Sailors 38-30 Marines

The day started with the match between a Sailors team and a team from the Marines played on the 4G pitch at HMS Temeraire. The sun had come out to make the conditions great for spectators but hard work for the players. With the squads only of 16 on each side Ref Phil Rigby in conjunction with respective coaches agreed to have a game of four quarters rather than two halves which turned out to be a wise move as the pace of the game was extremely fast throughout.

The game started as it was to go on over the 80 minutes of play with both sides demonstrating their fitness on the artificial pitch. The opening score went to the Sailors, a good move down the right wing saw winger Lloyd Williamson feed full back Sam Carter who touched down out wide. A similar move 5 minutes later gave Williamson the chance to score himself which he gratefully accepted scoring out on the wing. Ryan Matthews was in great form with the boot and put over two difficult conversions to give his side a 12-0 lead after 15 minutes. The Marines struck back before the first break to let the Sailors know they were in a game. First up Danny Oner crossed on the Marines left followed almost from the kick off by a try on the opposite wing, Rob Lyons beating some indifferent cover to score. The trys were not converted so it was 12-8 at the break. The Sailors were back on the scoreboard shortly after the restart, Ryan Mathew’s scoring the try but this time he was unable to convert the score, 16-8. This set the tone for the second quarter further trys for hooker Southernwood and skipper Kev Botwood both converted by Matthews pushed the sailors out to a 20 point lead at ‘half time’.

The sailors came out for the 3rd quarter confident in their game plan and with the scoreboard well in their favour started playing some very expansive rugby with plenty of attempted off loads some of which worked and crucially some did not giving the Marines a way back into the game. One such loose ball led to a 70 metre sprint by debutant Rodi Roldeuna whose touchdown edged his side closer to the Sailors. This score was cancelled out by a second try for Kev Botwood, converted by Matthews, 34-12. Again the Marines came back and were rewarded with a well taken score for Rich McGlade this time Ben Henderson was on target so going into the third and final break it was 34-18 to the sailors. The conditions and the pace of the game was definitely taking its toll on the players resulting in a couple of player exchanges to even up the sides for the last 20. The sailors scored first in this last period of play James Holland scoring out on the Sailors right which was the last score his side would get as Matthews was wide with his conversion attempt, 38-18. The Marines did post a further 12 pots themselves with trys for loanees James Parry and Matt Holland with a brace of conversions for Ben Henderson to give a final score of 38-30 to the sailors.

Credit to all the players involved for putting on a great show for the spectators and a special mention to RNRL Physio Heidi Winn who was constantly working throughout the match assessing and patching up players from both sides as the game went on.

Winning skipper Kev Botwood accepted the ‘Brothers 20’ trophy from former Wales and Warrington player Mike Nicholas who spent the day with RNRL and rounded off the day with a speech to the dinner guests later in the day.

Sailors
Sam Carter, Josh Coupland, Mike Haldenby, Api Daunibau, Lloyd Williamson, John Clay, Ryan Matthews, Kev Botwood, James Parry, Jarron Southernwood, Adam Birkett, Tom Howard, Matt Holland, Rhys Bingham, Aaron Hunt, James Holland, Ben Taylor
Scorers:
Trys -Botwood (2), Carter, Mathews, James Holland, Southernwood, Williamson
Goals – Mathews 5

Coach Wata Robanakavadu

Marines
Griffiths, Jordan Wyles, Danny Oner, Will Williams, Matt Couzens, Rich McGlade, Ben Henderson, Charlie Hind, Connor Dow, Rob Lyons, Rodi Roldeuna, Matt Bayliss, Ryan Scott, Chris Reeves
Scorers:
Trys- Oner, Lyons, Roldeuna, McGlade, Parry, Matt Holland
Goals – Henderson 3

Coach Steve Riley