RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

Nothing beats joining a new team. On top of that, imagine pulling on a Navy Rugby shirt for the first time. Four players did so against Portsmouth RFC on Thu at HMS Collingwood as the home of Royal Navy Rugby, Burnaby Road was unavailable. So, a hearty congratulations and welcome onboard to Lauren Watson, Mia Edson, Evi Horne and Cerys Wright.

It’s all about the BZs at the moment, as a further three players returned for their second match. Daisy Lumsden, Olivia Buitanaseva and Katie Baines showed significant progress between the Devonport Services game and this match. They came into the game much more confident and picked up from where they left off.

Seven Senior players brought their experience to the squad. To better understand how different playing patterns could work, these players adopted new positions to allow coaches to see their potential while still providing the control and shape that their knowledge brings. 

Portsmouth Valkyries brought 25 players, including several development players of their own. The game was played in four quarter-periods to allow for team changes to happen in the breaks and not break the game up with lots of subs. The conditions were not suited to running ruby. It was a wet and windy evening, making continuity and go-forward difficult; both teams played admirably despite this.

Throughout it was a very even contest with a lot of the game played between the 22s. Both sides fronted up physically in physical defence but particularly Olivia Buitanaseva and Emma Maxwell in the pack. Portsmouth tried to play wide but a few excellent cover tackles by Cerys Wright and Daisy Lumsden shut down any attacks.

The second quarter saw the welcome return to action for prop Rosie Staples after she suffered an injury while playing for United Kingdom Armed Forces Rugby in New Zealand.

The only points of the game when the Valkyries scored a try with a fine back’s move late in the first half. The Navy responded through a break of their own led by centre Abi Ashby. But for a handling mistake they would have scored a certain try in the corner following a number of clean offloads.

The second half continued in the same vein and although the RN had the better of it. Managing to build periods of sustained pressure, an excellent carry by Rose Dixon ended when Lucy Honeybell was held up over the line. The RN continued to batter away at the Portsmouth line, but resolute defence by the Black and Golds kept the Navy out. The game ended abruptly due to an injury sustained by an RN player that led to a long delay.

Head Coach Sarah Jenkins was very happy with the progress made by both the team and the individuals on the pitch, with the newer players making a case for inclusion in the senior squad after Christmas. The Navy TSG would also like to thank HMS Collingwood for stepping in to host the fixture at very short notice and all those who changed plans and made it to the peninsula to provide excellent support and a great atmosphere for both teams.

The Development XV’s next fixture will see them take on Ellingham and Ringwood RFC at Burnaby Road on Wednesday 18 Jan 2023. This will be the last Development fixture before the focus of the Women’s season switches to the Senior XV and the build up to the Inter-Services.

RN (W) Development XV: Mia Edson, Rebecca Addis, Lucy Honeybell; Mel Cummins, Olivia Buitanaseva; Evi Horne, Emma Maxwell, Abi Sondack; Josie Panarby, Rose Dixon (c), Lauren Watson, Abi Ashby, Sian McLaughlin, Cerys Wright, Daisy Lumsden. 

Replacements: Rosamund Staples, Katie Baines

Images by K Woodland Photography