4 May 2012

Mariners Endure Cruel Defeat

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With two games being played simultaneously it was hard to follow both and though I spent most of my time watching the RN(W) side it was clear that the mariners fixture was a thrilling affair with a twist worthy of Hitchcock himself at the end.

With Paul Clark out Manoa took on the kicking duties
and though he missed with his first..............
he landed the second to give the Mariners an early 3 point lead.
Mariners driving play suggested that they could extend their lead and they put the Army under a good deal of pressure. However the Army weathered the onslaught and gradually, as the half ended, began to get a foot hold in the game.
Defiant Mariners defence kept the Army out but just before half time they scored a decisive try for a 5-3 lead.
Having kicked another penalty to regain the lead 6-5 the Mariners worked like Trojans to protect their lead.
The Army kept exerting pressure but the Navy held firm. Then as the game was entering its final stages the dam broke. An Army score under the posts to snatch the win. A second minutes later as the Navy desperately looked to get the score back only served to add salt to a very open and sore wound. 19- 6 was not a fair reflection on the game.

 

Also Seen at the Game

Just because he is called 'Doc' doesn't mean he should ever be given a medical bag!
Wendy Briggs deserved winner of the Soapy Watson Memorial Trophy
A wet and cold Kneller Hall is not the best place to be a replacement.
No, no and a thousand times no. Gaz if you are reading this the answer is still No!
leave the kicking to others
Manoa chasing the game with a deft kick out of defence
The set piece was a fierce battle all day and the Navy couldn't quite get the go forward they enjoyed against the RAF but the forwards gave their all and will take a while to recover.

 

Honours Board

I have updated the Honour Page with all the 2012 award winners and also action photos of them.   This can be viewed here.  If you wish to see what the trophies look like and the presentations then go to the RNRU website and for the Soapy Watson Memorial Trophy (Wendy Briggs) and Roger Sherratt Trophy (Loz Morton) click here.  For Leigh Merrick’s Cossack Sword (Sam Laird) and the award dear to my heart, the Proud Heritage Exciting Future Trophy (Nathan Huntley) click here.

Proud Heritage Answer

You will recall that the question was:

Which Navy Player first played at Twickenham as a sub lieutenant but was also capped as a captain?

The answer:

Tom Glover - played as a Naval Sub Lieutenant for Combined Services U23 at Twickenham in 2007 (?) and was capped as a Captain Royal Marine in Toulon 2012 before winning further caps in the Inter Services against both the Army and the RAF

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