Pte Ratu ‘Siva’ Naulago (Yorks) extended his winning run in rugby union to three matches this weekend by helping Bristol Bears to an eye-catching win away to Exeter Chiefs.
The Bears were superb, pressuring Exeter with their defence and capitalised on their opportunities to head back up the M5 with a 20-7 win under their belts. And while he did not get on the scoreboard himself Pte Naulago certainly contributed to the effort, making 61 metres from his four carries, making two clean breaks and beating three defenders.
The win at Sandy Park put Bristol on top of the Premiership table going into the final two pool rounds of European competition, with the Bears scheduled to host Connacht at Ashton Gate on Sunday, January 17th, although this fixture is in doubt along with the others in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup while tournament organisers EPCR await a definitive directive from the French government as to whether clubs from that country can play their counterparts from the UK.
Other games this weekend scheduled to include Army Senior representatives were unfortunately unable to be played.
There was no Glasgow swansong for Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) on Friday night, as a sudden drop in temperature froze the Scotstoun pitch and forced a late cancellation of the Pro14 derby against Edinburgh.
Then Saturday’s all-London Premier 15s clash between Harlequins and Wasps was postponed by the RFU due to continuing concerns regarding Covid-19 within the Harlequins camp.
SSgt Sarah Mitchelson (RLC) and Capt Gemma Rowland (Royal Artillery) had been named on the Wasps bench, and while Harlequins had not announced their team a number of other Army Senior Women may well have featured.