Defenders of the Faith
For all but ten minutes of the Royal Navy Women’s match against the RAF the Navy team were at defence watches. With the RAF almost monopolising possession wave after wave of Air attacks were in bound but as with the Navy’s latest Type 45 destroyers, the Navy Women’s Air Defence capability was first class. Tackles were crunching, continuous and contagious. Following their captain, Sarah Jenkin’s lead the team followed are all were prepared to put body on the line time and time again. And for the other ten minutes? Maritime Strike Capability at its best, three visits to the RAF twenty-two, three tries, a 17-6 victory...
The Royal Navy backed up the early victories from the Mariners and the Women with a tense 10 – 0 win to leave the raucous US Portsmouth crowd happy but exhausted. A game where both packs of forwards never stopped going at each other hell for leather and one that both sides struggled to find space in a claustrophobic game. By the final whistle the Navy had battled to a win with a Dave Pascoe penalty and conversion alongside a Ben Priddey try. “ Gwrys yn Kernow ” as they say and for those from East of the Tamar, it translates as, 'made in Cornwall'. The opening quarter of the game was like a boxing ma...
22-14-32-11-0. Spin the numbers on the tumbler, and as the safe door is opened, then some of the secrets of Navy Rugby past and present are revealed. When the Royal Navy Mariners, Women and Senior XVs host their Royal Air Force counterparts on Wednesday the day will bring its usual heady mix of pride, passion, heartache and joy. However, across the three Navy teams, there will be some personal milestones that will make the day a little more special.
Dave Sibson in the shadow of Mike Connolly at a Mariner’s coaching session, 66 years of playing and coaching Navy Rugby between them.
Twenty Two. The Mariners open the day’s rugby when they host ...
While the RAF and Army were battling out a close encounter in the opening match of the Inter-Service Championship at RAF Halton, the Navy prepared to take on the Premiership club Worcester at Sixways. Despite the Warriors Academy Manager being a former Royal Navy and Combined Services stalwart, Mark Hewitt set up a very competitive and ambitious team, that tested the Navy to the full. The day did not start well; 6 first choice players were unfit to travel from Portsmouth due to illness and a rapid re-think on selection was required. To say it was a game of 2 halves would be an understatement. The premiership outfit, peppered with international age group players, were in...
With ten minutes to go the Royal Air Force crossed for their third try and were within two points of their first win over the Army for twenty years. Earlier the Army Women had posted a record score against the RAF, 93 -3, which is also a record Inter Service score for all games. And the third match, well lets say it took the veterans a little while to get their limbs going in a match that was a slow burner before bursting to life in the last fifteen minutes. The Army ended up with three wins from three on a day when RAF Halton was bathed in April sunshine and the Royal Navy Referees provided the match officials for an excellent day of rugby.
The Women’s game an...
