HMS Sultan Narrowly Defeated by Reigate in 90th Anniversary Match

HMS Sultan RFC was honoured to be invited to Reigate RFC’s 90th anniversary fixture, representing the RNRU in what promised to be a spirited yet social game of rugby. Despite the challenge of gathering players for a weekend fixture, HMS Sultan fielded 18 players, ranging from rookies playing their first contact game to experienced representatives from the RNRU U23s and 7s squads.

Reigate RFC, fielding a mix of former Colts and veteran players, looked set for a competitive and friendly clash, but disaster struck early for Sultan. Just after kickoff, ETME Tabaka was forced off with an injury, leaving Sultan without any forward replacements. This setback saw several of Sultan’s younger players stepping up, recalling their youth positions in the pack to fill the gap at flanker.

The match quickly turned into a fiercely contested affair. Reigate applied pressure and, after 25 minutes of persistent attacks, finally broke through Sultan’s defence to score the first try. Both sides struggled with the weather as torrential rain set in, making handling difficult and leading to frequent errors. However, HMS Sultan found their response shortly after, with LET Williams powering through a gap to score. LET Ansley added the conversion, putting Sultan back in the game.

Reigate, undeterred, crossed the try line again just before halftime, leaving the score at 10-7 in favour of the home team.

The second half brought no relief from the worsening weather, with the rain continuing to wreak havoc on ball handling. Both sides battled hard, with errors and penalties disrupting the flow of play. Sultan’s young forwards, however, showed great resilience, holding up several of Reigate’s attacks near the try line. Eventually, though, Reigate managed to breach the Sultan defence once more, scoring a converted try to extend their lead to 17-7.

HMS Sultan didn’t give up, and their efforts paid off late in the match as they clawed back a try, but time ran out before they could complete the comeback. The final score stood at 17-14 in favor of Reigate RFC.

Despite the narrow defeat, HMS Sultan showed tremendous character and adaptability in tough conditions. LET Evans was named HMS Sultan's Player of the Match for his outstanding contribution. Special thanks were given to the referee, who kept the game flowing amidst challenging weather, and to Reigate RFC for their hospitality.

HMS Sultan hopes to return for a rematch, perhaps at Reigate’s centenary celebration, if not sooner.

Words by L Osman

Images by Josh Bunting