Inter Services – Outcomes not just Performances

For those who know me then you are fully aware of the importance I have always put on performance but I have also stressed and everyone should remember that the Inter Services are all about getting two results and last night the Navy scraped over the line to get their first.

The team are fortunate that rugby is not one of the sports like diving, gymnastics or indeed downhill ski jumping where style count towards the results.  If the Sky cameras had been at the game then the stats gurus would have delighted the Air Force followers with the various metrics that pointed to Air Force superiority.  Alas when the clocked ticked to 80 minutes the only statistic that counts showed the Royal Navy 13 the Royal AIr Force 6.

He Came Late

He Went Early

But In Between………………

Ian Cooper - Centre

With the return of Ben Priddy to the front row, Gaz Evans was reverted to 8 and Ian Cooper was relegated to the bench and had to wait impatiently to get his chance of some action.  However the submariner’s influence on the game was cut short when he became the fourth member of the Navy team to see the Yellow Card of referee Dai Williams.  However for the short time he was on the field……..

Coopz on the way to the line
and just makes the line.
to his delight
and his team mates and the majority of the large Burnaby Rd crowd.

Yellow Cards and Bollockings

Following three against Marine Nationale the Navy decided to go one better by raising the stakes to four yellow cards.  First influential flanker Sam Laird was despatched, followed by Kyle Mason, Jorgi Quanivalu and then finally Ian Cooper.

Yellow for Kyle
A bollocking for Tom
A head ache for team manager Glen Humphrey
Three of the four placed on 'the naughty step"

Man of the Match

Three players stood out.

Dave kicked his goals
Dale carried and tackled hard on his return to a starting spot
Gaz Evans tidied poor ball at the base of the scrummage and carried all night.
For me Gaz was the Navy's man of the match

New Caps

Congratulations to Aaron Hunt who following his senior debut in 2007 and many games along the way finally one his first cap.  He became the 698th member of the Navy Rugby Silver tie club.  Also congratulations go to Hugo Mitchell-Heggs who came off the bench to win his first cap.

Aaron is welcomed to the Navy's Silver Tie club

 RAF Day Images

All images from the RN v RAF, second round, of the Babcock Inter Service Rugby Championship can be found by clicking here.

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