Combined Services XXXVs (31) v OSD Spartans (5)
Match report from 7 November 2009 A wet Saturday afternoon in Cardiff and from the kick off the CS XXXV's are put under early pressure from the Spartans (South Wales Police), working the blind well the winger goes over in the corner, 5 minutes played, 0-5. A good tackle from Paul Dix stops a quick follow up attempt and the next 10 minutes are spent weighing each other up, the first two changes see Taff Evans and Paul Clark on for Mark Reed and Dave Mason. Ground making crashes from skipper of the day, Chris Richards, followed by a good scrum sees Dave Goddard bash his way through to score, converted by Clark, 24 minutes played; 7-5. An interception just inside the Spartans half and Dan Haseltine runs the ball in, conversion missed, to move the score on to 12-5 at half time - and a happier coach! One change, Dave Boocock for Copper Keen, and the CS XXXV's kick off for the second half with the Spartans showing their metal by trying to play Baa Baa's rugby - but in response - a good tackle by Tubbs Reffell, another run from Richards and hands from Dix, sees Evans only just stopped on the 5m line. As Spartans try to run it out of their 22m, tackles galore are made (Cam Cameron and Lee Bramhall) and when they run out of numbers a kick is put in, picked up and run back in for Tom Tom Turagabeci to score, converted by Paul Clark, 53 minutes played, 19-5. Further changes are Mason and Reed for Paul Dix and Craig Farrington; following good work from the pack, hands and then a kick into the corner, Dave Mason scores, 57 minutes; 24-5. With the scrum offering a good platform, a 40m interchange between Goddard and Neil Griffiths sets up the XXXV's inside the opposition 22m, again. Good hands and Taff Evans is able to go over in the corner, with an excellent conversion from Taff Reed, 61 minutes play, 31-5. Tackles continue to be made, notably by Shaun Collins and Lee Oakey, the last change after 65 minutes sees Dave Goddard off - as Simon Hill (Asst Coach) braves the weather to make an appearance! A good finale from the Spartans but skipper, Chris Richards, can claim the CS XXXV's first victory. Thanks must go to South Wales Police, Glamorgan Wanderers and our sponsor, Steve Lagadu (Serco), it is hoped that this will become an annual fixture (trophy is ours), for a very good cause. Combined Services Team 1 WO1 Shaun Collins Army 2 SSgt Alan Reffell Army WMC 3 FSgt Lee Bramhall RAF 4 Maj Ewen Cameron Army WMC 5 Cpl Lee Oakey RAF 6 WO2 Neil Griffiths Army WMC 7 SSgt Dave Goddard Army (MoM) WMC 8 WO2 Chris Richards RN (Captain) 9 Sgt Paul Keen RAF 10 Sgt Dave Mason RAF 11 Sgt Craig Farrington RAF 12 SSgt Mark Reed Army WMC 13 Sgt Paul Dix RAF 14 CPO Dan Haseltine RN 15 LCpl Tomasi Turagabeci Army WMC 16 Lt Taff Evans RN 17 Lt Paul Clark RN 18 Capt Dave Boocock Army WMC 19 WO2 Kev Davies Army (Injured) WMC 20 WO1 Trevor Howard Army (injured) WMC Combined Services Officials Col Andy Allen Army (Chairman) WO1 Hywel Thomas Army (Manager) WO1 Mitch Mitchell Army (Head Coach) WMC SSgt Tiny Baker Army (Asst Coach) WMC Sgt Simon Hill RAF (Asst Coach) Lt Radcliffe Army (Physio) Wendy Briggs RN (Physio)