A combination of slick attacking play and gritty defence proved a winning combination for the Army Men as they beat their French counterparts 33-22 in Pau.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Red Shirts made a dream start inside two minutes as a well-weighted pass from fly-half Spr Jack Johnson (RE) created space for Tpr Levi Roper (QDG) to run in from some 35 metres out, the centre stepping smartly inside the initial challenge before showing a fair turn of foot to the line.<\/p>\n Johnson added the extras, but the French cut the deficit with a 40-metre scrum penalty shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n They missed a chance to further trim the deficit when the visitors infringed at the breakdown, but a straightforward chance was hooked left from 25 metres out.<\/p>\n The French Army did, though, cut the gap to one as they forced another penalty after winning a scrum against the head, but they then butchered a glorious chance to hit the front when spilling the ball inches from the line on the right.<\/p>\n The pressure was well and truly on the away side, but some tenacious defence \u2013 even when reduced to 14 men as Sgt Matt Dawson (Int Corps) was sin-binned for cumulative team offences near their try-line \u2013 restricted their opponents to a third penalty for a 9-7 lead midway through the second quarter.<\/p>\n And having successfully kept France from crossing the whitewash, a moment of magic from Johnson put the Army back ahead, the stand-off\u2019s sublime side-step creating space to run in from the 22.<\/p>\n He successfully converted his own score, and with France again knocking-on when having good field position just before the break, the visitors had a 14-9 half-time advantage.<\/p>\n That, however, was wiped out early in the second period, another scrum penalty kicked by the French before a three-pointer for a misdemeanour at the breakdown edged them in front.<\/p>\n The Red Shirts rallied, though, and in a topsy-turvey encounter regained the lead when Lt Frank Kelly (AGC (SPS)) burrowed over from close range for a try again added to by Johnson.<\/p>\n And the centre doubled his tally at the start of the final quarter, midfield partner Roper making a fine break before sending Kelly away for the score and breathing space.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s kick made it 28-15, but the French came again and forced a second sin-binning for the Army, Cpl Sean Beevor (QOGLR LAD) this time the man to go after conceding a penalty near the whitewash.<\/p>\n And the hosts set-up what could have been a titanic finish when awarded a penalty try for a high tackle, only for the Army to regroup and seal the deal as Rfn Vereimi Qorowale (Rifles) scorched down the left for the final and decisive try.<\/p>\n The Army are next in action at Bedford Blues on Thursday, March 28, KO 1945hrs with tickets available directly from Bedford Blues.<\/a><\/p>\n Elsewhere over the weekend, LCpl Mikey McDonald started at scrum-half for Germany in their 45-0 fifth\/sixth place Rugby Europe Championship play-off defeat to Netherlands, while LCpl Pita Ratukadreu (REME) played the full 80 minutes as Plymouth Albion got back to winning ways in National One, leapfrogging Richmond into fifth with a hard-fought 18-10 home success.<\/p>\n The Londoners took an early lead as Paddy Case went over, Lewis Dennett with the extras, and after Tom Putt touched down for Albion, a \u2018Mond penalty made it 10-0 at the interval.<\/p>\n However, Plymouth came on strong in the second half and tries from Angus Hodges and Putt, plus a penalty from the latter, earned them the win.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Words \u00a9 Richard Ashton<\/p>\n All images – Alligin Photography \u00a9 Cedric Vlemmings<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A full gallery of images from the match is available\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0images are free to download for personal use.\u00a0 Create an account, use the add to cart function and follow the check out process.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t Tickets for the 2024 Inter Service Championship matches are on sale now!<\/p>\n To purchase yours click the links below;<\/p>\n Saturday 4th May | Army v Navy | Twickenham |\u00a0BUY TICKETS<\/a><\/p>\nIMAGE GALLERY<\/h3>\n
INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP<\/h3>\n