The Under 23s Kick Off the Season
The Royal Navy Under 23 side kicked off their 2021 season on 5th September as the first representative side to take to the Burnaby Road pitch since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The reigning Inter Service Champions, who were crowned in 2019, were taking on the best that the Hampshire RFU could muster from it’s academy cohort and the match was certainly a close affair. Under a hot September sun there was very little to separate the two sides who had agreed to play an adapted 3 periods of 30 minutes .
Ultimately a last minute try and conversion for the county side was enough to win the game 28-21. But the Under 23 coaching staff were happy with the opportunity to test a number of new players right from the onset of the season.
The Under 23s continue their season on Wednesday 15th September against a Solent Select XV at Chichester RFC. The 1900 kick off will ensure that the conditions are certainly different from those the side had to play in during their first game.
For supporters of Royal Navy rugby the drive along the A27 is an excellent opportunity to get a midweek rugby fix and to support the future of the Royal Navy Rugby as they try to gather momentum for their Inter Service Championship defence.
Images: © Keith Woodland
