Army Senior Women Head Coach, WO2 Sarah Mitchelson (RLC), says that last weekend’s trip to play the French Navy in Cherbourg will be a building block for the team’s future.
Despite only having a 16-player squad for the game, the red shirts stayed in contact with the hosts, trailing by just the three points at half-time.
Capt Becky Church (RAMC) crossed for the first try with an interception, with Pte Courtney Pursglove (RLC) continuing her run of tries in the big games with a score either side of the break. The first was a kick and chase, the second a reminder of Pte Pursglove’s game-breaking speed.
The numbers told in the end, as the French extended their lead to 32-21 by the final whistle.
WO2 Mitchelson says that the experience will be important as the team looks to build onwards and upwards still further in 2023/24.
“Although we were a little short on numbers we were still able to have two good days of training in Aldershot and a day in France,” she commented. “With many new players wearing the red shirt for the first time I was excited to see what they could produce.
“We defended like heroes for the majority of the game, which would only mean eventually there would be gaps. And with our discipline not at its best the French Navy were always going to put points on the board.
“The game was frustrating and we never dealt with the referee. The scrums also did not go our way, and the language barrier made it very hard for us to fix it.
“But when we did get the ball and put some phases together we were electric, and the French struggled with our pace.
“We are disappointed with the result and frustrated we didn’t get to show our potential. But as always I cannot fault the effort, attitude and determination from the whole squad. It was a full group effort, and allowed new players to gain some vital red shirt experience.”
Also last Saturday, red shirt stalwart, Bdr Bethan Dainton (RA), made it two tries in as many Challenge Cup games for Leeds Rhinos, who overwhelmed Leigh Leopards 54-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Leeds will host Wigan on July 23rd, with the winners then heading to Wembley for finals day.
Elsewhere the Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams were back in action in the Edinburgh City Sevens.
The Men finished third overall, falling at the semi-final stage to Ramblin’ Jesters 7-17, with a walkover against Akuma Agents confirming their overall position.
Day 1 had seen the Men beat Newcastle School Old Boys (40-0) and Naitasiri Highlanders (26-14) before a final round-robin loss to the EC7s All Stars (7-14). Red Wailers were despatched 31-0 in the quarter finals on day two before the journey came to an end in the semis.
The Women had all their matches on the Saturday, and shrugged off two losses against Big Rig Rugby (14-31) and Savvy Panthers (14-24) to get a win on the board in the fifth-place play-off, beating Scotty’s Little Soldiers 20-10.
The Sevens teams’ next competition is on July 8th, when they will be in the London Invitational Sevens at Twyford Avenue in Acton.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Header and featured images – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn
