The Coastline Credit Union First XV scored a gutsy 17-5 win over Mid-North Coast Zone rivals Kempsey Cannonballs.

Early in the game, centre Joe Tonkin claimed an intercept and sprinted 50m to touch down. Grant Popplewell added the extras for a 7-0 lead.

Great smooth backline hands from Lee Riske put Tonkin over for his second try. Although the conversion was waved away, the Vikings led 12-0.

A nice run, and subsequent pass, by Simon Dunn set up a scoring opportunity for second-rower Paul Hardy. Popplewell missed the kick and the advantage remained 17-0.

A 10-minute sin-binning reduced the hosts to 14 men just before the break.

Luckily for the Vikings, the Cannonballs failed to capitalise on the extra player.

The second period was a scrappy affair with lots of possession changing hands.

But, it was a Kempsey try that had the Cannonballs in with a sniff at 17-5 - with eight minutes on the clock.

However, a brilliant tackle from Phil Robinson kept the Vikings in the game.

This inspired his team mates to hang on and prevail 17-5.

Robinson received the three best and fairest points, with Dunn claiming two and youngster Tonkin snaring one.

Hardy picked up the players' player.

The Bartercard Second XV started strongly with speedster Andrew Barnes scoring in the 12th minute. He increased that to 7-0 following a successful kick.

Plenty of scrums and lineouts tested both teams.

It was that man Barnes again, who grabbed his double in the opening half, displaying too much speed for the opposition.

He converted for a 14-0 lead.

A Vikings' five-pointer, in the 28th minute to youngster Blake Owen, pushed the team in front 19-0. Barnes made no mistake with the shot at goal, giving the hosts a 21-0 margin at the break.

A push-over from Nick Ward, converted by Barnes, enabled the Vikings to surge ahead 28-0 early in the second stanza.

The Cannonballs finally had something to smile about though, posting points to trail 28-14.

Another double, including a brilliant effort by a flying Geoff Isaacs, plus a further Barnes goal saw the Vikings move to 40-14.

Kempsey replied with a consolation try to make the final score 40-19.

Barnes gathered the players' player honour after his 20-point haul.

Tom Morgan also played above his weight and Ward collected the coach's award.

The Coast 2 Coast under 18s suffered a 32-8 loss at the hands of the Cannonballs.

Ironically, it was the Vikings who started the scoring spree, courtesy of birthday boy Matt Purdy.

The Cannonballs fought back but were denied a try, thanks to Hastings' winger Mitch Hetherington, in the ninth minute.

Soon after, the visitors levelled up at 5-all.

And, from that point, the Cannonballs dominated proceedings, leading 15-5 at half-time.

Following the break, the Vikings fired up and a Blake Owen penalty reduced the deficit to 15-8.

Unfortunately, that's as close as the youngsters got to the Cannonballs.

Kempsey then piled on the points with tries in the 35th, 40th and 42nd minutes to record a 32-8 victory.

Owen played well, as did Nathan Goss, but Hetherington received both the players' player and coach's awards.