Army XV Vs Crawshays XV

CRAWSHAYS XV 0 pts – 34pts ARMY

Dave Duffus Stakes a Clain

Crawshay’s rugby is famous in South Wales –but the weather is simply legendary! It hammered down as both sides tried to play dynamic rugby moving the ball through many phases. Importantly the Army was up for a high tempo tussle and had a great work out before departing for the International Defence Rugby Cup in Australia / New Zealand.

Noticeably a number of newcomers to the Army XV—and one notable returnee in Mark Lee —were quick out of the blocks so early in the season. Also the individual willingness and corporate cohesion were apparent from the first whistle.

Maggi Straight In

Coach Andy Sanger fielded a team structured around the experienced Ian Martin and Jack Prasad at 9 / 10, a fortress of a front row and a strong back row that drove the ball fluently left and right before Peceli Nacamavuto went over in the corner on 5 minutes.

One for QUESTION OF SPORT—Who scored two tries on his debut for the Reds ? Answer Ryan Davies (2 Royal Welsh ) who has come from nowhere to draw the selector’s attention. A predator he twice put icing on the cake after some excellent spade work by the pack.

Hughes Keeps on Rolling

John Fisher (REME) played a solid 50 mins. He is rock-like in the scrum and puts himself about in open play. Equally impressive on his return was Dave Bates at lock—he remains strong but a couple of pounds lighter and quite a few yards faster.

Naca Beatds the Defence

The backs were a well-known combination until Dave Duffus arrived to carve gaps in the Crawshays’ defence. More of a Golf GT than a Jaguar he has speed and made an impressive start in a Reds’ shirt.

Matt Dwyer and Rick Reeves scored one a piece in a more than adequate pipe opener and Andy Sanger beamed in the rain—but then it was his weather and it wont be like this down under in sub-tropical Sydney and Auckland.