The first ever Inter Service Championship rugby match to be played at the Twickenham Stoop was Royal Navy Women v Royal Air Force Women. Anyone who has followed the two sides in recent years would not have arrived with any doubt as to who would win. The RAF Women are one of the most improved representative sides in the Services over recent years and in winning the game they played some beautiful rugby football with their skipper Chrissy Siczowa and Charlie Murray impressing with their powerful and graceful running.
However for this photo story I wish to focus on four players from the beaten team, the Royal Navy Women. All were reaching personal milestones in the game and have been great servants of the Women's game in the Navy. All four helped their side play by far the best they have achieved this season and ultimately that is the benchmark by which sport is measured; achiving a performance which is at your best.
The black and white was chosen deliberately as I wanted to minimise the distraction from the four players and also in some of the images it worked with the light and shadow falling across the Twickenham Stoop.
The four players are the RN hooker, Alice Kightley, who plays her weekend rugby for Portsmouth Valkyries, scrum half, Oli Critchley, who was playing at her home club, Harlequins. Finally two Saracens players, Loz Salisbury and Charlie Fredrickson were in the backrow for the RN Women.
Click on any image for a larger view.
2 Responses
Sarah Jenkins
Great article Geraint
Geraint
Our pleasure Sarah and good luck with you and the team’s preparations for 5 May 2018.