The Jack Harrison Trophy VC 2019

Ref James Jones got the game underway on time and as expected the first few minutes were very tense as the sides got the measure of each other as well as Mr Jones who was quick to stamp his authority on the game with a string of penalties for offside on both sides. One of these penalties resulted in a two-point shot for the Army which was duly converted by stand-off Roche. Another penalty was awarded to the Army but this time Roche was wide with this effort so it remained 2:2. A lot of hard graft by both sides with defences on top made for an absorbing first half with neither sided giving much away. The Army did claim a try for Kev Brown but there was a clear double movement as the hooker went for the line so the RN survived and a penalty cleared the line. Although the early stages of the game belonged to the Army the RN began to get up a head of steam as the half wore on but determined Army defence kept the them at bay. The pressure was building however and as the half drew to a close the beleaguered Army defence conceded a penalty for a play the ball infringement which was coolly slotted over by Lennox Green to tie the scores at the break.

The deadlock remained well into the second half with the RN on top in the early stages and did indeed cross the line only to have the score chalked off for a knock-on In the build up. A couple of injuries were sapping the reserves on the bench but the Brothers kept up the pressure until probably the game changing incident occurred. As the RN once again attacked the defence, a speculative kick to the corner was gathered by winger Robert Matamosi who managed to clear the RN defence and complete a length of the field sprint to score left of the posts, Roche converted and his side were now up 2:8. It was the Army left that was in again shortly afterwards this time Nadaubale got the 4 pointer, converted by Roche, 2:14. Another try soon afterwards sealed the win for the Army as the game drew to a close although unconverted the Brothers would need three scores with conversions to get the result. The final score(s) of the night went to stand off Roche who converted his own score to give a final score on the night of 6:24

RN Coach Steve Lockton had no complaints on the night as he assesses the injuries from a tough game in preparation for the match against the RAF at Featherstone in ten days time or so.

Man Of The match Army No 9 Kev Brown

RN Seniors
Darren Bamford, Luke Cooper, Sean Houghton (V/C), Gavin Duffy, Ed Holland, Sean Casey, Lennox Green, Jonny Griffiths, Danny Heaton, Danny Johnson, Ben Taylor (C), Matt Holland, Jamie Birdsall, Marika Tuinabunawa, Louis McKenna, Mark Robinson, Danny Oner, Barry Maclean

Army
J. Vakalalabure, U. Naulusala, P Holmes(v/c), R. Matamosi, E Nadaubale, K Roche, D Bains, A Hicken, K. Brown, R. Watkin, J Kerman (C), M. Hoyle, A Ward, T Zugar, C Wooler, M Scott, A Mc Bride