Deal and Betteshanger Forced to March to the RMBS's Beat!

Deal Memorial Match

Following on from the Holland Bowl Rugby 7’s tournament in May the players from the band service came together as one team to face Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club in the 34th Annual Memorial Match. An important fixture that remembers the musicians that lost their life in the Deal Bombing.

The Band gave the home crowd at USSG something to cheer about with a try, boosting confidence early in the first half with Deal fighting back to come level and keep things exciting. Strong carries from Cpl Jack Ballard and the forwards gave Musn George Prentice the opportunity to lead the back line into some well-rehearsed moves creating freedom for the Band's centres and wingers to produce a fast and exiting attack against a back-peddling Deal.

Kicking from LCpl Harry Yarnell and Musn McMillan saw 100% record off the tee helping the team push through into at 24 - 14 win over Deal. A huge thank you to David Halpin and VEOLIA Water for their outstanding support that is very much appreciated and is very important to us!

MoTM Cpl Fraser Wilkes said, “I'm over the moon to have played a part of this fixture, let alone score a try and get the man of the match award! I thought it was quite a physical game, and the boys got off to a good start. All credit to Deal they came back at us hard, and the tide definitely turned! It felt like we were clinging on a bit at the end but very proud that we clung in for the win. I look forward to next year's game!”

We remember: Mark Petch 24, Robert Simmonds 34, Timothy John Reeves 24, Dean Pavey 31, David McMillan 26, Richard Jones 27, Richard Fice 22, Trevor Davis 39, John A Cleatheroe 25, Michael Ball 24, Christopher Robert Nolan 21.

 

Words by Sam Hairsine

Images by Paul Meacham