Navy Rugby’s Hopes of First Win Grounded

A strong second half secured the Royal Air Force Women a comfortable win over the Royal Navy at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. Given the level of Premiership Women’s Rugby experience in the RAF 23, it was understandable that they started the game as overwhelming favourites

But there has been plenty of evolution within the Royal Navy set-up in Sarah Jenkins’ 18 months in charge as Head Coach, and the Senior Service gave as good as they got in terms of physicality and character in this first Inter Service Championship match to be played in the East Midlands.

Indeed it took until the 18th minute for the deadlock to be broken.

With the stadium on the receiving end of a heavy shower the RAF kept play tight from a five-metre scrum. Centre Carys Morris got over the gain line, and with the Navy struggling to get into shape a path to the line opened up for number eight Ella Johnson to crash over from close range.

The second try came five minutes later, slick hands from the RAF backline sending winger Evie Longworth in at the right corner.

The quickfire 12 points put the RAF in control, but the floodgates did not open as the Navy stepped up their effort to hold the Light Blues at bay.

HT RAF 12-0 Royal Navy

The sun had come out by the second half, and the RAF took advantage immediately. Morris again did the damage, scrum-half Lucy Nye taking a neat offload to take play up to the Navy try line.

Tighthead, Elise Fletcher, grabbed the close-range score, and there was better to come for the Light Blues from the kick off. Nye’s defence in the wide channels forced a Navy fumble, and when Kim Grundy scooped up the loose ball the winger had a clear run to the whitewash.

Daisy Fahey landed both conversions and at 26-0 the contest was all-but-sealed.

“We left a lot out there in the first half, and I lost count of how many times we went into their 22 but came away with no points,” said RAF Head Coach, former Wales international, Sian Williams.

“I wanted the girls to go more direct and earn the right to play rather than over-use the ball. We’ve got to make sure that we don’t dip in and out of a game; we’ve got to be at that level from kick off for 80 minutes.

“Overall everything we worked on during the week the girls put together.”

Fahey added two tries to her personal tally before the Navy avoided the ‘nil’ with a Jessica Bryan penalty.

The game might have been long gone, but the Navy’s effort continued, and when Moira Douglass went over between the uprights five minutes from time it raised the roof.

“The Navy came out with all guns blazing, to be fair to them,” Williams added. “They put in some good hits and tested us in parts, and it’s good to see them getting better.”

Williams’ opposite number, Sarah Jenkins, paid tribute to the way her team maintained their effort and positive approach throughout the 80 minutes, “I’m very, very proud,” she said. “From the Marine Nationale game two weeks ago to now, we put in a hell of a performance. Our discipline, our attacking, we did well.

“We might have switched off at half-time, when they got two quick scores, but our bench came on and found the fire in their bellies. The girls re-lit themselves.

“We got 10 points after 70 minutes of work. I wish that there had been more points, but we also held their try up at the end, so that was a massive positive for us going forwards.”

Rose Dixon was positive adding after the game, “[It was] a really enjoyable occasion and a great ground to play at. Gutted to not come away with the win after playing some incredible rugby, but credit to the RAF team who put on a really good performance. I’m very proud of the RN women, I don’t think the score reflected just how well we played or how far we’ve come since the start of the senior season. It’s always an honour to take the pitch with them and it’s got us raring to go for the Army fixture at the Allianz in a few weeks!”

Senior Women: L Honeybell, E Bythell, J Bryan; R Staples (VC)⁠, Y Mealy; E Brightwell, R Sinclair, L Swain; S Tulloch*, R Dixon (C), J Banks, A Ashby, S Mclaughlin, J Parnaby, J Abel.

Replacements: ⁠R Addis, A Baker, T Haywood, J Shaw, R Tuvou*, M Douglass, F Mullett*, S Hill, F Mullett.

* Denotes new cap.

Words by C Wearmouth

Images by PPAUK