RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

The Royal Navy Women beat a determined Bath Ladies side in icy conditions tonight in Somerset in a match that featured players on both sides who had split allegiances!

The prospect of the Inter Service Championship starting in just over a week was clearly a motivation to the Navy Women as they brought a real intensity to the match that Bath struggled to match in the first 30 minutes. But the Navy just couldn't take their chances and were starting to get edgy as the game settled into a deadlock. The stalemate ended when the Royal Navy and Bath Scrum Half (wearing Navy Blue tonight) Lt Olivia Critchley-Peddle darted from the back of a 5m scrum to dot down with LPT Suz Badger kicking the conversion.

With the half time score 7-0 and the cold becoming more bitter the spectators were treated to an exciting 2nd half with fireworks aplenty!

4 of the 6 RN subs were used at half time and the fresh legs added an impetus which helped MA Megan Musgrave batter her way across the whitewash to extend the Navy's lead to 12 (Conversion missed). Bath howeveer, were not prepared to go down without a fight on home turf and a clear break was made with just the RN's winger CPO Billi Staite to beat. CPO Staite threw herself at the Bath player, however she was too high and the referee deemed that the high tackle was worthy of both a yellow card and penalty try.

Being down to 14 focused the RN and half time substitute LH Rose Dixon found a gap that allowed her to score and take the score to 17-7. Bath did score during the yellow card but their fly half (and RN Air Engineering Technician) Chloe Sopp missed a tough kick despite striking the ball well, and the gap was back to 5.

The Navy were back to 15 players for mere moments before Lt Cheryl Goodwin was sin binned for another high tackle, but after a 10 minute sit down CPO Billi Staite made amends with a try to take the score to 22-12. 

With the extra player advantage Bath were now pushing hard to capitalise and they used their speed on the wing to great effect to score and force a tense last 3 minutes, the Navy were hoping that all their hard work had not gone down the drain! Clearly wanting to right previous wrongs CPO Billi Staite went from villain to hero with a second try to put the game beyond Bath and ensure that the Royal Navy Women head into their fixture against the RAF with a gritty win. Final Score Royal Navy 27, Bath 17.

The Royal Navy Women will take to the Ealing Trailfinders field for a Noon battle with the RAF on the 9th of Aoril in their next fixture.

Tickets can be bought here.

Full public gallery of the match here. 

Line Up

1. SLt Rosie Staples
2. SLt Rebecca Addis (VC)
3. AET Lucy Honeybell
4. PO Anne-Marie McIntyre
5. LA Yvonne Mealy
6. ET Elona Bythell
7. LAET Abi Sondack
8. MA Megan Musgrave
9. Lt Olivia Critchley-Peddle RN
10. PO Sam Alderson
21. CPO Billie Staite
12. LPT Suz Badger
13. ET Sian McLaughlin
14. Lt Abi Ashby RN (C)
15. Lt Cheryl Goodwin RN

Replacements
16. PO Emily Park
17. Lt Cdr Katie Ives
18. AB Laika Swain
19. LH Rose Dixon
20. SLt Rhian Perry