Babcock Inter Services Rugby League Challenge 2009

RAF Academy 8:34 RN Academy
The second match of the afternoon was another highly entertaining contest although well beaten a much changed RAF side competed throughout and mad a real match of it. It was the home side who actually took the lead with a fine converted try early on, this was to be their only score of the match however and the new look RN team took the initiative for much of the rest of the game. Wayne John opened the RN account marking his return to RNRL. The troublesome wind continued to play havoc with the kickers best efforts so the RAF retained a slender two point lead for the rest of the first quarter. Both sides continued to play some cracking rugby, RN scrum half Greg Pichilingi combined well with Wayne John as the RN half backs and as the game wore on became more and more influential. It was Pichilingi himself who finally put the RN ahead with a great try in the 30th minute; again the conversion was missed but almost by return from the kick off powerful RM centre Jason Mills crossed to score on his debut in RN colours, 6:8. As the half drew to a close and, making the most of a tiring RAF side Wayne John again went over this time closer to the posts allowing Pichilingi to land the conversion. That was to be the last score of the half so after a lot of good play the RN Academy went to the sheds 6-18 to the good.
The second half followed in much the same manner with the RAF putting in a lot of hard work but finding a break difficult to come by as coach Baz Sloan’s men put in a good defensive effort as well as playing some great attacking Rugby. With the 2nd stanza five minutes old Johnny Platt scored one of his trademark hookers trys, using his considerable upper body strength he forced his way over close to the posts slotting over the conversion himself pushing the RN lead out to 6-24. Five minutes later the RN increased the lead even further with a try for replacement Matt Southern which in effect sealed the match. The final word went to centre Mills who crossed for hi second try to give the RN side a comfortable start to the Inter Services campaign ahead of the home fixture against the Army on Sep 25th Kick Off 1700.

RN Academy;- Chris MacChroan, Kava, Jason Mills, Nick Fox, Kieran Cagney, Wayne John, Greg Pichilingi, Ben Cartwright, Johnny Platt, Ryan Chivers, Ben Hedges, Ben Nicholson, Ben Taylor, Matt Southern, Savage, Luke Dando, Chris Reeves

Scorers;- T John(2), Pichilingi (1), Mills (2)Platt, Savage
G John(1C) Platt (1C)