A mild Friday evening under floodlights at the Aldershot Military Rugby Stadium, where the Army Master’s played host to a very young, hungry, fit RMAS team in what can only be described as a match of unknowns.
Assumptions were made that this young fit team would play to their strengths and try to move the much older team around the park. Hopefully RMAS wouldn’t know that this is how the Masters’ like to play their rugby?
For the neutral this was a fantastic game of rugby to watch.
A good start by RMAS with strong carries by their 12 and good hands by the RMAS half backs but they were unable to fully penetrate the Masters’ scramble defence. In the 5th Min RMAS No 7 stepped the Masters’ full back to score under the posts. Conversion missed. 0-5
7 Mins in, the Masters’ were awarded a Penalty by RMAS for holding on, the Masters’ decided to kick to the corner. The resulting lineout was won cleanly, and the forwards started driving towards the corner, the Masters’ scrum half LSgt Iggy Putty WG, sniped around the corner, but the ball went to ground (backwards), it was cleaned up and Cpl “Big Joe” Nalewabau R Sigs, who went over for the Masters’ 1st try. Conversion Missed. 5-5
The next 20 mins saw RMAS making inroads down the flanks without being able to convert into points as the stubborn Masters’ scramble defence held firm. The Masters’ were dominating the set piece, both their own as well as turning over some RMAS lineout interspersed with a smattering of penalties. The Masters’ were making some hard yards only to be turned over and for RMAS to counter down the left side to score a try, converted. 5-12. The aforementioned regulation story of the first half continued broken only by a missed penalty attempt by the Masters’ in the 38th min.
HT 5-12 to RMAS.
The senior players in the dressing room took charge of the HT team talk, which included words to the effect of: “stop trying to play 23 yr old rugby, we’re not 23. Play our rugby, play our structure”. This message was reinforced by Head coach WO2 Dean Lloyd-Christie RWxY in is his usual calming and constructive manner.
The half time team talk clearly had the desired effect, in the 44th minute a training ground move saw SSgt Dean Bradley RAPTC pick up from a ruck 10m out, travelling with the ball to create a gap, then with an audacious out the back of the hand pass to SSgt Liam Bowman RA to scythe through; step the last defender and score under the posts. A score that will live long in the memory and on Liam’s Highlight reel!! Conversion Missed 12-12.
The next 10 mins saw each team cancel each other out, some moments of individual brilliance that lacked support from both teams. 55 min saw a sublime individual break by SSgt Dean Bradley RAPTC that was finally supported, and a try was scored by SSgt Vasa Bai RAMC. Conversion missed 17-12.
The following 15 mins saw the Masters’ ring the changes and empty the bench. This resulted in slightly less dominance in the set piece and fewer line breaks while the finishers caught up with the pace of the game. However, with 10 mins the go the Masters’ were awarded a penalty 8m from the RMAS try line and Masters’ Captain SSgt Ben Butler, RLC elected for a scrum. The result of which was a try for No 8 LSgt Stevie George, WG converted by WO2 Chris Harris, R Welsh 24-12.
24-12 to the Masters’ was the final score in a very entertaining fixture, that saw both sides go for it.
Man of the match for RMAS OCdt Gliksten (Junior Term, RMAS)
Man of the match for the Army Masters Cpl Joe Nalewabau (R Sigs)
Quote from Backs Coach; SSgt Jim Longhurst RTR. “I am 75% happy with that performance, there is still work to do before we play the RAF”.
Quote from Asst DoR; Maj Dave Boocock. “Two teams with different characteristics and styles of play created a good game, which in turn provided a strong challenge for the Masters’ to overcome”.
Match report by Capt Brad Sutherland RAMC (Team Manager)
Video footage © JPF Sports Media
