, we thought, against Blackheath but Tunbridge Wells, the event's surprise package, put pay to "CLUB" with a resounding 19-7 win which paved the way for us to then overcome Wells 26-7! Awesome. Another Kent final in the same season……almost unheard of.

Problem would then be fatigue and injury. Jack Baulch could barely move, Josh Penney just kept oozing blood all day since game one from his nose, Jackl Sanchez was limping around like a limping thing, Jack Powter had blisters, Alex Tagg was dead on his feet as were most of them keeping Mark Herbert very busy from the 1st kick off, and with a long wait before the final they could all sieze up more and we had OE's A's to contend with including Nick Tomkins home for the event.

E's had been the side to beat as they made mincemeat of Bromley and Blackheath on the way to the final both of whom were many people's favourites. Largely overlooked, the Vikings put up the best display of the day against E's but with an eventual loss of just 26-14 but we were leading at two points during the game as well and we genuinely thought the chance may have been there. We lost Stainsby with a closed eye and Penney with… yet more nose blood, in the process.

Considering our expectations and the amount of training we had done (like almost none), the squad were immense from 1 to 12 and we are immensely proud of them all.

They played "Sevens" the way Sevens should be played and incredibly kicking the ball just once in open play all day instead playing to the game plan with pace and ball in hand unlike many others who played a 15 man style game. Strangely this probably added a lot to the fatigue build up, running that hard all day is very difficult indeed.

So to Alex Tagg, John Stainsby, Jack Powter, Jack Herbert, Greg Kenny, Tim Carr, Jack Sanchez, Jack Jewell, Jack Baulch, Dee Adetosoye, Patrick Chidlow and Josh Penney, we offer massive congratulations for a performance out the top drawer.

Well done, magnificent and I would also like to thank Tony and Matsuyo Carr (Deck Chair Officers), David Childow (Tea Boy), Niki & Mark Herbert (First Aid & Water Boy/Girl and disgruntled Man Utd supporters), Tony Jewell (Nutrition Expert), Richard & Jan Penney (Stato's), Derek Kenny (Oposition Analysis) and Darren & Joel Wicks (Lager Officer) for attending the event and spending 6 hours of their valuable weekend on the sidelines with incredibly tenuous job descriptions and helping Shane and I with the event (thanks Mr & Mrs Herbert particularly, less tenuous roles indeed).

A long day, maybe not anticipated, but a pretty fruitful one nonetheless.

SO LONG THE VIKINGS.....THAT'S IT, THERE IS NO MORE GLORY!