42 NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2011


Danielle and Matt set the benchmark


 Continued from page 44


RAF team after which the RN Veterans took on the Army... and succumbed 0-5.


over the RAF giving them a well- deserved victory and runners-up spot overall. In the seniors event against a


The RN ladies prevailed 3-2


was much top quality squash in evidence and although the RN did not come away with any silverware, scores and results in many matches did not refl ect just how much the RN players have closed the gap on the other two Services, particularly in the ladies and U25 sections.


Cod squad serve up


very powerful Army team, only Mne Martin Sadler (Sultan) managed to beat his opponent and the overall score of 1-4 was probably as much as the team could have expected. The fi nal day opened with a 4-1 victory for the Army over the RN in the U25 contest. The Army beat the RAF 3 – 2 in the ladies event, but the RAF Veterans stopped the Army making a clean sweep of things by taking that title 3-2. In the fi nal event of the championships, the Army claimed victories at 1, 2, 3 and 5 seeds in the senior clash with the Air Force and therefore retained the trophy they have held since 1995. Over the three days, there


Oxford and Coventry too strong


 Continued from page 44


Coventry enjoyed was a fair refl ection of the fi rst half. Scores from Gareth Jones and Aaron Hunt (both Yeovilton) pegged the difference back to 27-12 and spectators were at last being entertained by some competitive rugby with both attacks testing their opposition’s defence. A Coventry try increased their total to 34 before Priddey broke from 20 metres out to notch what proved to be the last score of the match. Final score 34-17. Away from the 1st XV, the RN


● Richie Metcalfe makes a crucial score on the stroke of half-time during the Brothers’ narrow defeat away to Warrington Wizards Picture: Richard Beattie, SBS Photography


Wizards’ late magic


RN Rugby League’s ‘Band Of Brothers’ bowed out of this years Carnegie Challenge Cup with a fantastic performance against current National Summer Conference champions the


sporting treat


WHILE their command teams and boarding offi cers were attending a conference, the remaining sailors of the Fishery Protection Squadron fought for the squadron’s sporting trophy. The three ships – Tyne, Mersey and Severn – chose sports usual (five-a-side), less usual (bucketball – basketball with a bucket, hence the name) and unusual (cliff and chasm – a scaled-down field gun run) to determine the trophy’s fate. After triumphing in the bucketball and holding Tyne and Severn to draws in the footy, Mersey Marauders were in the lead as they decamped to HMS Collingwood for the demanding cliff and chasm event. Tyne and Severn were


forced to merge teams to form a squad sufficiently large to tackle the demanding physical challenge.


proved too much – but only just, defeating the Mersey team on penalties.


With gladiatorial combat finished, the fish gong wasn’t awarded for another ten days because the PTIs apparently took rather a long time to calculate the results (according to the Mersey team “they probably ran out of fingers to count on...”).


Two-up down in Somerset


YEOVILTON’S satellite airfield will abandon flying for an afternoon this month as the Navy’s cyclists compete. Merryfield in Ilton, Somerset, is the setting on Friday March 11 for the RNRM Cycling Association’s two-up inter-unit team time trial as pairs of riders race against the clock to complete seven laps of a three-mile course around the air station. The contest is in its fourth


year and saw more than 50 teams taking in the 2010 event. Competitors will be expected


to pay £10 per team to cover the cost of the event. Details from LPT Natalie Berry or PO Stu Cox at HMS Raleigh on 01752 811393 or 01752 311943, or visit www.navycycling.org.uk


Their combined strengths


Warrington Wizards. The match, played in the historic Wilderspool stadium in Warrington – former home to the Wolves, the North West town’s professional club – was a fantastic advert for full-blooded cup football played in the best spirit of the game, writes WO1 Keith Humpleby. After going behind early doors, the RN fought back well throughout the fi rst half with tries for Tommy Wilkinson and a crucial score on half-time for Richie Metcalfe, converted by Dane Smallbone – bringing the visitors within six points of the Wizards at the break. Another early score by the Wizards was a major setback to the Brothers’ recovery but a very strong 25 minutes in the middle of the second period saw the Wizards tire as a seemingly-endless onslaught threatened the home side’s line.


This pressure led to two cracking tries with Wilkinson going over for his second and Kev


Botwood crossing in a similar fashion fi ve minutes later to bring the Brothers within two points of the Wizards. As the clock ran down the Brothers continued to pressure the home side’s line, but in a rare break on the back of a penalty the Wizards broke the hearts of the RN with a try out wide.


This score took the Wizards to six points ahead and a superb touchline conversion by experienced prop Nick Owen effectively sealed the match for the home side 28-20. Two weeks previously the RN were on


the right side of a 28-point scoreline with an impressive 28-14 victory over GB Police at Burnaby Road. The police have a well-earned reputation for being a big, powerful and uncompromising side so this was going to be a big test for the Brothers and new head coach Danny Johnson. Rising to the occasion in the best possible way


Johnson’s side, led by hooker Steve Lockton, competed well throughout the fi rst half and at the break were down by two with a try for the skipper and two goals for Botwood keeping the Navy in the game at 8-10. The second half saw the Brothers begin to


dominate proceedings, handling errors were cut down and the team showed much more


cohesion than in the opening half. This was refl ected in the scoring of a further four tries three of which went to Rob Sanderson playing in his maiden 1st XIII match on home soil after impressing on the last year’s New Zealand tour.


The police never gave up, scoring a try of their


own to remind the Brothers how dangerous they could be – but it remained a well-deserved win for the Brothers with strong performances from all 17 players in the squad. Off the fi eld at January’s RNRL executive committee meeting a special presentation of a club blazer was made to Albert Fernandez in recognition of his work as kitman for RNRL both at home and on three tours. Albert is a familiar fi gure in the store at Nelson gym as well as the wardroom and WO/ SR mess where he also works. The presentation was made by RNRL


chairman Cdr Gareth Hughes and Director of Rugby WO1 Wayne Okell. With the defeat at Warrington, the RNRL


fi xture list is being amended to make the best use of preparation time for September’s Inter- Service series. Up-to-date fi xture lists will be posted on the RNRL website at: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ royalnavyrugbyleague


’sex bomb, ladies run rampant


ON A seemingly perfect, windless night for football, the RN Seniors played only their second competitive match of the 10/11 season against Middlesex at Uxbridge FC.


Highly-charged from the off, the RN side immediately had Middlesex under the cosh. In the eighth minute a mazy


dribble by left winger, PO(PT) Ritchie Way (Collingwood) resulted in Mne Mickey Husbands’ (CTCRM) header being blocked. The new partnership of Cpl


Davie Carns (40 Cdo) and Mne Scott Sampson (42 Cdo) at the heart of defence looked strong and very well organised. Equally formidable was the


partnership of Mne ‘Foxy’ Fox (CTCRM) and Mne ‘Katie’ Tunstall (Raleigh) in central midfi eld who dominated proceedings.


At the tip of the spine, the extremely-lively Husbands simply terrorised the Middlesex defence. After considerable pressure the RN side fi nally broke through in the 28th minute when an in- swinging corner was fl icked on by C/Sgt Richie Hope for skipper Carns to bundle in at the back post – just reward for half an hour of complete domination by the RN. Further opportunities from


Carns, Husbands, Mne Connett and POPT Way went begging until the 42nd minute when a delightful through ball was played by Connett to Husbands who carried the ball from just over the half way line to score a superbly-taken goal. On the stroke of half time, a slick movement across the midfi eld


Onside with Lt Cdr Neil Horwood, RNFA


O N


and a through ball by Mne Fox found Mne Husbands, who once more slipped the ball under the Middlesex keeper to capture his brace. Middlesex were fi nding Mne Husbands unplayable as half time arrived.


The Middlesex coaching staff had clearly delivered some choice words at half time and their side came out for the second half with increased resolve and enjoyed more possession during the early exchanges.


The RN back four were looking impregnable in defence and dangerous during their forays up front.


Navy coaching staff to provide some of the bench with invaluable match practice. LPT ‘Foxy’ Foxwell (Ark Royal)


A comfortable lead allowed the


carried the ball from deep in his own half to the Middlesex fi nal third and delivered a vicious shot just wide.


Thirkle saw the latter fl ash a cross directly through the Prison penalty box.


quarter of the match but on half an hour the Prison Service delivered a free kick from the right hand side, deep into the Navy box. Hope’s clearance was volleyed back toward goal from the edge of the box. The ball fl ashed past the right-hand post – much to the relief of keeper LPT Matt Shortt. The RN struck back with a


The RN dominated the opening


a serious contender for man of the match – delivered a Beckhamesque cross which fl ashed just in front of the RN strikers who couldn’t connect.


seniors’ next opponents were the traditionally-tough Prison Service. After just three minutes a sumptuous passing move between Foxwell (Ark Royal) and LAET


After this 3-0 victory, the In the 75th minute, AB Parry –


wonderfully-fl ighted cross from Thirkle which which found Sgt Ads Fowler whose acrobatic diving header hit the Jailers’ right post – as close as either side came to scoring in the fi rst 45. The Prison Service came out strongly after the break and only a series of terrifi c saves from Shortt kept the scores level. That ushered in a period of ascent for the RN side – but the sailors and marines were unable to capitalise. The Prison Service struck back. A scramble in the RN goalmouth resulted in the ball breaking to the Screws’ left winger, who slotted the ball past a diving Shortt and into the bottom left corner of the RN net. Davie Carns came close to an equaliser with a header narrowly wide of the Prison post. Some superb wing play from


Mariners’ season began in earnest at Ivel Barbarians pitch against an extremely-youthful Naval Air Command team who had been assembled to play in what has now become a signifi cant fi xture in the RNRU calendar, the Paul Dunn Memorial Trophy. Paul – loved and still very much missed by many – was present in spirit as both teams put on an outstanding display of passionate, open, running rugby. NAC built on their strong Inter-Command performances, racing into a 19-0 lead by the break.


With some stern words in the dressing room and an infl ux of new players, the Mariners in the second half were a revelation serving up one of the best halves of Mariners rugby seen over the past few seasons. They clawed their way back to 19 apiece with 20 minutes to play – then almost blew up by letting in two very soft tries in quick succession. A fi nal fl urry saw two tries from the Mariners to level the game 29-29 – a fi tting result for a great open game of rugby. Sheila Dunn, Paul’s widow, and the couple’s daughter Emma, presented the trophy to both captains after the game.


Speedie quick to take title


Way saw him come inside and deliver to the head of Hope only for the Prison Service keeper to save the day.


Finally a superb piece of inter-


play between, PO Archbold, Fox and the re-introduced Mne Tunstall


saw the latter strike


a thundering drive against the Prison Service post; the game ended in a 1-0 defeat. The RN Ladies faced Bridgwater for the second time this season. For the fi rst 30 minutes, the RN barely had a shot on target – not helped by extremely blustery conditions.


Despite AB(WS) Edwards


bagging the opener from 20 yards, the fi rst half remained a tight affair; striker PO(PT) Covey spent more time on her backside than on her feet courtesy of some crunching tackles.


In the second period, the sailors came out all guns blazing. LPT Molyneux-Jacobs used her pace to leave the Bridgwater defence standing and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. AB(HM) Mansfi eld scored


a well-deserved goal, putting in a great performance alongside Edwards in the centre of midfi eld. Substitute LLogs Bascombe made an impact, tapping the ball into the back of the net from close range. Bridgwater heads had dropped


now and the RN took full advantage with AB(WS) Edwards scoring her second goal to clinch a 5-0 win; it marked a memorable night for her, wearing the captain’s armband for the fi rst time.


THE RN Power Push-Pull Championships at Temeraire saw the largest turn-out for a Navy powerlifting competition in the history of the sport with a fantastic afternoon of lifting and various RN records and PBs smashed in the process. Several new entrants to the


sport turned up on the day and gave the experienced lifters – including the RNPA committee in particular – a real run for their money. Particular congratulations must go to PO(AET) Speedie Birchmore for taking the ‘best overall lifter’ trophy in a very closely-fought competition, just pipping the hotly-favoured Jim Cox to the title. Congratulations are also in order for Cpl Mark Fleming who attended the WDFPF World Championships in Castleblaney, Ireland.


Mark competed both days in the unequipped and equipped competitions in the 75kg bodyweight class. He won both of his classes to become a double world champion and set fi ve new world records in the process. His lifts were 207.5/165.5/ 247.5kg unequipped and 240/180/260 equipped. The next RN championship is the RN ‘full power and single lifts’event scheduled for May 18 at HMS Temeraire.


This competition will include all three lifts, but it will be up to the individual whether they want to enter one, two or all three events.


weight category and a team trophy for the highest scoring team (again made up of three competitors). Regional events will also be held in the interim. Details from Nick Rakowski


(nickkowski@yahoo.co.uk), or www.royalnavypowerlifting.com or fi nd us on facebook.


There will be prizes for each


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44