Senior Men too strong for Cambridge University

The Army’s Senior Men had control of the scoreboard from the first whistle to the last at Grange Road, putting five tries past Cambridge University in a 31-17 win.

It took barely two minutes for the Army to strike first. After Cambridge had returned the kick off and the red shirts had done in kind, the visitors competed fiercely at the breakdown to win a penalty. Spr Jack Johnson (RE) was alert both to the opportunity and the slowness of the Cambridge retreat, and tapped quickly to run in unopposed to the uprights, adding the simple conversion.

There was a second opportunity for the red shirts after 10 minutes, but while Cambridge held that out their defence was dissected in some style on the quarter-hour mark for the Army’s second try.

Scrum-half, Rfn Vili Salusalu (Rifles), looped around to the right, heard the call from Pte Adriu Muritoki (Scots) on the right touchline and floated out the pass. The full back had precious little room to work in, but his acceleration off the mark and then dancing footwork left several blue shirts in his wake, and when Sgt Connor O’Reilly (7 Para RHA) cut a nice supporting line the score was a formality.

Sgt O’Reilly then turned provider for the Army’s third score, breaking up the right wing to leave the home defence split again. This time there were as many forwards there in support as backs, LCpl Jake Bamber (REME) on hand to finish things off.

This put the Army 19-0 up inside the opening quarter. But Cambridge struck next, hooker Ben Gompels peeling off a lineout maul to dive over. There was a second lineout try for the students on the half-hour, but with neither being converted the Army had a handy 19-10 lead with the break approaching.

It could have been more, had Pte Muritoki held onto a pass from Rfn Vereimi Qorowale (Rifles) after the centre had made a powerful scything break from his own goal line.

That would have been a sensational long-range try, but there was something similar for the red shirts to cheer as the second half got underway. The Light Blues had opened the half strongly, driving a lineout maul to suck in the red shirt rearguard. But when the ball came right there was no one to get the ball out from the back of a ruck.

The ball was called out, Spr Johnson grabbed it with glee and sent Pte Olly Butterworth (PARA) away down the touchline and over the whitewash for a 24-10 lead.

This rocked Cambridge, but their forwards were nevertheless taking an increasing foothold in the contest, and when Byron Hodge finished off yet another lineout drive it gave the Light Blues life at 17-24.

With 15 minutes to go the Army extended their advantage once again. Pte Aposai Ducau (RLC) had made a nuisance of himself through the middle of the ruck, asking regular questions of the Cambridge defence. And it was one such break which put the Army into the position from which they would score their fifth try.

Spr Johnson showed some nice hands to put Cpl Ethan Riley (RLC) through a gap, and when the ball came left LCpl Phil Graham (RE) demonstrated his finishing prowess to sidestep his way to the whitewash. Spr Johnson added the extras to make the score 31-17.

That try knocked the stuffing out of the students, and the Army saw out the 80 minutes in relative comfort.

ARMY TEAM

1. LCPL BAMBER, 32 ENGR REGT LAD, 2. BDR AUSTIN, 12 REGT RA (C), 3. SSGT HORNER, 5 RIFLES LAD, 4. CPL BEEVOR, 10 QOGLR LAD, 5. Lt Mitchell, 2 R ANG, 6. GNR DAVISON, 4 REGT RA, 7. LBDR MURRAY, 47 REGT RA, 8. PTE DUCAU, RLC att 2 MED REGT, 9. RFn SALUSALU, 5 RIFLES, 10. SPR JOHNSON, 36 ENGR REGT (VC), 11. PTE BUTTERWORTH, 2 PARA, 12. 2LT KELLY, AGC (SPS) att COLDM GDS, 13. RFN QOROWALE, 2 RIFLES, 14. SGT O’REILLY, 7 PARA RHA (VC), 15. PTE MURITOKI, 3 SCOTS, 16. RGR COEN, 2 R IRISH, 17. CPL JENKINSON, 17 P&M REGT RLC, 18. SGT WESTWOOD, 4 REGT RA, 19. RFN RAVUVU, 2 RIFLES, 20. LCPL NAYAGI, 1 R YORKS, 21. CAPT ACKERS, 2 RIFLES (vc), 22. CPL RILEY, HQ RLC, 23. BDR DAVIES, 12 REGT RA, 24. LCPL GRAHAM, 32 ENGR REGT, 25. SPR QANIUCI, 39 ENGR REGT

Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks

All images – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn

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