Spr Michael McDonald (RE) can now add an international win to his list of achievements in 2022/23, following this weekend’s results in the Rugby Europe Championship.
Spr McDonald was a second half replacement for Germany, who saw off Poland 23-18 on Sunday to book their place in the Championship’s fifth-place play-off. Spr McDonald’s brother, Spr Cameron McDonald (RE), was an unused replacement in the game.
Germany got off to a good start, landing a penalty in the third minute. However they fell behind to a converted try before the end of the first quarter, before replying themselves nine minutes later.
The lead changed hands twice more before Germany – with Spr McDonald now injecting pace and directness into the scrum-half position – struck the decisive blow with a converted try 12 minutes from time, meaning that a last-minute try for Poland was just consolation.
Germany will face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Sunday, March 19th, to decide who finishes fifth in this year’s Championship.
The Netherlands booked their place with a 31-19 win over Belgium, a contest which was refereed by Pte Michael Todd (Scots). It was an eventful first senior refereeing appointment for Pte Todd, who handed out five yellow cards during the clash between the European neighbours.
Domestically there was another win for Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA) and his Coventry team mates, who maintained their third place in the Championship with a 31-13 bonus point win over London Scottish.
Coventry took charge early thanks to a converted try in only the second minute. Scottish got their first points 10 minutes later, but after that the scoring traffic was largely one-way, the blue and whites racking up four more tries on the way to continuing their excellent recent run of form.
In the Premier 15s, Spr Lauren Brooks (RE) and her Harlequins colleagues had a tough afternoon at Twickenham against Exeter Chiefs, who looked every inch the league leading team that they are in a 54-25 win in front of the thousands of supporters and BT Sport cameras.
It took until the second quarter for Quins to get on the scoreboard, by which time they were already 14 points down. Not even a flurry of points before the break could give the hosts any momentum against Exeter, who ran away with the contest in the second half.
It is Corps Championship Finals Day at Aldershot this Wednesday, March 8th, with the first games kicking off at 1100hrs, the Womens final between the Royal Artillery and Royal Logistics Corps at 1330hrs, and the League 1 Final between the Royal Engineers and Royal Logistics Corps beginning at 1530hrs. Entry is free and all are welcome.
Tickets for the 2023 Inter-Services Championship are now on sale.
CLICK HERE for information about the Army v RAF at Kingsholm, Gloucester, on Saturday, April 15th.
CLICK HERE for information about Army Navy at Twickenham on Saturday, May 13th.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Header and featured image – Alligin Photography © Neil Kennedy
