The Dog Watch Trophy RAF 22:32 Royal Navy

The early stages saw the RN have the edge as the sides sought the firsts score and it was as they threatened the RAF line that RM prop Rob Conde suffered a serious ankle injury resulting in a 15minute break to ensure the RN No 8 received the best possible treatment. Once the game got underway the RN settled the best and were rewarded with a the first score of the match. RN hooker Andy Kay on debut at IS level pushed a grubber through early in the tackle count, Buinimasi followed up the kick causing the RAF defender to knock on almost into the path of Mike Haldenby who picked the ball up and touched down for the score 0:4. The next score also to the RN resulted from a brilliant piece of individual skill from Buinimasi, taking the ball to the wing the move appeared to have stalled but Haldenby again following up took a beautiful one handed reverse pass and dived over the line in some style for his second try of the day. Both conversions were missed so despite the scores the RN were only 8 pints ahead, the importance of the conversions was highlighted when after 32 minutes and some good pressure the RAF were on the scoreboard, hooker Liam Bradley on hand to pick up a loose ball and touchdown under the posts, Si Wray made no mistake with the conversion so it was 6:8 after 33 minutes. The RAF took heart from this score and pressed for more as the half drew to a close. Their efforts were rewarded when a good move down the RN right got them within striking distance and Si Wray beat the cover to score a good try which he duly converted so in less the ten minutes the score had reversed in favour of the RAF 12:8 at the break.

It was crucial that both sides made a good start to the second half and it was the RN that took the initiative, RN Skipper Mark Robinson moved out to the RAF right before giving a beautifully weighted reverse pass to Silivenuisi Buinimasi which saw the big Fijian cut inside almost unopposed to score under the posts. The try converted by Darren Bamford put the RN back in the driving seat. For the next 20 minutes the RN were on top with Andy Kay at the heart of everything, his efforts were rewarded 7 minutes into the half when he took the ball at first receiver and stretched out to ground the ball on the line, another Bamford conversion pushed the RN out to a 12-20 lead. Less than ten minutes later Kay was over again from close range, Bamford converting to make it 12:26. The RN were now in charge and were over gain soon after only to be called back as the Ref had blown up for an earlier knock on, frustrating for the RN but the frustrations did not last long. Darren Bamford taking up a loose ball on the 15 metre line stepped the defence to cross under the posts for another RN score which with his own conversion made the score 12:32. A 20 point lead with less than 15 minutes to go should have been enough but the RAF were defiantly not finished, a good attack gave them field position in the 30 metres out, James Hutchinson who had had a quiet game up to this point ran a brilliant line from the play the ball out to the right and round the RN cover to score, Si Wray was on target with the conversion so it was 18:32 going into the last ten minutes. The final score of the night went to RAF winger Wray who scored his second try of the night but was unable to convert 22:32. Another onslaught by the RAF was just not good enough to breach the RN line again and at the final whistle the score was 22:32 in favour of the Royal Navy. Besides being a great win on the night for the Navy it also meant the end of a losing streak away to the RAF stretching back some 16 years and 8 matches. The Man of the Match awarded by the officials went to RN full back Darren Bamford who just pipped Hooker Andy Kay and for the RAF Si Wray and Jordan Anrade were in contention.

Royal Navy
Darren Bamford, Mike Haldenby, Silivenusi Buinimasi, Tom Loxam, Luke Cooper, Kev Botwood, Ryan Mathews, Rob Conde, Andy Kay, Mark Robinson (C), Ben Taylor, Nathan Lee, Tommy Wilkinson, Steve Riley, Lewis Taylor, Andy Parrott, Craig Sutton
Scorers: T Haldenby 2, Kay 2, Buinimasi, Bamford,
G Bamford (3)Conv

RAF
Scott Stevenson, Si Wray, Dave Hankinson, Nick Arnell, James Hutchinson, Scott Cash, Gary Dunn, Josh Scott, Liam Bradley, Jordan Anrade, Owen Hunt, Lee Queeley, Dale Jinks (C), Lee Davies, Chris Grainger, Jake Starbuck, Chris Kellock
Scorers: T Wray(2), Dunn, Hutchinson
G Wray (3)