The Trafalgar Cup 2009 - Royal Marines v Parachute Regiment

The Trafalgar Cup was first competed for in July 2000 when the Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment Rugby League teams met at Aldershot and has been a fiercely contested annual clash ever since. Operational commitments prevented the matches taking place in 2002, 2003, 2007 & 2008 so this was a great opportunity to re-establish this fixture. In the series to date the Royal Marines have the upper hand, winning 4 of the 5 contests thus far, the solitary defeat coming in 2004.

The build up to this sixth clash involved the Parachute Regiment touring in Australia whilst the Corps warmed up with matches against St Mary’s College and the RAF Regt. The RAF Regt were overcome 28-06 in the Courage Cup, another annual event, in a hard fought match at CTCRM. The stern opposition offered by the RAF Regt proved to be good preparation for the ensuing epic against the Parachute Regiment.

Celtic Crusaders, the new Welsh professional rugby league team playing in Super League kindly hosted the match at their ground, Brewery Field in Bridgend. They had publicised the match widely and there was considerable local support to add to the large contingents from both the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment on the terraces.

The match began in the customary physical fashion that has become a hall mark of this fixture however following the kick off the Marines kicked gave a way valuable ground to penalties following a couple of high tackles. Very much on the front foot the Paras dominated the early possession looking the more complete side, obviously benefitting from their tour. This early pressure should have seen them ahead as they moved the ball wide following a quick penalty but the final pass went harmlessly into touch to the relief of the Marines. Two minutes later and they created another opportunity, again moving the ball wide from right to left but with a three man overlap missed the chance to capitalise choosing instead to take the tackle. The Paras continued to press for the score and some desperate tackling from out of position defenders was adjudged to be illegal by the Referee who sin binned Jack Duckitt in the 12th minute as punishment. After 19 minutes with Duckitt still on the sidelines the Paras finally broke the deadlock with a short range converted try, 6:0 to the Paras. The Paras were unrelenting and continued to test the wide defence of the Marines and in the 26th minute the Paras stand-off ran at the line, chipped and with no full-back at home and 4 Parachute Regiment chasers the result was inevitable – an easy pick up and run in under the posts for another converted try. 12:0 to the Paras. With their confidence growing and the Marines hardly getting a chance to get the ball in their hands the Paras continued to harry the defensive line and were making good yards each attack and moving the ball effortlessly to the vulnerable flanks. In the 29th minute another Para attack looked to have exposed the Corps again but a loose pass was dropped, seized upon by Greg Pichilingi whose lightning quick feet took him clear of the Para defence to race in from 45 metres. The conversion was missed but the Corps were on the scoreboard. 12:4. The next 5 minutes saw parity as the Corps began to find their feet and settle into the game after the initial onslaught from the Paras. With both sets of big forwards beginning to tire an opportunity was going to present itself for a quick man to exploit. That came just a few minutes later when Pichilingi darted away from dummy half, outpacing the marker defence and driving straight through to score under the posts from 25 metres. This time the try was converted bring the score to 12 – 10. From the kick off the Royals secured the ball and Fox broke the line charging 40 metres downfield and into the opposition half before throwing and inside pass to Ben Quick who raced in from 40 metres. The tables had been turned - in just 7 minutes the Corps had scored 16 points. This however sparked a further big effort from the Paras who had just one set of six left before half time. Some fine drives from their forwards allowed yet another wide attacking move and another overlap. With the last play of the six, the ball was quickly moved to the left wing for a score right in the corner. The conversion was missed and the teams left the field after a titanic battle with the score tied at 16 – 16.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first with the Paras applying sustained pressure and 9 minutes in this paid off with a tackle bust down the left hand side and an easy run in for a converted try. Despite this early setback the Corps responded and for the next 10 minutes a no holds barred front line developed in the centre of the park with neither side making much progress until the Paras were caught offside. The penalty that followed was kicked to touch and put the Marines in their first attacking position of the half. The forwards drove in hard but again it was the agility and pace of Pichilingi running from dummy half that cut through the defence, past 4 flailing defenders to score his hat-trick after 19 minutes of the half. The conversion followed and the scores were once again tied; 22-22. Once again 10 minutes of stalemate followed with the forward packs trying and failing to gain the upper hand. Only a mistake or a stroke of brilliance was going to break the deadlock. That came on 29 minutes. A good set of six was finished with a high kick into the heart of Para territory. The ball was fumbled and possession went back to the Marines. On the next play the ball was moved wide to the right and this time it was the Paras who were over-stretched on the flank and the Marines scored in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the Marines 26-22 ahead with 10 minutes to play. The level of intensity rose once more as the Paras desperately tried to salvage the game that they had looked like walking away with in the first quarter. The Marines on the other hand threw everything into defence. Digging deep into their reserves of energy, both sides were tiring but equally aware that the finishing line was in sight. The Paras were piling on the pressure and earned repeat sets after a penalty for offside and a knock on by the Marines. This gave them the position for a final attack and they moved the ball quickly to the left were they had enjoyed most of their success. The tackle was broken and the try scored 15 metres to the left of the posts. With the conversion to come the score stood at 26 – 26 and with only a couple of minutes to go. The pressure on the kicker was immense, and this combined with the energy that he had already expended in the previous 78 minutes caused his kick to falter and go wide.

There was little time for either side to score again and when the referee blew for full time the fairest result stood. This had been an epic encounter played by 2 teams who were described as gladiators in the post match speeches.

Whist as holders the Marines retain the title of champions in the Trafalgar Cup it was nevertheless decided that it was appropriate and fitting to present the cup to both captains. The Corps RSM, WO(1) Baz Dawe, had the honour of presenting the trophy in front of an appreciative crowd of upwards of 1000.

Later in the bar the man of the match award was chosen by the sponsors and went to the Paras half-back but it could quite easily have gone to Royal Marines; Greg Pichilingi for his incredible hat-trick or to Capt Richard Sharpe who was outstanding in the pack.