Late Penalty Seals Mariners’ Victory

On a freezing cold night in Plymouth the Royal Navy took on the Torbay Sharks for the second time in a week at the Rectory, home of Devonport Services RFC. This time it was the turn of the RN Mariners who faced the Sharks Veterans side. The week before the RN Academy lost out to the Sharks Combination side and so the Mariners were looking to restore a bit of pride and equal up the ledger on their second hit out of the season.

The game was end-to-end stuff from the first minute with the RN keeping their noses just in front from the start. Some barnstorming hard and straight running from the Sharks forwards and centres had the Navy defending early on but they managed to hold the line and broke away in the 10th minute with Steve Hillman getting the first score on the board after some good interplay down the left flank. Full back Matt Horton added the extras.

More big carries and scrum pressure from the Sharks found them in the red zone on several occasions in the next 15 minutes but stout defence, turnovers and a willingness to run from close to their own goal line gave the RN two length of the field tries finished off by scrum half Lewis Harris and second row Ian Scovell. One of which was converted by Matt Horton. However, the Sharks stuck to their task and were awarded a try of their own (which was some consolation for their near misses) when prop Matt Page went over with a few minutes of the half left, converted by Dan Force.

HT Mariners 19 - 7 Torbay Sharks.

The second half started much as the first had ended with the Sharks power game to the fore and the Mariners running the ball at every opportunity. But it was the Sharks that turned on the style for the first score of the half with some great continuity and phase play releasing Dan Force down the right wing to score.

The next try was again scored by the Sharks after with the Mariners being punished for a wayward pass behind their own posts dropped to the ground and was eagerly pounced on by the Sharks. Force added the simple conversion to equal it up at 19 - 19.

A period of entertaining rugby followed with both sides doing everything to get their noses in front. Some of the hits had to be seen to be believed and could be heard clearly from the top of the grandstand. Talking of which the supporters had a grandstand finish to the game with the Mariners scoring through second row Jay Hannon with 5 minutes remaining. The conversion was added by Matt Horton.

Depending on who you were supporting the next significant moment was either good game management or ungentlemanly conduct with the RN electing to kick a penalty at goal. A simple chance was taken by Horton while the Sharks players and TSG looked on in amazement watching a penalty kick for goal being taken in a vets match! Some good-natured banter followed but the RN will have to take all the chances they are given as they build towards the Inter Services tournament where every point will no doubt be vital if last year’s games are anything to go by.

The Sharks had the last laugh of the night as they scored another well taken try on the final whistle, the extras were added by Dan Force to cap off what was a great game of rugby by two well matched sides. Thoroughly entertaining stuff for those of us that braved the cold Devon night.

The Mariners will be pleased with their second outing of the season as they build towards their defence of the Inter Services title. With more players to see as the season progresses, they move on to take the Defence Academy in Shrivenham later this month (26 Feb).
FT RN Mariners 29 - 26 Torbay Sharks Veterans

Mariners: P Manning, C Carns, A John; I Scovell, J Hannon; R Cozens, C Carr (C), S Hillman; L Harris, A Kent, A NcCrohan, C Black, D Waryck (VC), S Mahony, M Horton.

Replacements: P Price, S Winfield, C Otway, R Hall, S Osbourne, K Baldry

Words by P Clark

Images by J Burt