Nothing was going to wipe the smile from LBdr Nick Murray’s (RA) face following the Army Senior Men’s 27-12 win over the French Army in Aldershot on Wednesday evening.
That was because the back rower was heading home not just with his first senior cap in his kit bag, but also the try which got the red shirts up and running against their counterparts from across the Channel.
It was a superb try, too, LBdr Murray taking a pass from LCpl Pita Ratukadreu (REME) before beating off two defenders on the way to the whitewash.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “It was so exciting to be on the pitch and an unbelievable experience to be out there on the pitch with so many great players. I really enjoyed it.
“It was unreal to get onto the scoresheet. The space opened up, and I thought ‘this is it’, and went over for the try!
“It was really important to get the win. The two battles [against Cambridge and Oxford] were really hard and this one was needed.”
Red shirt skipper, Capt Stu Cross (RMAS/Yorks) paid tribute to the character shown by the players during the contest.
“We’ve had a couple of tough weeks with a few changes in the squad and a poor performance against Oxford, so a W, and the manner in which we ground it out, was important,” he said.
“What I was most impressed with is that we kept 15 players on the pitch. There was some interesting discipline from the French, so having 15 stay on the pitch was important. It’s huge testament to the character of our players.”
The Senior Men’s previous two outings had both ended in defeat, away to Cambridge University and Oxford University, and Capt Cross added that every player stepped up to put right those wrongs.
”The senior guys have really stepped up, but it’s also important to remember that we had eight new caps, four starting and four on the bench, and they played their part,” he said.
The Army Senior Men are next in action against Bedford Blues in the 2023 Mobbs Memorial Match at Goldington Road on Thursday, April 6th, KO 1945hrs. Ticket information is via www.bedfordrugby.co.uk
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 images – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn
