After weeks of intense preparation in their training camps, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Rugby Union teams met for the first matchup of the Inter Service Rugby Championships.
The Royal Navy Mariners and the RAF Vultures were first to come together in the opening match of the Veterans’ Rugby Union Inter Service series. The game ended in jubilation for the Royal Navy as they racked up a half century against the Royal Air Force at Devonport Services.
The Navy dominated the game, finishing the first half with a lead of an imposing 31-3. The Mariners continued the second half as they ended the first, scoring two tries in quick succession and finished the match on a huge lead of 57 points to 8.
Player coach, Olly James, said, “We were excellent on Friday; it’s been getting better and better for weeks and finally all the pieces lined up allowing us to display an entertaining brand of rugby against the RAF.”
Hoping to build on their success in the first round, the Mariners will take on the Army Masters at Rosslyn Park next.
Olly added, “The whole squad is driving towards becoming Inter Service Champions, part one is done. We will continue to work hard on our systems and plan to execute against Avon and Somerset Police in four weeks and more importantly against the Army on 12th May.”
Next up was the Royal Navy Women’s team who fell agonisingly short in their thrilling Brickfields encounter with the RAF. In a fixture that has seen several convincing performances from the RAF in recent years, it was time to see if the Royal Navy could rewrite the script by bouncing back from their 15-32 defeat last season, and they came within a whisker of pulling it off.
Head Coach, Sam Cuff, said, "Overall, another step up in performance but not quite enough against a very well organised and determined RAF team. We’ll learn our lessons, develop over our next two friendly fixtures and look to be at our peak for Twickenham."
The team fought hard and deserve to keep their heads held very high and they will take a great number of positives from the match, including the stand out performance of Olivia Critchley-Peddle who put in a lion-hearted display of tackling and competed for every loose ball or jackling opportunity.
Also now looking ahead to their historic matchup at Twickenham, the women’s team captain, Rose Dixon, said, "we’re gutted not to have come away with the win but I’m so proud of all of the women that took to the field on Saturday, they really gave it everything. There’s a lot of positives to take out of this game and we’re looking forward on building on this performance for the Army fixture."
To complete the score board, the Royal Navy Men’s team drew their Inter Service opener against the RAF in Plymouth.
The RN were looking to continue their momentum after an impressive victory against the Marine Nationale just ten days prior, while the RAF hoped to revive the success they enjoyed in 2018 by upsetting the odds in Plymouth and pushing on to win the championship against the Army in three weeks’ time at Gloucester.
With trench-like pitch conditions the match was hard fought and finished with a difficult score for both sides, of 13-13.
Team captain, Jarrard Hayler, said, "Disappointing result for us and definitely frustrating to end with a draw. Great fighting spirit from both teams and could not fault anyone on the pitch. A lot of lessons learnt from the game and we will be back much sharper and stronger come May."
All three teams for the Royal Navy and RAF now look forward to their upcoming matches with the Army and the Championship is still very much up for grabs for both teams.
