RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

In a highly-anticipated clash between Navy Rugby Mariners and Army Rugby Union Masters, the latter emerged victorious with a commanding performance, securing a 38-16 win. The match, held at the historic Rosslyn Park FC and sponsored by Palantir, showcased the physicality and skill of both teams, but it was Army Rugby Union who ultimately proved to be the stronger side.

From the early stages of the game, it was evident that nerves were affecting both teams, as Army Rugby Union missed a kick at goal, resulting in a midfield tussle. However, they quickly found their rhythm, capitalizing on a moment of brilliance from their second row Augustus Smith who executed a galloping run, eluding the defense and sliding over for the opening try. The score stood at 7-0 in favor of Army Rugby Union.

Undeterred, the Navy Rugby team displayed their determination to attack from deep, with Saberton and Hunt combining for a promising offensive play. However, doubts arose as the ball was judged to have been passed forward by Naulago. Nonetheless, Navy Rugby was awarded a penalty, expertly converted by Cadywould, narrowing the gap to 7-3.

The 26th minute saw a yellow card being shown to the Mariners due to an accumulation of penaliies. The Army Masters failed to capitilise onthis windfall. However, the Navy team missed a penalty opportunity, leaving them disappointed. This was quickly followed by another yellow card, this time for th Army, though Cadywould successfully converted the ensuing penalty, bringing the score to 7-6.

As the game progressed, Army Rugby Union struck again with a well-executed move around the ruck, culminating in a try that extended their lead to 14-6. The teams entered halftime with the Navy in deficit and needing to score quickest when the game recommenced.

The second half started with Army Rugby Union continuing to assert their dominance, scoring another try to further widen the gap to 17-6. Despite Navy Rugby's relentless efforts, they struggled to find a breakthrough against a resilient Army defense. Cadywould managed to add three more points for the Mariners with a penalty kick, reducing the deficit to 17-9.

However, Navy Rugby's hopes suffered a blow as they received a red card, reducing them to 14 players for the remainder of the game. With a mountain to climb, Navy Rugby showcased their skillset but couldn't prevent Army Rugby Union from scoring a further try, taking the score to 24-9.

The match became increasingly chaotic, with yellow cards shown to both teams and players suffering injuries or fatigue. The Mariners managed to muster a try, courtesy of Al Bodel, which was successfully converted by Cadywould. However, their joy was short-lived as Army Rugby Union swiftly replied with another try, exposing a missed tackle and absence of a sweeper. The conversion took the score to 38-16 in favor of Army Rugby Union.

In the end, Navy Rugby couldn't bring their 'A' game and fell short against the worthy winners. The match was a tough and bruising encounter played on a fast track, which favored the gameplan of Army Rugby Union. Despite the result, Navy Rugby can take pride in their great season and look forward to future successes.

Words by J Campbell-Baldwin; Images by Lee Crabb