52 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009
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Picture: PO(AEM) Bob Sharples, 829 NAS/www.surfphots.co.uk
Zap-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
Differently
Daring – a
year in the
life of the
wonder
warship
WHAT goes up...
Title beyond Brothers
Zapcat racers Commando
Spirit (Paul Moxom and Paul
Logie) and Contact Wait Out
(brothers Paul and Ed Holt)
bounce out of the surf at
Watergate Bay, Newquay, during
the final round of the 2009
championships.
Four RM boats – all with
WITH the newly-formed
suitable green beret names:
RN rugby league State of Mind, Commando
veterans’ side joining the
Spirit, Contact Wait Out, Go
competition for the fi rst
Commando – took part in the
weekend’s racing, alongside 18
time, the Inter-Services
Final fl ight –
other Zapcats (think souped-
now consist of 12 matches
up RIB capable of speeds circa
spread over three rounds.
50mph).
Fly Navy 100
RNRL had a mixed bag of
The fi rst day’s racing ensured
results over the series with the
that Zapcat 3 crewed by Craig
celebrations
seniors surrendering as overall
Davis and Rob Martin would take
winners to the RAF on points
the overall championships, but
reach their
difference as all three Services
the King of Surf title was still up
won their home fi xtures, writes
for grabs and second and third
climax in
WO1 Keith Humpleby.
places were undecided.
The academy and ladies sides
Conditions were ideal: crashing
won their fi xtures against the
waves created the spectacular surf
Liverpool RAF but lost out to the Army,
in which the Zapcats thrive.
confi rming the soldiers’ dominance
The Division 2 heats saw State
at those respective levels, while the
of Mind (Richie Lake and Andy
veterans came agonisingly close
Farmer) get off to a storming
to one of the biggest upsets in
start, achieving top scores in their
heats to secure a strong place in
Inter-Services history, only losing
the final.
out to the Army by a last-minute
Their green beret comrades
converted try.
weren’t to be outdone; all four
Cranwell hosted the fi xtures
RM boats made the Division 2
against the RAF starting with the
final, battling for honours with
vets – their fi rst competitive fixture
three non-military racers.
– and although going behind early
Zapcat 14 – Contact Wait
in the match the ‘Older Brothers’
Out – took the lead, pressured by
salvaged some pride with a great
Zapcat 28 for the first three laps
display in the second half, fi nally
until both craft capsized on the
going down 35-20.
fourth run after striking a wave
Beef
RNRL ladies provided an
awkwardly
action-packed thriller of a match
That forced a restart... and
encounter,
with some great play on both sides
State of Mind made the most of
but Wrenegades prop Sara Simms
it, taking the lead with the other
part 1 – a
had the last word scoring the
two remaining RM boats hot
deciding try in the dying seconds.
on their heels. And that’s how ● No quarter given... WO2 Chris Richards RM (sporting a black eye) helps to thwart an RAF attack during
The academy had a slightly
new role for
a bruising veterans’ encounter which the airmen won 35-20 Picture: Sgt Richard Beattie, RAF it finished: State of Mind took
easier time of things, but the RAF
gold, Zapcat 42 (Go Commando,
were a much changed and much
Atu Vuniwaqa, Lewis Taylor and The ladies fi xture was fi rst the fi rst quarter. Andrew ‘H’ Harriman and Helen
the RN at the
improved side from the one that James Wagstaffe but it was too
up the following day and any The Senior Service side had the Redwood) with silver and Zapcat
was destroyed the week before by late and the RAF fi nished off their
hopes of a shock result were soon best initial opportunity but Atu 41 (Commando Spirit) earning
Tower
the Army. series with what proved to be an dashed as an Army side, probably Vuniwaqa’s 50-metre dash to the
bronze.
The fi nal score of 34-8 refl ected unassailable points difference. playing their best rugby, took a line was ruled out for a forward
State of Mind were also
the RN dominance of the game The Inter-Services roadshow stranglehold of the game with a pass.
the best performers over the
with half back combination of moved to Burnaby Road the superb defensive display which In fact the only scores of the fi rst
season, taking sixth place overall.
Plus
Greg Pichilingi and Wayne John following week for the fi nal round stifl ed the best efforts of the half resulted in the Army enjoying
Go Commando were 12th,
running things for the Navy. of matches, again with very mixed Wrenegades. Commando Spirit 15th – one
Another great performance results for RN supporters Playing under a very hot sun, marina Continued on page 51 place ahead of Contact Wait Out.
Beef
from hooker Johnny Platt earned Playing under fl oodlights, the ladies worked hard throughout,
him the man of the match trophy. the veterans gave a fantastic but could not contain the Army
encounter,
The clash of the Senior teams performance in a thoroughly who won the match convincingly
Are you a member
rounded off the day’s events and entertaining match, leading at one to retain the Inter-Services title.
part 2 – top
went the way of the RAF by some point by 22-8. The academy side had similar
of the RN and RM
margin. The dream was not to be problems with their Army
A tense start saw the sides though. With superior strength counterparts; a lot of effort and
RN chefs
and interested in
separated by just six points at the on the bench the far more quality play was snuffed out by
35-minute mark, but crucial scores experienced Army veterans came a big strong Army squad which,
playing ice hockey
in culinary
just before half time handed the back to snatch victory with Lee with another convincing win, also
initiative over to the RAF. Innes converting his own try to retained the respective title. for the Navy?
challenge
An out-of-sorts Brothers side snatch victory at the death. Finally the big one – with a big
went even further behind straight Team manager and coach Chris crowd bolstered by a ‘barmy army’ Visit our website at www.rniha.org.uk
after the break with a fl urry of Richards was justifi ably proud of trainees from HMS Sultan.
for details on who to contact
points by the RAF effectively of his team’s efforts in the two Both sides needed to win and
and how to join this
sealing their win. matches, confi rming the credibility as such both defences had to be at
The last quarter saw the RN of the fourth team to join the their best. This proved the case with
fast growing service sport.
recover some pride with tries for RNRL fold. few if any scoring opportunities in
Published by Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth and printed by St Ives (Roche) plc.
Sport.indd 3 22/10/09 09:41:40
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