The A Team in Romania

Lets just pop over to Romania with the A team……..

The Army Rugby Union A team (with one or two ‘senior players’) have just returned from a short but inspirational trip to Romania, playing two games in three days against top level club opposition, read the account of what went on below……

Video highlights on YouTube – http://youtu.be/0J_lpVqeUkk

Day 1 Lt Col Stewart Team Doctor

The team met up and threw themselves straight into training to get an early pattern established. Taff Bamsey, Head Coach ran a series of drills before the ‘Doneys’ under the watchful eye of Gareth Evans the forwards coach hit the scrummage machine and spotted a few throws to the line out. Admin and training complete, the team headed to the luxury of Longmoor for the overnight accommodation.

Day 2 WOI Chris Button Asst Manager

The team were up and out on the M25 by 0635hrs on route to Terminal 5. The check in and baggage went without incident as did the arrival in country where we were met by a host of Steau Bucharest RFC officials and Romanian Army officials. The sports club allocated to us has a Cold War touch but is an improvement by some distance from our previous night’s abode!

The food thus far has been good and the team headed into the ‘wacky races’ to sample some local hospitality. A number of lively spots were discovered by the ‘Boy Band’ of Duffus, Chennell and Ken Davey and the team management found a local pop group playing who should think about illegally entering UK to entering the X Factor as they were that good. The last word on the night goes on the subject of which coach has the ability to attract the local village idiot where ever he goes? Romanian’s answer to AC/DC’s lead singer was determined to become part of the team but a few ‘Welsh phases’ persuaded him that he should leave the group alone!

Day 3 Cpl Ben Hughes

The team were afforded the honour at training at the Romanian national stadium in Bucharest. A sharp session took the journey out of legs and gave the coaches some areas to work on. Lunch was provided at the Continental Hotel where the forwards kept the chef busy with extra portions. The afternoon was a double session where the 22 for the match went through their paces.

The management team used their time wisely and Wilkie the Team manager was spotted in the gym working out with the gym manager who is a former Romanian International. Asked how the session went, he mumbled an admission of being out bench pressed by a 58 year old!

The team returned to the accommodation for dinner and to await the arrival of the Senior XV coach Andy Sanger. The mindset is determined and it will need to be as the Romanian Rugby Federation has agreed to the release of Steau’s 7 RWC selected players. Bring it on!

Day 4 Match Day Cpl Tom Chennell

Today brought the first change in the weather as the rain stopped and the temperature rose. We are now going to have to play against our opponents Farul Constanta very muggy, close conditions akin to the weather in the UK recently. Constanta who were 3rd in this season’s Romanian Championship have a reputation of being a very physical side so we are preparing ourselves accordingly.

The team were very relaxed as they visited some of the well known local landmarks in the city. The vibe in the squad is good and the mix of youth and experience has really helped the group bond. The team management who are in the main folically challenged insist on calling our little group the ‘Boy Band’. The line up of Dave Duffus, Mark Winstanley, Ken Davey myself and occasional member Owain Davies have all the attributes required to make it in pop; bad hair, poor fashion sense and no timing and if we are the ‘The Wanted’ then the Ben Hughes grouping are more like an ageing ‘Take That!’ (Ed That’s going to hurt when BH reads this)

Match Report

After a good couple of days training there could be no excuses at today’s fixture. The change in weather, the appointment of a French Air Force referee and a delayed kick off would not be allowed to affect the performance.
The Army with watching Army Senior XV coach Andy Sanger in the stands kicked off well through James Reed and won the ball. On a narrow pitch they moved the ball through several phases before being penalised for holding on at a ruck close to the Farul line. The next 10 mins were all Red as skipper Gareth Libbey and fellow Sapper; Chris Lowrie snaffled any loose ball from Farul. This ball was used to good effect by Tom Chennell who fizzed out passes to his back line whilst managing to find a rampaging Dave Bates to cut through the heavy traffic. The scoreboard remained still as Farul exerted pressure. Despite getting a tough time at the scrummage from Fisher, Lowrie and Hopkins, Farul attacked the 12 channel attempting to get a line break. An opportunity arose but was snuffed out by a great cover tackle from Duffus.

The first score resulted from good play from the forwards which allowed Chennell to find Bates, who punished the Farul fringe defence. The ball was moved swiftly by Reed and Davey allowing Buchan to score out wide. James Reed, who could not replica his out of hand kicking from the tee, missed the conversion. 5-0

The Army pack now stepped up a gear and a stream of possession saw Chris Lowrie, lurking in the right wing berth, received a pop pass from Libbey to increase the Army’s lead. 10.0

The re-start was gathered by Ralph Cooke who was a tower of strength in the aerial battle and despite a good break from Rich Sawyer the Army soon found themselves having to defend some strong runs from the Farul No8 and inside centre. The pressure built and a Farul forward bundled over from close range. The score was converted to make it 10-7 to the Army. Farul seemed to get their second wind and threaten to get back on top. A penalty on the 10 metre line allowed them their next scoring opportunity and the match was all square. 10-10

The halftime break allowed Farul to get their puff back and a chip and chase was missed by the Army defence allowing Farul to score. 10-15

Going behind for the first time in the match, the team now had to put into practice the patience coaches Evans and Bamsey had asked from them on the training field. This was duly delivered and the Army closed the gap with a James Reed penalty after previously missing a shot. 13-15

The Farul team where now holding on by their finger tips and were resorting to some ‘Gareth Chilcott School of Hard Knocks’ tactics. Army discipline remained strong and the team bolstered by a whole new front row of Cameron, Farrow and Tau and Tex and Ryan Davies in the back row continued to apply pressure. Duffus had moved to 10 to accommodate Winstanley was now stretching the Farul defence and the width added allowed him to get up in support of the winger to score. 18-15

Farul had now started rolling subs and their only attacking weapon appeared to be their fly half’s boot. Attempting to pin the Army in the corners, the kicks only found Gareth Coy who fielded with confidence and fed Owain Davies who counter attacked with real pace.

The Farul side now attempted a series of pick and drives. Ryan Davies was to the fore in stopping these drives and after a turnover he managed to get into the wide channels to run in for a try. 23-15

The last 15 minutes saw both sides throw the ball about to get the next score. The Army defend well and applied pressure to all Farul ball and another turnover saw ‘Tex’ dummy his was over for a try. A change of kicker saw Gavin Ferguson‘s who had, had a hand in all the tries finally get on the score sheet, convert to stretch the Army lead. 30-15

Farul scored a well worked try in the last minute to narrow the gap but at no side the result was 30-22 in favour of the Army.

Day 5 Lt Rich Sawyer

The post match period always hurts but more so when you have not played for 2 months. Dale ‘Healing Hands’ worked wonders on the team and the ice cold plunge pool and sauna were a nice touch! The team also under took a process to stretch off and check their injuries. The ‘butchers bill’ for a tough physical match was the news that Ralph Cooke was out for the tour.

The rest of the day was spent at the shopping mall and looking at the video from the previous night’s match. Wilkie the team manager took a small party to the CWGC site in the north of the city.

Match Day

The 3/4 play off match was played in muggy weather and the French Armed Forces scraped through against our previous opponents by 20-16. It can be dangerous making assumptions but this appeared to show that maybe a victory over Steau, even with their 7 RWC bound players was possible.

The coaching team and skipper for the day Gareth Libbey laid out the game plan and we were ready. The Army dominated the breakdown from the whistle and we were able to move the big Steau pack around the paddock. This appeared to have the right effect on their rampaging No8 and their tight head who is a tremendous loose field player. He and his fellow forward were made to work extremely hard by Cam Mclaren, Pete Farrow and Tau.

The Army lost their composure, trying to play too quickly twice in the first 10 mins and were punished. Firstly the Steau international half back possessed a complete kicking game and then their fly half turned 2 shots on goal into a 6-0 lead.

The Army continued to press and it appeared that Steau’s only weapons when under the cosh were to resort to the 9-10 combo for relieving the pressure. This they did with some aplomb and time and time again the Army were pinned back by the kicking of this duo.

At the 20 min point, Steau decided to make a short side break, a switch of play saw them attacking the Army’s exposed flank and they had a 4 on 2. Gavin Ferguson stepped in off his wing and intercepted and ran 60 meters to score. Reed converted to put the Army into a 7-6 leave.

The rest of the first half was a similar pattern, the Army adding huge pressure to the Steau pack and in turn the Reds losing possession to allow the Steau kicking game to press the Army back. From one such occasion Steau constructed a score between the post to re take the lead 13-6. The half ended with another good Ferguson break and more Army pressure.

The second half swung on one event. Steau had reverted to their kicking game and scored from a midfield shot at goal. The Army now 16-7 down tore into a tiring Steau pack and after a missed shot eventually closed the gap to 16-10. The Army through some good drives by Hughes,’Tex’ and Bates started to make in roads into the Steau defence. A scrummage around half way turned into a fracas and the result was hooker Chris Lowrie (not involved) and the Steau hooker being sinbinned. The disruption turned the next 10 mins into a cautious period by both sides. Upon the Army’s return to full strength they went for the kill and scored through ‘Tex’ wide out. The conversion was missed 16-15 to Steau!

The class and experience showed in those last few moments. Steau with their 7 internationals and squad who have in recent seasons played Gloucester and Saracens in the Amlin Cup, won the restart before picking and driving for about ten metres. The drop kick that followed was ugly but was enough to take Steau to 19-15 and safety.