Royal Marines 2010 Inter Command Champions (Inverdale Cup)
Royal Marines Regain Inter Command Title (Inverdale Cup) 2010
The afternoon saw Plymouth beat Portsmouth 30-6 to take 3rd place in the 2010 Inter Command competition. That evening the Royal Marines played the Naval Air Command in a repeat of last year's final at the home of Navy Rugby Burnaby Rd, Portsmouth. However, the result this year was reversed in favour of the Marines.
The Marines fielded a strong squad containing no less than 6 Senior Navy capped players and 4 Navy U23 2010 Inter Service Championship winners. However, the Marines only started with a 21 man squad due to the later arrival of one player from Junior Command Course. The Naval Air Command, not to be out done, assembled a side that boasted 5 Senior Navy capped players. This and the guidance of Combined Services Coach Owen Salmon, made the Air Command very dangerous in attack and solid in defence.
From the kick-off it was going to be a very competitive game as both sides wanted to play open running rugby and back this up with strong defence. Cpl Callum MaCrea (CTCRM) at 12 made some excellent breaks and backed up Cpl ‘Bomber' Mills (RM Stonehouse) at 13 caused the Air Command some problems. It was the Air Command who scored first after some ill discipline from the Marines, to take an early 3 point lead. The Marines soon drew level with a penalty from the boot of Capt Tom Glover (40 Cdo RM).
Good Corps lineout work under the command of Mne Dennis Scotthorne (42 Cdo RM), strong running from 2nd row Capt Stu McLaren (DMOC) and Cpl Damo Chambers (30 Cdo IX Gp RM) combined well with the high work rate of Mne ‘Omar' Raumakita (42 Cdo RM). Raumakita had played in the centre for the RN U23s on the previous Saturday, but returned to his original position of flanker and soon impressed the Navy Senior selectors. Omar was not the only one to catch the selectors' eye as Mne ‘Kami' Kamikamica (45 Cdo RM) on the left wing was in fine form when playing only his 2nd game for the Corps.
The loss of Damo Chambers to a suspected broken collar bone brought onto the pitch veteran 2nd row Sgt Paul Cook (CTCRM) to play his last game for the Corps before he leaves in the New Year.
A try (converted) from the Air Command was answered by 2 penalties and a converted try (Bomber Mills) from the Corps, making the score 10 -16 to the Marines at half time.
The 2nd half started with a bang as the Marines scored an early unconverted try 10 - 21. Replacements from both teams provided the Air Command with an opportunity to bring on International Prop Kyle Mason to strengthen the scrum and test the young pretender, U23s' prop Mne Josh Terry (1ASRM).
Throughout the match, this was an interesting contest, with not an inch or quarter being given by either side. As the game drew to a close the Corps managed another penalty to make the final score 10 - 24. The Inverdale Cup was presented by John Inverdale to the Corps Skipper Capt Tom Evans-Jones RM (LWC).