RNRU u23s Look to Right Last Year's Wrongs
Wednesday marks the start of the Inter Services for the Royal Navy Under 23s. The meteorologists are predicting 87% chance of rain, but the match won’t be the slogfest that the RAF and the Army had to endure due to the quality of the 4G pitch that Havant RFC have kindly put at the players’ disposal. Having squeezed out the Army by a point shows that the RAF are strong in poor conditions but let’s see how they will cope on a lightning-fast surface. On the back of a crushing loss last year, falling to a 31 – 15 score line at Whitney RFC, the boys in blue are ready to make amends.
The TSG are always keen to challenge their squad with a tough fixture list and any team that comes up against the Archers of Cardiff Met and the Maroons of Bristol University will rue the fact that both sides have a player pool more than 300 committed individuals. A thrilling forwarded dominating and well attended match against Cornwall u20s resulted in a strong win contrasted to the significantly larger challenge presented by the Exeter Outreach XV at Sandy Park.
RNRU U23s ADoR, Owen Salmon said, “The season so far has gone well, starting in July where 50 plus players attended a trials weekend in HMS TEMERAIRE with plenty of talent on show. We have a good number of returning players from last season, with Cleverley and Prentice having recently been involved in this year’s Commonwealth Cup.
Some of the warm-up fixtures have been challenging; there is a growing belief within the group that the team are on track and performances are improving, the TSG has worked extremely hard to build a competitive team and are looking to produce winning performances in the IS competition.”
Some notable omissions have opened doors for others with scrum half Bailey Angliss missing with a broken foot; an ankle injury put Reece Vincent out of contention; another ankle injury, this time belonging to Andrew ‘Soapy’ Watson, a victim of Sandy Park and the Outreach XV, whose leadership as VC had been uinstrumental to team cohesion and Oli Raynor who couldn’t be released from his ship.
The u23s are fortunate to have several players with Senior Men’s experience. Dom Cleverly has owned the team captain’s armband on the back of some standout performances and has been playing u23s for a few seasons. Ben Ravi will bring his senior’s experience from the bench as one of the finishers. Jack Mills, Kieran Manson and George Prentice were all part of the Senior XV Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup squad with Prentice (last year’s U23s Player of the Year) playing and impressing on the wing vs New Zealand.
Owen Salmon concluded, “We are all excited about the game against the RAF at Havant RFC on Wednesday evening. The TSG have worked tirelessly throughout the season to produce a team that I am confident will produce some great performances in this year’s Inter Services Competition and do the Royal Navy proud.”
RNRU u23s: Dom Cleverly (C), Jack Wright, Harry Wright; Andrew Hussell, Charlie Kerr; Harrison Utton-Smith, Lucas Cann, Jack Mills (VC); Eli Steinberg, Kieran Manson; Jack Davis, George Prentice, Jack Bartlett, Charlie Penrose-Toms, Freddie Elliott
Replacements: Ben Rees, James Wales, Oscar Sanders-Mortimer, Brodie Paterson, Charlie Davis, Lewis Clayton, Ryan Scott, Ben Ravi.
Rugby family…
As a backdrop to the match and throughout the evening Adam Duncan, his wife and members of Havant RFC will be fundraising for Adam’s father Pete. An ex Royal Navy WO1, Pete suffered a stroke at Twickenham Stadium prior to this year’s Army Navy game. Losing the use of his right side he requires ongoing physiotherapy at a specialist neurology rehabilitation centre.
Adam and his team will be collecting money in buckets and via card reader before and during the match, followed by a raffle in the club house afterwards. Your support is greatly appreciated. A list of prizes can be found below:
Signed England Rugby shirt (Red Roses), RN Rugby training top, £200 tattoo vouchers from ‘False Flag’ (Southampton), Bottle of champagne, Santa’s IPA & Beer Glass, Make your Own Gin Bottle, Flowers from ‘Ivy Blooms’, USN Protein, Epsom Bath Salts, Canti & Guylain Prosecco & Chocolates, Chocolate & Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Bombs.
Images (c) NavyFit/ David Cunningham, Jarrad Hulm.