Army are Babcock Inter Service Champions 2011

BEN THERE—DONE IT ! Sapper Ben Hughes wins 32nd Cap as Army beats Navy 44pts—10

Ben Hughes—35 not out

The Army ran in seven good tries against the Royal Navy in the BABCOCK Trophy match at Twickenham. All but the faintest memories of 2010 have been expunged, good order and military discipline has, after a painful twelve months, been fully restored !

As Ben Hughes emerged from the tunnel and crossed the chalk line he knew he had created an Army record 32nd cap—a magnificent feat of selfless devotion. No wonder singing the National Anthem in front of 62,799 partisans felt good. He knew the Navy had prepared for a roughhouse and that it was his job to secure the front trenches. He also knew now, if ever, was the time to deliver.

Ian Martin—quick to react

The Army started cautiously, gave away a penalty and then allowed the Navy a pretty soft try. Ten points down and frankly not looking that good. It was therefore a massive credit that Melvin Lewis quietly regrouped his cohorts and demanded more from his spearhead players. Many of the Army players had the advantage of experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and knew what it meant to ‘take stock and buck-up’.

Apo Satala ran, twisted and swatted blue shirts away to cross in the corner. Jack Prasad then ran a full 50m for the best individual try seen at Twickenham for decades. A show on the outside, a jink and shrug combined with pure genius and he was off to the posts escorted by a flotilla of blue jerseys– to no avail. Ceri Cummings converted for a 12pts—10 half time lead.

Jack the Lad

Reports have it that even after such a fantastic end of half flourish, it did little to soften coach Andy Sanger’s half time homily—pain comes in all shapes !

The second half was different as the Reds opened their lungs to play total rugby. Maybe the Navy had suffered from their first half battering but as the Army surged forward in numbers the Matelots were left clutching at straws. No one laid a finger on Ben Seru as he went around to the posts. Cummings converted.

Cue exhibition rugby at the match when and where it truly mattered. Prasad tied England 7s international Greg Barden in knots. He had the Navy defence thinking anything but the ‘actuals’enabling centres Paul Gittins and Peceli Nacamavuto to cut loose as Prasad moved the ball wide.

Paul Llewellyn on the charge

The return of lock Darrell Ball to a Reds’ shirt was a huge bonus. His aerial skills at the lines out and receiving kicks-off under severe provocation were second to none. Gareth Slade Jones winning his 25th Army cap at scrum half was there to make the best of what he received. Replacement Ian Martin added a little something extra as the Reds upped the tempo.

Ifereimi Boladau at No6 led the Reds on successive rampages deep into Navy territory. Seru notched up his hat trick and Satala bagged a second. The final flourish came when Gus Qasevakatini flew down the left for a most spectacular finish.

It was a signed, sealed and delivered victory and the Red sections of the record crowd roared their delight. It was a farewell triumph for the hugely understated skipper Melvin Lewis who has all season grafted in the front row and led his men forward. He ensured that vital link between the mind of the coach and action on the park. “We stuck to our patterns, we got couple of scores and everyone settled down. I was always confident we would come away with a win”. Some WIN !

Newcomers to TW1—Ricky Reeves and hooker Alex Whitaker

Coach Andy Sanger was in a reflective mood when he said “It was a good day for Army rugby. We started a little slowly but soon picked up the vital focus and the pace. The big men did their stuff when it was needed and it was great to see the likes of Twickenham fresher Ifereimi Boladau coming through. Our rugby at the BABCOCK Inter Services Championship demonstrated so clearly the value of the offshore training camp where individuals can come together as a team, discuss the art of the possible and then rehearse to as near perfection as we can”