Pte Courtney Pursglove’s (RLC) first try was crucial in setting the Army Senior Women on their way to an Inter Service Championhip win over the Royal Air Force at Kingsholm, according to Forwards Coach, SSgt Ken Dowding (RA).
The first 15 minutes were about as error-strewn as the Army had put in all season. The RAF capitalised with a try and a penalty, but there were points left out on the pitch as well thanks to a missed penalty and a five-pointer notched off for offside.
But then with 17 minutes on the clock all of a sudden things clicked, with a backline move from a scrum working perfectly to create space from which Pte Pursglove raced away to the whitewash.
From then on there was no looking back, as the RAF were increasingly shut out from the rest of the contest while the Army ran in 36 unanswered points to win 36-8.
“We were a bit concerned, but it was nice how the girls composed themselves,” said SSgt Dowding. “The one opportunity they got and then you saw squad completely settle and go straight back into their structure in attack and defence. It was a real calming effect.
“It’s hard at times to play rugby. You make one mistake and it snowballs, and the fact that you can take an opportunity and have it affect a game, that certainly settles the nerves.
“We knew after watching the RAF that they were not going to give up from minute one to 80. They were relentless in what they did, but we were one step ahead.”
Pte Pursglove’s try was the first of four in the opening 40 minutes, and SSgt Dowding says that scoring the fourth on the stroke of the break was equally important, Sgt Sarah Batley (AGC (HQ)) coming up with the ball.
“It was a massive lift. The pleasing thing as coaches was that we completely upped our game, and if anything we grew more as a team.”
Pte Pursglove’s first score was good, but the second was outstanding, as she turned a quarter-chance into a 60-metre try for the Instagram reels thanks to a chip, chase, collect and pace.
“She really does take her opportunities well,” SSgt Dowding added. “She creates things, and the best thing about Courtney is her desire to work. The work rate she showed to get on that ball, chip it through and get back onto it and back herself was phenomenal.”
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