Tries for Pursglove and Qorowale in club colours

There were tries from Army players in both the professional men’s and women’s games over the weekend.

At Kingston Park, Rfn Vereimi Qorowale (Rifles) opened his professional account in spectacular style for Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby Cup, the winger scooping up a loose ball on the 22 metre line to race all the way to the whitewash shortly after coming onto the field as a second half replacement.

Unfortunately, Newcastle were by then chasing the game against Northampton Saints, and while Rfn Qorowale’s try gave the Falcons both hope and time in which to grab a winning score, the Saints held out to leave the north east with a 31-28 win.

Pte Pursglove was also a replacement, the winger coming off the bench to score for Sale Sharks Women as they opened their Premier 15s season with a win over DMP Durham Sharks.

Sale had to battle hard for their 12-5 half-time lead, but they extended their advantage with several more tries after the break, Pte Pursglove scoring the fifth and final five-pointer in the 31-12 victory.

Elsewhere there were reverses experienced by the other Army players who were in club action.

Sgt Dan Lewis (RAMC) made his first start of the season as London Scottish travelled to Coventry in the Championship Cup.

Scottish kicked the first points with a couple of minutes on the clock, but after that it was Coventry who dominated, scoring six tries before the Exiles troubled the scoreboard operator again. There was a second try to come, but there was little Scottish could do to overcome Cov, the blue and whites running out 52-15 winners.

Then on Sunday at the Stoop there was a shock as Worcester Warriors – whose presence in the competition had been in doubt following the off-field financial troubles at the club over the past few months – overcame 2022 semi-finalists and 2021 champions, Harlequins.

Spr Lauren Brooks (RE) started on the flank for Quins, who found themselves 14-0 down before the end of the opening quarter. Harlequins rallied to keep the score the same through until half-time, and while they got the first score of the second half Worcester pulled away with two further tries that made the final score Harlequins 14, Worcester 28.