The Rugby Club Marine Nationale achieved what neither the Royal Navy or indeed the US Navy could achieve when then beat their Army opponents in the French Inter Services yesterday. Having already beaten the Gendarmes on Monday the RCMN now face the French Air Force on Friday as they seek to regain the French Inter Services.
If Royal Navy supporters did not enjoy the kicking display of RCMN Fly Half, Romain Lombard, as he kicked them to victory in Toulon they would surely have been delighted that his kicking form did not desert him as his seven penalties and a conversion determined the win during a wind swept match. The first half the Army played with the wind and turned around 9-3 in the lead having played a predictable game with the the strong wind, scoring a drop goal and two penalties against a lone Lombard penalty. The RCMN’s inability to retain possession during this first forty meant that the players received some fairly robust redirection from the French Navy coaching staff at half time.
The rebriefing and the wind did the trick. Within five minutes of the break the RCMN were level through two Lombard penalties. There after it was a matter of when not if. Continued RCMN pressure, who were now playing their best rugby of the tournament, kept the Army deep in their own half. Further penalties from Lombard and a touchline conversion of Acedo’s try gave the sailors a comfortable and deserved victory.
Earlier in the week RCMN had comfortably beaten the Gendarmes 34 – 15. Again Acedo was on the try sheet with two whilst Romain added a try to his usual immaculate kicking display. The three tries gave the RCMN a bonus point win and going in to the last round of matches they are five points ahead of the Air Force and the Gendarmes. They play the Air Force at 19:15 on Friday and I am sure that all Navy Rugby followers hope that they back up their two wins with the Championship.
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