HMS ILLUSTRIOUS VISIT TO MUSCAT, OMAN
MUSCAT RFC 24 ILLUSTRIOUS 22 Always keen to act as global ambassadors to the RNRU and the RFU the ILLUSTRIOUS team were looking forward to the opportunity to challenge MUSCAT RFC. Although the sight of the pitch was enough to quieten even the most vocal of players, covered as it was with small rocks and looking more like Blackpool Beach than Twickenham, the team ran out keen to create an impression! As always the game was played with lots of determination, however unlike some previous fixtures, ILLUSTRIOUS was able to put hard won ball into the hands of the quicker players and soon had points on the board. However, some very good play by Muscat in a ten minute spell saw the Lusty go into half time trailing 18-9. The second half, played under floodlights, was mainly ILLUSTRIOUS. Slowly but surely the lead of the home team was chipped away; and with 10 min remaining we led 20-18, but the home team replied to take them 2 points clear. Despite spending a lot of time on their try line, Lusty had the ball turned over nearly 4 or 5 times to put the game to bed. A frantic last 5 min with both sides eager not to make the fatal error, saw Muscat hang on to take the victory. Our man of the match was Aggie Weston. This will be Muscat's last game on the pitch before it is re-surfaced with grass, and comment was passed that it was very fitting that such an occasion be marked with such an excellent game. The post match social as always promised to be eventful, with the strains of the band practising Teenage Kicks as the team went out to play, and with all of the day's sports teams in one location, a top DJ rocking the night away and two live bands, a well earned party was very much enjoyed by all.