The Army Under-23s kept retention of their Inter Service Championship crown on track by coming out on top of the Royal Air Force at a wintry Witney RFC.
But the Red Shirts were made to fight the whole way against a Light Blues outfit who displayed plenty of character and quality despite going down to 13 players at one point courtesy of a yellow card and front row injuries.
This was a match which will be remembered not just for the first chills of winter, but also for the swings in momentum that saw the lead change hands five times during the course of the 80 minutes.
AS1 Jenkins drew first blood for the RAF with an early penalty. But the Army struck back almost immediately, when a kick to the corner from a midfield scrum stayed in play. Centre Rfn Diamond collected the loose ball, and while he was held up over the line the Army were playing with a penalty advantage. This was tapped quickly and LCpl Dodd crashed over from close range.
Then it was the RAF’s turn, shrugging off a missed Jenkins penalty shot to pile on the pressure. A lovely inside ball to AS1 Prescott cut through the Army defence, and with penalty advantage of their own the hosts put the ball through the hands to winger AS1 Fulford to score in the corner.
Jenkins added the extras to make the score 10-5, before adding a second penalty. Opposite number LCpl Van der Leestpulled three back for the Army with a long range effort.
Whereas the RAF’s effort and ambition could not be faulted, the Army were running with a bit more purpose and power, aided by slick service from scrum-half, Spr Johnson.
This approach yielded another seven points thanks to a mirror of the first try. Again a tapped penalty, this time on the right, and again Dodd handed the ball with the whitewash beckoning. The only change was Van der Leest adding the extras to put the Red Shirts back in front, 15-13.
There was still time for the centre to add three more points on the stroke of half-time, the teams heading into the warm with the visitors leading 18-13.
The RAF hit the front again some seven minutes into the second half with a lovely score. The play revolved around scrum-half, AS1 Symon, whose show and go held the Army rearguard, before flipping a pass to AS1 Makinson for the try.
Jenkins’ conversion and subsequent penalty took the RAF out to a 23-18 lead, but with 12 minutes of normal time remaining the Army struck a crucial blow.
The forwards were getting into their groove, especially in the scrum, and after one drive had worked inexorably upfield to earn an advantage, Van der Leest slipped through a kick for Diamond to score by the sticks.
Another five points from the tee from Van der Leest not just took the Army out to 28-23 but also helped earn him the Player of the Match award.
Whereas the first half had flown by, the second was a stop-start affair, and even with the clock in the red there was still plenty of time for the RAF to repeat their late Portsmouth dramatics.
Unfortunately, this time the intent to play from deep instead handed the contest to the Red Shirts, replacement scrum-half Pte Hansford-Holt collecting an RAF chip on the bounce to speed his way to the try line.
Van der Leest’s conversion made the final score 35-23 to the Army, who now host the Royal Navy in Aldershot on 27 November to decide who will lift the overall title. Kick off is 1900hrs, entry is free.
Words © Inter Service Championship
All images – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn
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