RN v RAF – The Dog Watch Trophy
Following the first few minutes of settling into the game the RN had the first real opportunity with a good break from Darren Bamford into the RAF right corner, held up short the RAF tackler held on too long and earned ten minutes in the bin for the professional foul. However the home side could make nothing of the advantage and the game remained scoreless. The RAF came back strongly however and three minutes later skipper Chris Gordon joined the line and forced himself over on the RN Right, the try was converted by Wray , 0:6. Barely had the game resumed when Ref Darren Hayes had to deal with a serious incident resulting in RAF No 8 Macgregor taking no further part in the match, at the same time RN 2ndRow Gareth Cadmore was binned for retaliation. Despite their numerical advantage the RN could not make it count and were further behind afte15 minutes through an easy penalty for the RAF converted again by Si Wray. The Brothers regained the initiative five minutes later showing some of the fluidity that had been the highlight of the Challenge Cup rounds. Again Bamford took on the defence and drawing the defence too him, flicked a great pass out to Mike Haldenby who crossed well from tem yards out. A great touchline conversion from Kev Botwood brought the RN to within two points of the RAF. The RAF retaliated a few minutes later with another converted try scored by Al Blewitt, taking advantage of some ordinary defence by the RN Blewitt crossed under the posts making for a very easy conversion for Si Wray, 6:14. The RAF were playing a great defensive game now holding off the RN attacks which were not helped by far too many handling errors making their task that much more difficult. The final score of the half went to the RAF through the boot of Si Wray once again who landed another simple penalty, 6:16 at the break.
The RN made a good start to the second half as they tried to make the numerical advantage count but the RAF refused to capitulate leading to more frustration within the RN Ranks. This frustration was settled somewhat after ten minutes when Ian Cooper crossed out on the RN lefty for his first RN RL try. Unfortunately the conversion was just wide but it gave the RN a sniff of stealing the game. In Fairness to the RAF they refused to surrender their lead a great defensive effort was helped by a succession of penalty’s conceded by the RN and wit Si Wray on form the RN were falling further behind but not out of it. Possibly the game breaker was Wray’s drop goal after 30 minutes, a rare attack by the RAF appeared to have been snuffed out but Wray had dropped into the pocket to receive the ball and put over the drop. This was crucial as it meant the RN had to score twice to take the game. The final nail in the RN coffin was yet another penalty conceded by the home side giving Wray his 3rd of the night. That was the last score of a very disappointing night for the RN going down 10:19. A great Captains knock from Chris Gordon with a Man of the Match showing from standoff Hankinson was enough to for the flyers to return home with the Dog Watch trophy. A very disappointed RN camp now have two weeks to re-group and prepare to travel to Aldershot to face the Army.
RN Darren Bamford (v/c), Mike Haldenby, James Wagstaffe, Kitione Kamkamica, Silivenusi Buinimasi, Steve Lockton, Kev Botwood, Richie Metcalfe, Mark Robinson (C), Lewis Taylor, Craig Sutton, Gareth Cadmore, Tommy Wilkinson, Wata Robanakvadu, Ian Cooper, Tom Boyce, Marc Warren
Scorers: (T) Cooper, Haldenby (G) Botwood 1 Conv.
RAF James Hutchinson, Si Wray, Richie Craig, Matt Watkins, Tom Perrin, Dave Hankinson, Garry Dunn, Josh Scott, Nathan Parkin, Bobby MacGregor, Al Blewitt, Chris Gordon (Capt), Dale Jinks, Steve Mills, Jono Colley, Johnny Ledger, Gareth Evans
Scorers: (T) Gordon, Blewitt, (G) Wray 2 Conv, 3 Pen, 1 Dg
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RN Academy v RAF Academy
First match of the day was the Academy team’s fixture, despite never having been beaten by their RAF counterparts the RN Academy found the first quarter hard going against a strong mobile RAF unit who showed a lot of skill and determination. Despite the threat the well drilled RN dealt well with any threats posed by the RAF. The first of the Navy’s four tries came after 23 minutes, the RAFF were awarded a penalty but failed to find touch giving the RN a great platform. The backs took the ball deep into the RAF half before it was passed to Matt Corrigan who took on the defence himself from 25 metres out, the big No 10 on his return from injury was not going to be stooped touching down to put the first points on the bard for the RN. Johnny Platt put over a great conversion to give the RN a 6:0 lead. Both sides had tries disallowed before the break so it remained 6:0 at halftime. An entertaining 40 minutes for the spectators with the RN finding the going a lot tougher than the corresponding fixture last year. The RN came out all guns blazing for the second half and this positive approach was rewarded early on with a well executed try scored by Semi Ramakita on the RN left, Johnny Platt was again on target with the conversion so the RN had doubled their lead within the first five minutes of the half.
The next passage of play proved very telling, from the kick off the ball was fumbled by the RN five metres out giving the RAF a rare opportunity to get points on the board however the RN proved an impenetrable wall of defenders, the RAF did get a repeat set but lost the ball on the tenth tackle giving the ball back to the RN without getting points on the board. The RN now began to exert some control of the game and ten minutes later again out on the left wing Manoa Satala fielded a cross field kick to touch down with Platt again on target to stretch the RN lead out to 18-0. The final score of the match was Satola’s second try of the game, more good work out on the left stretched the RAF defence and a well timed pass from Ben Cartwright found the Fijian who hit the defence at pace to cross for his second of the day. Platt was just wide with his conversion attempt so it was 22:0 and that is how it stayed to the final whistle. A great start for the new coaching team of Jim Barnes and Dane Smallbone who have put together a good mixture of experienced and new players to challenge the Army at Aldershot in an attempt to retain the Inter Services Trophy won last year. Man of The match went to Manoa Satala for his work throughout the match and his two tries.

RN Academy Richard Binns, Manoa Satala, Seti Ramakita, Jack Savage, Simon Tulakepa, Bobby Conroy-Smith, Steve Riley, Chris Thompson, Johnny Platt, Matt Corrigan, Dave Gee, Colin Chapman, Ben Madigan, Ben Cartwright, Lee Gaskell, Mike Tulakepa, Rob MacIntyre
Scorers: (T) Satala (2), Corrigan, Ramakita (G) Platt 3 Conv
RAF Academy John A Turner, Simon Marshall, Jonny Statham, Dave Fenney, James Hodgson, Tom White, Tom Moore, Colin Whitham, Andy Holland, Glen Allison, Wayne Crawford, Jason Battle, Mike Knock, Lee Davies, , Daniel Atherton, Ian Cairns Rhys Andrews