Babcock Inter Services Championships 2010

Army A v RN A
A new look ‘A’ Grade side coached by Tom Mckenna came up against a strong powerful Army side but held their own for long periods of the game coming back from a slow start to level the scores a the break. The first period of the game did indeed belong to the Army who deprived the RN of any meaningful possession and as a result were 12 points to the good after 20 minutes. The RN gathered themselves and played themselves back into the match . The first RN score came on the back of a couple of penalties allowing the RN to pressure the Army line, this pressure told and Chris Reeves went over for the score out wide on the Right. The Navy’s cause was further boosted by a brilliant conversion by Dane Smallbone almost from the touchline to even the scores. Continuing to pressure the Army RNRL finally broke the line almost on the stroke of halftime, Dane Smallbone broke from the base of the scrum feeding the RN left wing and after some skilful interplay which fooled the Army defence Emeri Ratucoko went over behind the posts to make Smallbone’s kick a straightforward shot so at he break it was all square at 12:12.

Unfortunately the second half belonged to the army, despite their best efforts, hampered by a series of injuries the RN could not find another score in the half. The Army gained in confidence throughout the half posting a further 24 points in the second half toleave the final score at 36:12

RN: Rob Sanderson, John Humphrey, Tom Boyce, Josh Tora, Guy Glastonbury, Ade Peel, Dane Smallbone, John Adams, Johnny Platt, Ash Hedges, Jason Gemmell, Chris Jones, Steve Riley, Chris Reeves, Asaeli Lutu, Emeri Ratucoko, Sten Mortensen
RN Scorers:- T; Reeves, Ratucoko
G; Smallbone (2 Conv)