Bootnecks Unbeaten at Burnaby

The Royal Marines delivered an unrelenting physical performance against the Navy Regional Select side, securing a dominant 52-24 victory in a thrilling encounter.

Played under clear yet frosty skies, the game showcased the physicality, speed and passion that defines military rugby. From the opening whistle, the Marines imposed themselves, using their trademark fitness and aggression to seize control. Early tries from hard running around the gaps set the tone, however the RN Regional Select refused to bow out. Flawless lineouts, led by Hamish Michie, and well drilled forward pods ensured they left the opposition’s 22 with points every time they entered, with second row Pete “Scouse” Kewn forcing himself over the try line after some excellent phase play.

By halftime, the Marines led, having capitalized on loose Navy defence and exploiting holes around the fringes. The RN, determined to not go quietly into the night, came back after the halftime break with a desire to stretch the RM defence. Sloppy RM penalties allowed the RN a foot hold in the RM 22 and clear game management from 10/ 12 combo Christie Trehan and Luke Warrington saw the RN go over for another try from an audacious cross field kick, scored by the winger. Only a few minutes later, Navy fans dared to dream of a comeback when loosehead Alex Garton picked up an offload from one of his fellow forwards to score what can only be described as a truly breathtaking solo try that broke all stereotypes of the loosehead position. Picking the ball up on the edge of the RM 22, Garton accelerated away from the RM defence, breaking 2 tackles before casually stepping back inside the final RM player, to dot down between the posts, leaving the exasperated Bootneck clutching at thin air.

But the Marines swiftly extinguished those plucky RN hopes, responding with a flurry of tries in the final third. It is a tired cliché, but defence does literally win games, and this was evident as the RN struggled to cope with the RM’s continuous, aggressive running. For all the RN’s precision at the lineout, parity in the scrum and execution of phase play, they struggled to make one up tackles, and whilst the RM offered little in structured play, they relished the opportunity to run hard and fast at their opposition, scoring multiple tries against tired RN bodies. A special mention goes to RM 12 Tom Day, who pulled on the RM shirt for possibly his final time in the Corps, as he exits the service next year (see @tegscoaching on Instagram).

As the final whistle blew, the 52 - 24 scoreline reflected the Marines’ superior athleticism. The result underscored their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in military rugby, while providing valuable lessons for the Navy Select as they look to refine their defence and grow as a unit prior to their fixture against the Fleet Air Arm on December 11^th. For the spectators, it was a match filled with ferocity, audacity, and mutual respect – hallmarks of rugby at this level.

Words by G Trevor-Harris

Images by A Carter Humphries