Fleet 26 : 38 Fleet Air Arm

The first 20 minutes of the match gave no hint of the drama to unfold as the Fleet team took a 20 point lead in as any minutes. A succession of try’s for the Fleet backs, Buinimasi, Ratucoko, and Lavalawala plus two conversions for Ryan Mathews looked to have set them on the way to a comfortable victory. The opposition had other ideas and led by the pack the FAA fought their way back into the match with two tries for Richie Metcalfe backing up Mark Robinsons opening score. Two good conversions by Sam Carter brought the FAA within two points of the Fleet at the break setting the game up for a cracking second half.

The two sides did not disappoint, despite the Fleet side extending their lead shortly after the break the second half belonged to the FAA. Richie Metcalfe went over for his third of the night and another 2 pointer for Sam Carter brought the sides within two points of each other. The FAA took the lead for the first time on the 60 minute mark when Kye Beasley kept up his good run of form from last week’s 9’s to score a four pointer out wide, 26:28. Both sides now dug deep to take the game but despite a lot of hard work the Fleet team could not find the gaps the y had found so easily in the first half and were not to score again in the match. Matt Nicholls touched down out wide to stretch the lead to six points but even that score did not seem enough. The Fleet team responded well and for a good 5 minutes camped in the FAA 22 earning repeat sets but never quite finding the gaps. Almost inevitably the FAA broke for the counter attack and Craig Sutton beat the defence from 40 metres out to touchdown under the post to effectively seal the game for his team, John Clay knocked over the conversion to make the final score 26:38 in favour of the FAA.

A thoroughly entertaining game for the spectators who had turned out in good numbers for the match and shows RNRL to be in a very good place at the half way point in the season. The second match of the series sees the Sailors take on the Marines at HMS Temeraire next Thursday (27th May) with a 4pm kick off. This match is open to all spectators service and civilian with the entrance to the ground via the Burnaby Road gate into HMS Temeraire. The match promises to be another classic so can you afford to miss it?