Fleet Air Arm Triumph In Another Thriller

All involved in staging this match, player’s coaches and support staff are to be congratulated on producing a great match to round off this seasons Inter Command series. For the record a flurry of points in the last 12 minutes ended up with a solo break away try for FAA Jamie Elliott wrapping up the match for his side.
The early stages of the match set the tone for the game, no quarter was asked or given as the two sides put everything on the line to earn the bragging rights for this the first match of its type in over a decade. Both Chris Reeves and Lewis Taylor Fleet and FAA coaches respectively were able to field strong sides with a great mixture of talent from new players just starting out in RRL to the senior players from the Brothers squad. The strength of both squads was the highlight of the match much to the delight of Director of Rugby and Seniors Head Coach Dave Garner and Steve Lockton who watched on from pitchside. The early stages of the match set the stage for the entire match as both sides strove to take the initiative but it was the FAA who took the lead on five minutes, a loose ball was geared by FAA who pushed for the line with the ball finally ending up in Colin Chapman’s hands and the centre touched down out on the right of the posts to give his side the lead. The lead only lasted ten minutes or so before the Fleet team replied with a score of their own, good approach work gave loose forward Danny Johnson a bit of room which he made the most of to score and level things at 4 points each. The lead was exchanged again and again throughout the half with further try’s for both sides leaving the score at 10:14 at the break. The second half was a great spectacle as the Fleet team drew level with the first score of the half to full back Satala. Despite a lot of good work from both outfits a series of injury holdups disrupted the match for 15 minutes or so before the FAA once again took the lead with a try for Richie Metcalfe converted by Johnny Platt but back came the home side hooker Matt Savage scoring a great try however the conversion was missed so Fleet wee two points behind. The Fleet Air Arm extended their lead as Paul Saberton took an interception to race 70 metres touching down under the posts. Converting his own try Saberton had extended his sides lead to 8 points. Now into the last ten minutes experienced centre Tom Boyce scored a well worked try to close the gap once again to just four points. As the clock ticked down almost the last play of the match gave the Fleet team a go at the FAA, from the base of the scrum Fleet moved the ball into FAA territory and on the last play of the match Jono Bethwaite’s grubber bounced around into the arms of Jamie Elliot who raced the 60 or so metres to touch down and with the simplest of conversions for Johnny Platt the FAA were home by ten points at 22:32.