Combined Services Match Reports

Click the links to skip to your preferred match report:

Combined Services (25) v Samoa (66) – 17 Nov 10
Combined Services (21) v Barbarians (46) – 9 Nov 10
British troops battle Barbarians and Samoa
Ashton to coach Barbarians in Remembrance Match

Combined Services (25) v Samoa (66) 

Gloucester – 17 Nov 10

Samoa thump Combined Services

Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson

Greg Barden takes the fight forward

With hindsight the inclination is to say ‘forget the statistics’ and pick out the bright spots of this very entertaining game of rugby before a crowd of 6000 highly knowledgeable ‘rugby-nuts’ at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

The Samoans were coming off the back of two defeats to Connaught and Ireland, and were mindful that three days later they faced England at Twickenham. They opened hesitantly but soon found the rhythm to toss the ball around-their strategy paid dividends and after Dave Pascoe (RN) had slotted a penalty the Blues notched up three excellent tries.

The Services responded with Andy Evans (RLC) making use of some surprising space in the 12-13 channels. Much of the Services ability to attack against such a good side was due to the skills and determination of a fine pack-and early ball. The front row of Mel Lewis and Matt Dwyer (bothWG) and Ken Dowding (7 RHA) gave nothing away. Indeed it was loose head Dowding’s most impressive performance in a Service’s shirt. Locks Darrell Ball (RE) and Marsh Cormack (RN) grafted in the nooks and crannies. That Cormack went into the ‘bin’ was somewhat harsh from referee Rob Debney who has been round long enough to have known better!

Samesi Rokoduguni in boisterous mood

The back row of England international 7s player Greg Barden (RN), Joe Kava (RLC) and Army skipper Mark Lee (ALS) were quick to the ball and quick to drive. Barden is an exciting player who can ‘scoop’ and he had a number of fine runs reminiscent of his former position as a centre/wing. After a second Pascoe penalty and much up-front graft he scored a fine opportunist try.

The Services pack was excellent in the tight and particularly in the scrum where the Samoans were frequently on the rack Whilst the Services supporters were appreciating the finesses of the loose head crunching, the Samoans were cramming on the points–sometimes on Services’ mistakes and particularly following four turnovers that led directly to tries. A combination of ‘firstest with the mostest’ and coordinated driving, the ‘turnover’ is now a potent weapon to convert defence into points– which Samoa used to increased effect when the home team tired.

James Reid rounds the defence to score

In the backs Samesi Rokoduguni (RDG) roamed the park in a speedy belligerent mood. The Samoans found him hard to handle and early on he crossed for a fine try. He continued to threaten throughout and although Jack Prasad (SCOTS) fed the ball quickly, the Samoans’ destructive tackling in the centre was sharp and limited the opportunities to launch his talents. Also on the score sheet was James Reid (RAF) who came on as full back, supported a magnificent break by scrum half Ian Martin (YORKS), rounded the Samoans back row cover and glided under the posts.

Playing against an international outfit on tour is mightily difficult but the Services held their heads high. A one eyed statistician might have you believe the Samoans thumped the Combined Services 66 pts-25 but, taking all the plusses in a row, 20 pts came from simple close range turnovers and 14 from kicks. With more imaginative use of figures and averaging out here and there, a fair score on the run of play might have been about 45pts-25. It was a very entertaining match and the revised score makes us feel a whole lot better!

The match provided further support for the Royal British Legion Poppy Fund.

Posted: 22 Nov 10

Combined Services (21) v Barbarians (46) 

Aldershot – 9 Nov 10

Baabaas fleece Combined Services

Jack Prasad opens the services scoring

The Barbarians left nothing to chance when they ‘fleeced’ the Combined Services by 46pts-21 in the annual Remembrance Day Match at Aldershot.

It was clear that with former England coach Brian Ashton at the helm the Barbarians were determined to avenge the Services victory in 2009.

Wales prop Ben Evans currently playing in Italy captained a team that included eight internationals. That the centre of gravity of such excellence lay at half back, and included Maori No 10 Willie Walker outside Italy scrum half Paul Griffen heralded likely trouble.

The Services starting XV stuck to its guns but throughout were kept short of ammunition. Frequently on the back foot, they dug in and Chris Budgen (Exeter Chiefs) and Marsh Cormack (Navy) generated some momentum down the centre. Lock Darrell Ball covered huge tracts but the Services seldom looked sufficiently secure to release their backs. That talisman and former Fiji captain Apo Satala had to leave the field after five minutes was a major blow.

Jack Prasad and shadow in 'strictly come dashing'

The new half back pairing of Navy skipper Dave Pascoe and Fiji international Jack Prasad moved well but always in the shadow of the Barbarian back row where the impressive No8 Nicola Cattina (Aironi) remained fiercely combatant.

England 7s international Josh Drauniniu ran in a fine try whilst Prasad produced the best Services attacking move of the match to go under the posts from 40m. Pascoe kicked accurately for position and goal.

The Barbarians were flamboyant but, critically, more than competitive up front. The grisly Wales props Evans and Darren Morris (RGC 1404), and the Worcester Warriors’ Chris Fortey grafted in places where the lights failed to penetrate.

The Baabaas maintained the adventurous tempo that has hallmarked their famous shirts since Hartlepool in 1890. Springbok full back Thinus Delport was the proverbial last line of attack whilst Willie Walker managed to produce flashes of Maori ball control and flair to open the gaps. The ‘hordes’ poured through.

Peceli Nacamavuto pins his ears back

Griffen was a particular handful. He is a ‘will-of-the-wisp’ player that big forwards dream of nailing but that did not happen and his 30m passes allowed Walker and Ireland international Kevin Maggs to avoid the heavy traffic. Later on one suspects there may have been a petrol strike.

The makeshift Services back row of Army skipper Mark Lee, Joe Kava and England 7s international Greg Barden covered and tackled heroically to restrict the Barbarians to a three scores by half time. In the second period sustained professional fitness allowed them greater freedom – a jink here and a feint there against a tiring defence before crowding on the pace.

Pascoe led his cohorts bravely in to the teeth of the onslaught only to be outnumbered when Barbarian shirts appeared out of the night – two attackers for every man in a white shirt attempting to stem the tide. In essence the length and speed of Paul Griffen‘s pass prevented the Services nailing the free- runners, particularly Delport, who went on to score.

The 2,000 crowd applauded the Barbarians who responded by attacking in wave after wave. It was a slick exhibition of the modern game where forwards and backs were distinguishable only by the numbers on their shirts. The final score 46pts-21 reflected the second half professional – Corinthian gap. On the night the power, skills and speed of the Barbarians were difficult to handle.

Posted: 10 Nov 10

British troops battle Barbarians and Samoa

The following Army players have been selected to play in a Combined Services XV squad against the Barbarians (9 Nov 10) and Samoa (17 Nov 10):

Ashton to coach Barbarians in Remembrance Match

Former England coach Brian Ashton will take charge of a multi-national Barbarians squad for the 13th annual Remembrance Match against Combined Services at the Army Rugby Stadium, Aldershot on Tuesday 9 November (kick-off 7.30pm).

Leading the side on the pitch will be prop Ben Evans, one of half-a-dozen international players in a Barbarians’ line-up drawn from seven countries.

Others providing a backbone of experience to the side include Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen, Springbok full-back Thinus Delport and Wales and Lions’ prop Darren Morris, while the 70-times’ capped Ireland centre Kevin Maggs is scheduled to make his eighth appearance for the Club.

Barbarians’ president Micky Steele-Bodger said, “The Remembrance Match remains a very significant event on our calendar and we are pleased that such a loyal and supportive Barbarian as Ben Evans has accepted our invitation to be captain in a fixture that he first played in five years ago. The squad will also be in safe hands with Brian Ashton as coach, another true Barbarian who played for us on an Easter tour in Wales.”

Also named in the squad are Fylde lock Josh Beaumont who follows his brother Sam in emulating their father Bill as a Barbarian, Llanelli RFC’s captain Craig Hawkins, and the New Zealand Maori fly-half Willie Walker, plus a host of other proven club performers from England, Wales and Italy.

Tickets for the Remembrance Match are avaiable from the Army Rugby Union, tel 01252 334415.

Proceeds from the match are in aid of the Royal British Legion.

Barbarian squad (* – denotes new Barbarian) :

Backs

Thinus Delport (Stourbridge & South Africa), *Paul Jarvis (Hartpury College), *John Rudd (Rosslyn Park & England Saxons), Kevin Maggs (Moseley & Ireland), *Andy Hodgson (Wharfedale), *Jack Adams (Bristol), *Jean Botha (Hartpury College), *Willie Walker (Worcester), *Paul Griffen (Calvisano & Italy), *Sebastiano Dusi (Rugby Parma)

Forwards

Darren Morris (RGC 1404 & Wales), *Richard Barrington (Hartpury College), Ben Evans (Rugby Parma & Wales), captain, Chris Fortey (Worcester), *Craig Hawkins (Llanelli), *Paul Arnold (Fylde), *Josh Beaumont (Fylde), *Talite Vaioleti (Wharfedale & Tonga), *Jake Boer (Cinderford), Jamie Miller (Bristol), *Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), *Nicola Cattina (Aironi)

Posted: 2 Nov 10