'Le Crunch' Preview
Whilst much of the Royal Navy is enjoying the Easter break, the Royal Navy Senior XV and Women travelled to France to renew traditional rivalries against an old foe. This clash of adversaries spans over 2 centuries from Nelsonian times when the British Navy won its historic victory at Trafalgar, to just eight years ago when the inaugural fixture between the Royal Navy and la Marine Nationale was raised at Kneller Hall, a game that saw the Royal Navy victorious by 20 points to 5.
Last year the Marine Nationale travelled to Plymouth and in one of the most entertaining games in the recent history of the fixture, the Royal Navy ran out eventual winners 17-10.
Although the Navy leads the series 5-2, memories of the mauling they received in the ‘Cauldron' of Stade Mayol in 2010 will remain fresh. This was the biggest margin to date, when the home team took the match 29-3.
Royal Navy Skipper, POET (Dave) Pascoe commented: 'A couple of years ago we were a little caught out by the incredible atmosphere and hopefully we will be more prepared for the passion of the French crowd. It will be a fierce battle, as it always is, but we are ready and looking forward to it.'
Before the Senior XV game the Royal Navy Women take on the Marine Nationale Women in the first ever 15 a side game between the two sides. Last year saw an inaugural 10-a-side fixture in HMS Drake. The French Women hold the title and boast several French National players in their ranks. However, coming off the back of a positive performance against Trojans, the RN Women are confident that they can match the ‘French Flare' with plenty of ‘Navy Spirit'.
As the teams kick-off, both the Senior XV and Women will be aware that across the channel the 1st round of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship will be taking place between the RAF and Army at RAF Halton.
The 2nd rounds of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship will take place in Portsmouth on Wed 18 Apr 12: Women kick off at 2pm; Mariners at 4pm and the main event, RN Senior XV 7pm. The matches will be played at HMS Temeraire and USSG Portsmouth with free admission.
The final round of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship is on Sat 28th April between the Royal Navy and the Army at Kneller Hall (Women and Mariners), who both kick off at 10.30am and at Twickenham for the Senior XV, kick off at 3pm.
Royal Navy Senior XV
1. NA (AH) K Mason* ** ^ HMNB Devonport
2. Sgt G Evans* ** 1 ASRM
3. Lt RN T Blackburn * RNAS Culdrose
4. NA (AH) J Quarnivalu RNAS Culdrose
5. POAET M Cormack* ** RNAS Yeovilton
6. Mne B Fox 45 Cdo RM
7. MA S Laird * HMS Collingwood
8. ET (WE) I Cooper* HMS Ambush
9. POAET D Pascoe (Capt)* ** RNAS Culdrose
10. Capt RM T Glover CTCRM
11. S/Lt RN A Vance* ** HMS Sultan
12. AB D Bamford HMS Dragon
13. Mne N Huntley 40 Cdo RM
14. Logs(CS) J Drananui* ** WMO Devonport
15. AET J Humphrey RNAS Yeovilton
16. Lt RN D Smith HMS Vanguard
17. AET K Beasley RNAS Yeovilton
18. S/Lt RN H Mitchell-Heggs HMS Sultan
19. Mne S Ramakita 42 Cdo RM
20. AET G Jones* HMS Sultan
21. Mne J Foster 40 Cdo RM
22. ET(ME) D Sleeman* ** WMO Devonport
Denotes Capped:
^ International
** Combined Services
* Royal Navy
Royal Navy Women
LET(WE) Atkins
Lt Bennett-Smith RN **
Lt Fredrickson RN (Capt) **
AB Greene
AB Hargrave
Lt Cdr Jamieson RN
LET(WE) Jenkins (Vice Capt) **
Lt Leach RN
AB Lewis ** ^
ET(ME) Marner
LPT Marshall
ET(WE) Mitchell
AB Morton **
LAC Park
NA(AH) Penrose
LA(ET) Sharp
LS(AWT) Swinton *
LET(WE) Thomas
ET(ME) Vakuruivalu
AB White
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