Fire Service Burns Brightly at Burnaby

The Navy Mariners stormed ahead with an early try, but the GB Fire Service rallied, exploiting defensive gaps to edge in front. Mitchell-Hegg and Boden struck back, yet a crucial Fire Service score before halftime shifted momentum. The second half saw grit over glamour, with the Fire Service delivering the final blow to seal a hard-fought 28 - 19 victory.

The Mariners started their match against the GB Fire Service with an electric opening charge, demonstrating sharp attacking interplay. Andy Kent, Roddy Rodelana, and Dane Waryck combined brilliantly to carve through the opposition and score under the posts, giving the home side an early advantage.

Both teams endured nervy moments in the opening stages, with handling errors and forward passes disrupting their momentum. The Fire Service initially looked like a side that hadn’t had much time together, but their fly-half, Mitch Pinkus, proved to be a key orchestrator and a persistent thorn in the Navy’s side.

As the Fire Service settled, they began to stretch the Mariners' defence, working the ball from one side to the other. Despite the Navy’s best efforts, they eventually ran out of defenders, allowing the visitors to cross the whitewash. The second try for the Fire Service was more emphatic, with the Navy unable to lay a hand on the attacking player, with the defence clutching at air.

The first half continued to entertain, though the Navy were left frustrated when a certain try went begging after a juggle near the line cost them seven points. Both sides relished the physical contest, and even typically dominant tacklers like Speedy Carr found themselves struggling to impose their usual authority.

Hugo Mitchell-Hegg struck back for the Mariners, levelling the scores after a well-executed lineout and forward drive, made possible by Cadywould’s pinpoint kicking. A forced substitution saw Colin Campbell replace the injured Rodelana, and Campbell wasted no time making an impact. Finding himself in space with support inside and out, he selected Ed Boden, who finished clinically in the corner.

However, just before the break, the Fire Service regained the lead in a crucial moment deep in the Navy 22. Boden was caught isolated under the posts, and the Fire Service capitalised to snatch a halftime advantage.

The second half was a more subdued affair compared to the thrilling first period. Whether both sides had emptied the tank or simply figured each other out, the match lacked the same intensity and execution. The only try of the half came from the Fire Service, who exploited a defensive mismatch to gas the last defender and extend their lead to 28 - 19.

The Navy was fortunate not to concede further, particularly when Campbell was shown a yellow card for failing to retire after a chip kick. Some tactical decisions also raised eyebrows, as the Mariners opted for tap penalties instead of kicking for territory—a strategy that may come under scrutiny when facing the Army and RAF in future fixtures.

Despite the defeat, the Mariners can take plenty of positives from their performance. Against a raw yet powerful Fire Service side boasting significant national league talent, the Navy showed they could compete at a high level. This match served as a valuable test, and lessons learned will be crucial as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

Mariners skipper Lloyd John said, “I think we lacked that final bit of finesse; we attacked in our shape and found the edge well (in parts) but lacked the final killer blow. Slight lapses in our defensive shape saw a great display of elusive running rugby from their 10. Without him Navy win comfortably.”

“The score may not be what we wanted,” said Loz Salisbury, “but the performance showed real progress from previous games. We had some things we wanted to focus on, and the lads did well in those areas. Of course, we have some areas we need to improve and tidy up before IS, but there was a real click between the lads that we haven't seen yet. After a disappointing last fixture, everyone finished the game having found their stride again and we're excited to get into our final warm up game before IS.”

The Mariners take on Havant RFC away on Wednesday 26 March, KO 1900.

Mariners: C Carr, C Carns, C Otway; H Mitchell-Heggs, I Scovell; L John (C), C Hart, S Hillman; R Cox, R Cadywould, B Jones, D Waryck, R Rodelana, E Boden, A Kent.

Replacements: S Winfield, P Manning, P Price, M Cormack, R Cozens, D Fraser, R Ede, C Campbell.

Words by J Campbell-Baldwin

Images by Cinnabar Studios