Babcock Inter Services Challenge 2010

RN Vets 12:32 RAF Vets

The first match of the day’s fixtures featured the Veterans clash between the RN and the Air force, despite missing several players from the Army fixture Captain Chris Richards managed to putout a squad for the match and make it a very entertaining match to get the day underway. Both sides were quite evenly matched throughout the first half swapping points throughout f40 minutes. The RAF broke the deadlock after 12 minutes with a try to the right of the posts converted by Damian Clayton 0:6. Five minutes later the home side replied, skipper Richards crossing out wide making for a difficult conversion however full back prestige was on target slotting home the two pointer to tie the scores. However almost by return of post the RAF gathered a loose ball to restore a four point lead. After this flurry of points the game settled down for ten minutes or so before RN No 10 Euan Cowie bustled his way over to even things up again and with another good kick from Prestige the RN held the lead for the first time in the match. In the dying seconds of the half the RAF mounted a final attack which appeared to include virtually all the team before the try was scored and with another Clayton conversion the RAF were back in front, 12:16 as the Ref blew for half time.
The second half in fairness belonged to the RAF despite a lot of hard graft from the RN, a couple of quick scores some after he break give the RAF the upper hand and they took the game away from the RN. It was not all one way traffic though the RN came close to reducing the deficit on a few occasions but could not find the final spark to get the points. With a final score of 12:32 a maiden victory for the his side eluded skipper Chris Richards although as some consolation his efforts throughout the game were rewarded with the man of the match trophy.

RN - Mike Prestige, Paul Ginger, Rob Wood, Nathan Jones, Harry Black, Simon Lume, John Smith, Lee Johnstone, Jack Hawkins, Euan Cowie, Matthew Murray, Steve Hall, Chris Richards (C) - Jan Chennour, Paul Cullen, David Turner

Scorers T: Richards, Cowie
G: Prestige (2)

Man Of The Match; RN (13) Richards