Head Coach Capt Gareth Slade-Jones (RAPTC) admitted his Army Under 23s side’s dramatic 8-7 loss to the RAF “is part of sport” after a late, late AS1 Kieran Jenkins penalty snatched victory for the hosts at a soaking Witney RFC.
Having overturned double-digit deficits three times before eventually sealing a 31-28 title-winning triumph against the RAF in 2021, this time it was the defending Inter-Services champions’ turn to suffer at the death.
And Capt Slade-Jones revealed: “It was a role reversal from last year despite our last-ditch effort. They nipped it, but that’s sport.
“It was a good spectacle despite the rain – I thought both teams found their feet and played some good rugby regardless of the weather.”
The Army enjoyed the better of the first half with the hosts twice being reduced to 14 men with flankers AS2 Connor Roberts and AS1 (T) Ben Collins both sin-binned for persistent team infringements.
With the latter off the park, prop Sig Drew Stephenson (R Signals) touched down on the left following sustained pressure from the Army, LCpl Chris Hubbertsey (REME) – who had missed two early penalties – landing a cracking touchline conversion.
His side then had both ATPR Max Percival (AAC) and Pte Orisi Katalau (RLC) held up over the line in stoppage time, but Capt Slade-Jones was not sure a second score would have proved decisive.
“I don’t know whether we’d have been able to hold on, because I thought the RAF found a second wind in the second half,” he said. “It’s ifs, what’s and maybes, but it was a great game.”
And in a captivating contest, a try just after the hour mark from hooker AS2 Josh Peacock – who was at the back of a powerful rolling maul – and penalty from AS1 Kieran Jenkins with the penultimate play, proved decisive.
While disappointed, Capt Slade-Jones believes his side can still retain their title and also praised all those who put on an entertaining contest despite the treacherous conditions.
He concluded: “It’s easy to forget with what was on show that these are young service people who have all got jobs.
“Some individuals will be back straight on course tomorrow, others have got exams, but they put in a huge commitment to rugby as well. It’s what inter-services rugby is all about.
“Fingers crossed results can go our way and we get a good one against the Navy.”
The Army hosts the Royal Navy at Aldershot on Wednesday, November 30, at 19:00hrs. Entry is free.
Words © Richard Ashton
Header and Featured Image – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
