Combined Services 34:18 GB Police

The GB Police side coached by former Bradford Bulls Prop Jon Hamer were going to be tough opposition; the current holders of the Skanska Cup always provide a strong physical side with a lot of RL experience throughout the team. It was indeed the Police who drew first blood after a four minutes CS conceded a penalty for allegedly ripping the ball in the tackle. From the penalty the ball was fed out wide and the Police No 11 crashed over for the try, with the difficult conversion hitting the upright the Police led by four. The game settled down for a while both sides pushing for the next score especially CS who had recovered from conceding the early score and were now getting on terms with the police. The breakthrough came after 15 minutes, good movement from centre field out to the right gave CS the chance a long pass out wide from Stand off Danny Johnson found its way to winger Tulakepa who forced his way over in the corner to level the scores Si Wray was wide with his conversion so the sides stayed tied at 4-4. Five minutes after his first score Wilson Tulakepa was in again, this time the Police were pressing into the CS half when the ball was spilled, Tulakepa picked up the loose ball despite being pulled back by his shirts somehow managed to wriggle clear and sprinted to the line unopposed. Si Wray was on target with a much easier conversion which stretched the Services lead to 10:4. However straight from the restart the police were gifted possession and from the resulting scrum moved the ball out to their left, despite the ball coming loose the police regained control and the left wingman went over again in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed again and it was 10:8 to CS. Another ten minutes of good hard Rugby passed before the next score which went to CS. Skipper Chris Gordon took the ball at pace 15 metres out beating the Police defence to go over to the left of the posts, Si Wray again popping over a good conversion 16:8 at the half hour. Once again however the Police struck back, this time a clever chip over the defensive line found a bit of space and although CS defence gathered the ball the resulting heavy tackle forced the ball lose and from the scrum the police were over halfway between the posts and the corner flag. The conversion was good and the gap was now just a mere two points as the ref blew the half time whistle.

The first period of the second half saw few chances as defences were on top however Wilson Tulakepa came agonisingly close to scoring his hat trick try on his CS debut, fellow Fijian Buinimasi slipped the ball to him inside the CS half and using his speed beat the first line of defence, the Police cover however did recover and pulled him down barely two metres short of the line so his hat trick was not to be. The Police then moved up field again and after threatened the CS Line, after a good spell of pressure and a lost ball by CS the police number fourteen crossed for his and his team’s final score of the match the conversion going wide. The final quarter of the game belonged to the Services as superior fitness began to tell against a tiring Police side, the final three try’s being finished off by RN Players. Johnny Platt was first with another of his trademark scores, burrowing over from first receiver giving Wray the easiest of conversions, these scores now restored the Services lead to 22:18. The next try was a beauty, with another CS attack appearing to have stalled in midfield an inch perfect kick was hoisted out to the right hand side and Centre Buinimasi leapt way above the defence to claim the ball in the air and touch down for a brilliant score. Si Wray again was on target with the conversion stretching the lead to 10 points with only ten minutes left. The Police did respond well but could not find away through a dominant CS defence. The final and score went to CS and came about as the Police launched yet another attack, a spilled ball was kicked forward and gathered by CS the final pass going to Danny Johnson who sprinted 55 metres chased by the Police defence to score under the posts. Johnsons try was only eclipsed Ryan Halls try for England some four hours later but as far as this match was concerned this was a fitting end to a great team performance by all 17 players to beat a quality Police side. For the record Services No 4 Buinimasi slotted home the final conversion on the whistle to give a final score of 34:18. A great result and a great team performance, whilst the backs scored most of the points the victory was underpinned by a massive effort by the pack to control the Police pack specifically their two giant props who were a threat throughout the match.

Combined Services:- Si Wray (RAF), Tim Tamani (A), Gareth Evans (RAF), Wilson Tulakepa (RN), Silivenuisi Buinimasi (RN), Danny Johnson (RN),Chris Lodge (RAF), Jamie Goss (RN), Johnny Ledger (RAF), Richard Sharp (RN), Dale Jinks (RAF), Chris Gordon (C) (RAF), Darrell Winn (A),

Replacements (All Used): Andy Kay (A), Johnny Platt (RN), Atu Vuniwaqa (RN), Matt Watkins (RAF)

Coach: Dave Moll,
Asst Coaches: Rich Naivalurua, Jase Talbot
Trainer: Damian Clayton
Physio: Nicola Rush

Scorers: - Try’s: Tulakepa (2), Gordon, Platt, Buinimasi, Johnson
Goal’s:- Wray 4 (Conv) Buinimasi 1 (Conv)