Player of the Match WO2 Ben Fulton (RA) confessed the Army Masters had wrongs to right after they beat the RAF Vultures 24-0.
Victory at Kingsholm Stadium confirmed a runners-up Inter-Services finish for the Red Shirts, star man Fulton crossing the whitewash in the second period after scores from Sgt Pauliasi Taura (RA), SSgt Nicky Lloyd (R Sigs) and Maj Sam Richardson (AGC (SPS)) had made it 19-0 at the interval, WO2 Chris Harris (R Welsh) with a brace of conversions.
The Air Force were competitive throughout and Fulton’s outstanding leadership in defence proved key in victory, with the inside centre stating: “We’re over the moon with the performance – we got caught short last week, but we showed our true colours and what we can bring to the party against the RAF.
“It was very challenging on a hot night with a fast pitch, but both sides showed we’re still capable, physical and willing to go the extra mile.
“We just needed to stick our game plan, keep our composure, avoid getting caught up in a dogfight like we did against the Navy, and we did that.”
And reflecting on a maul try, the centre-turned-flanker added: “Things change and they put me on the flank, and I was excited with the try but it’s a team effort and reflected by the score.”
Captain SSgt Liam Bowman (RA) was pleased to head into retirement on the back of victory as he revealed: “Nilling the Vultures is nice, scoring four tries is fantastic, but it was all about getting the win.
“After last week’s disappointment and not turning up against the Navy – we threw the game away and had a point to prove to ourselves and the coaches that we are the side we’ve shown before.
“We had to come together to get over the loss, and all I said in the changing rooms was we need to stick to our patterns of play, keep our discipline – and while we kind of lost that in the second half – we showed in the end we’re good enough.”
Receiving a huge round of applause when substituted midway through the second half, Liam concluded: “Kingsholm is fantastic. It’s my eighth and final season with the Masters and to end like this is what we’ve aspired to get to – playing here on a Friday night at a Premiership ground in front of a good crowd is just fantastic.”
Words © Richard Ashton
All images – Alligin Photography © Army Rugby Union
