Interim Head Coach, Lt Col Tim Osman, says that the Army Senior Men need to learn from the mistakes of Saturday’s Army Navy match to come back stronger in 2024.
The red shirts were on the wrong end of the result in an Army Navy match for the first time since 2010, losing 39-22 in front of more than 51,000 supporters at Twickenham.
And only the most partisan red shirt supporter would decry the Royal Navy their victory. Jordan Cross’s five penalties punished Army discipline in the first half, with a quick-fire try either side of half-time taking the Navy into an unassailable year.
For the Army there was the sight of Twickenham debutant, Spr Cameron McDonald (RE), marking his first run out at the home of England rugby with a memorable hat trick.
The winger is one of 12 players to have made their senior debut for the red shirts in 2023, and Lt Col Osman says that it is important that they, and the rest of the playing group, learns from the experience if the Army is to regain the Inter Service Championship next year.
“There’s some decent talent in the group, and they’ll be better from the experience of today,” he said. “Nobody likes losing games on big stages, the big finale at the end of the season. So we’ve got to suck that up, get on with it, and come back stronger next year as a result.
“People say you learn from your mistakes, and we have to make sure we do that.”
Lt Col Osman added that the Army were perhaps somewhat guilty of over-forcing their own play as they sought to fight their way back into the contest.
“They stopped us playing,” he said. “Their defence was on point throughout and our penalty count, particularly in the first half, was way too high. Once you get on the wrong side of the referee you’re going to struggle against a decent team.
“When they got the chance to go forward they took that momentum. We started playing catch-up a little bit early. We were in the game at half-time, which perhaps wasn’t deserved, albeit they scored in the last play.
“Then once we chased a little bit too much we came unstuck a little bit. You can’t win them all, and the Navy deserved it today.”
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Images – Alligin Photography © Army v Navy Match
