Army players were involved in some memorable results across the weekend.
This was no more so than on Friday night, where LCpl Semesa Rokoduguni (Scots DG) pulled off one of the wins of the season, downing the colours of in-form reigning champions, Harlequins, at the Recreation Ground.
LCpl Rokoduguni had an impressive display in an unfamiliar position of full back, and while Bath conceded three quality tries to Harlequins, they stayed in the contest to score two tries of their own in the second half land a late penalty to seal a 21-17 win.
“It was a tough week last week, a short week, and then to come out against the reigning champions and pull that out of the bag, I’m really pleased for the boys,” commented Bath’s Head Coach Neal Hatley.
Bath are still bottom of the table, but are pulling themselves closer to Worcester and Bristol, who had a bye week this week.
Then on Saturday afternoon Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) was a second half replacement as Glasgow Warriors shrugged aside their Champions Cup disappointment by comprehensively beating Connacht in Galway.
The Warriors were hunting their third straight victory in the United Rugby Championship and started on the front foot, scoring first and going on to lead 17-10 at the break.
There was more dominance in the second half, as three tries became six and the defence remained resolute, Glasgow running out eventual winners by 42 points to 10.
The win moves Glasgow from fourth to second in the table, but with half the season still to play the situation could not be much tighter, with just five points separating the league’s top five teams.
“I know they were missing a few internationals but we were missing seven,” commented Danny Wilson, the Warriors’ Head Coach. “We controlled the game well. We attacked well, our set piece was good and we put a lot of pressure on their lineout.”
There was drama in the Premier 15s for Capt Gemma Rowland (RA) and her Wasps team mates, who welcomed the in-form Exeter Chiefs to Twyford Avenue in front of the live streaming cameras.
Exeter scored first, and led 10-7 at half-time, but the second half remained a nip-and-tuck affair, with the teams scoring a try apiece and Wasps nailing a late penalty to secure a share of the points courtesy of a 15-all draw.
Across London, Capt Rowland’s RA team mate, Bdr Bethan Dainton, was part of a Harlequins team which got back onto winning ways with a 26-12 win over Gloucester-Hartpury.
The visitors had been in good form coming into the clash, but Quins took a lead in the fifth minute that they would not relinquish, turning a 21-7 half-time advantage into a 26-12 full-time result.
“We had to move people around this week with quite a few injuries, so I’m happy with the resilience we showed,” commented Harlequins’ Head Coach, Gerard Mullen. “We got on with it and got the job done. Gloucester have been on a good run and I’m happy that we stuck with our plan, and everything we spoke about during the week, we brought to life.”
However there was no winning feeling for Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA), who could not swing the momentum Coventry’s way when he entered the action in the second half of his team’s Championship clash with Cornish Pirates.
Coventry had led by 10 points at the break, but the tide turned inexorably the Pirates’ way after the break, the visitors scoring 20 unanswered points to win 31-21.
Nevertheless, with the big back rower having missed the last four months it was a timely return to action with the Inter-Services Championship just a couple of months away.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks. Header Image © Army v Navy Match / Andrew Fosker. Featured Image © Army Rugby Union / Andy Bonner
