48 NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 2012


Greg’s 7s heaven


ROYAL Marine Greg Barden says he wants more titles after leading England to rugby tournament victory. The 30-year-old – pictured right, courtesy of the RFU, riding an Argentinian challenge – captained the national team to success in the Dubai Rugby 7s tournament. England beat France 29-12 in the emirate to retain the trophy they won in 2010. Barden, who’s served for 14 years in the Royal Marines, said: “We were really pleased to win the tournament in an environment that is like a home from home for us – there are so many ex-pats in Dubai offering fantastic support.” Tries by Isoa Damu and Dan Norton gave England an early 12-0 lead. France hit back through Renaud Delmas but two tries by Player of the Tournament Matt Turner put England 24-7 ahead at half time. They held their lead and now move on in overall second place to the third of a nine-tournament World Series. Greg, who previously played


professional rugby union for Bristol and Newbury, said: “As a captain I see my role as bringing a no-blame culture to the team where we can focus on getting the basics right. “I draw upon my military experience to convey to the guys that it’s about making calm decisions under pressure. We wanted to play with a game plan and that’s what we achieved.” Greg, who converted from


centre to flanker, was made England captain on November 22. He has used his Royal Marine training in his new role. He said: “I see a large element of crossover between the naval world and the sporting environment. It’s about taking responsibility but crucially it’s about trusting teammates to take their own responsibility too.


“As captain I take on things individually which can be distractions to the players, with the view that we can then improve as a group. The training in both worlds is about honesty; without that it’s very difficult to move forward.” Barden played 15 times for the Royal Navy rugby union side and twice for the Combined Services team. Lt Cdr Geraint Ashton Jones, as former director of Royal Navy Rugby Union, watched his progress. He said: “I’ve known Greg


throughout his rugby career and he has obvious leadership qualities. “He has been part of the


Elite Sportsman Scheme and when he was offered a central contract to play rugby for England he decided to leave the military to do that full time. “His leadership style is a balanced mix of leading from the front with a very committed intense way of playing the game and the ability to speak forthrightly behind the scenes.


“As a player he is physical, and as you would expect from someone with his professional background he doesn’t understand the idea of a backward step.”


Matt again the master


THERE was a record attendance at this year’s RN squash championships at Temeraire with over 50 players taking part. Good turn-outs were seen in


all categories and particularly in the Veterans event where the minimum qualifying age has been reduced to 35, writes Lt Cdr David Cooke.


In the main event, the men’s


open, there were 30 competitors, including last year’s winner Lt Matt Ellicott (FOST) but his likely main rival Mne Nick Jezeph (RM Poole) was unavailable for operational reasons. The audience were fortunate enough to witness a superb display of squash in all areas. During the course of the competition Matt Ellicott looked to be a strong contender until he suffered a groin strain in the doubles competition. Gritting his teeth, he faced an in-form AET Steven Wallace (Culdrose), who had also cruised through the earlier rounds without dropping a game. The final was entertaining with some very punishing rallies, however Wallace, perhaps playing the tighter squash at times, made too many unforced errors, which helped Ellicott to win 3-0 and retain his title. In the Plate competition final,


PO Dave Armstrong (Culdrose) beat Cdr Steve Mardlin (NBC Portsmouth).


Earlier in the day, Wallace beat


Jinkin’ Jenkin leads RN to win


THE RN senior men lifted the Inter-Services indoor hockey title after two goal-fuelled encounters


with their rivals. The Army were the first to face the RN goal machine, writes Lt Cdr Alan Walker. Two RN short corners in the


first two minutes set the tone for the match, although neither was converted.


Then Lee Milton stole the ball to break up an Army attack, drove down the right board and crossed for Surg Lt Dave Potter – breaking from midfield – to meet it first time and net past Dan Cattermole in the soldiers’ goal. Milton repeated his foray right


but the third Navy corner thus earned was


injection. Three Army and three Navy attacks followed in quick succession, but all were snuffed out.


spoiled by a poor


an Army defender’s mistake gave the RN short corner No.4. A left-slip routine and shot hit a defender’s foot on the goal line. The huge Cattermole saved from S/Lt Richard Jenkin. Another attack each,


the Army’s first corner was well charged down by the onrushing Jon Bishop in the RN goal. That prompted another Navy attack, culminating in a shot and a miss. Seven minutes gone now, another Milton drive down the right crossed for Army back Jon Hooker to miscontrol.


pressure produced the fifth short corner. Rowan Edwards injected Lee Milton, who thundered his shot against the bar. Army attack, RN attack, Milton


Navy then With five minutes on the clock,


l S/Lt Richard Jenkin (HMS Temeraire) heads for the Army goal during the drubbing of the soldiers Picture: Lt Col Charles Jackman, Fulwood Barracks, Preston


down the right. Navy attacks were giving the soldiers’ defence a torrid time. Dalton’s cross was met first time by Edwards – and ‘Dancat’ in the Army goal did not even sniff it. 3-0 Forty-five seconds later, Dalton and Edwards repeated the venture. 4-0


Army attack, RN attack.


was away down the right again, picked out Jenkin. There was a bit of trademark ‘jinking’, another short corner and Jenkin put it in the roof for a 2-0 Navy lead. Mne Luke Dalton came on and immediately emulated Milton


Navy coach Steve Lemon called ‘time out’ with 12 minutes gone. Everyone in the packed arena knew they had probably been watching the most complete destruction of an Army indoor team. The fat lady was not yet singing


but there was a certain delighted main sponsor who found it hard to conceal his pleasure at this performance. Three determined Army attacks,


two Jon Bishop saves heralded the resumption of play, a third attack forced the Army’s second short corner. Sadly the Army could not do anything right just now. The play went straight to the


Army’s circle, where the wretched ‘Dancat’


caught wondering


whether to remain upright or go to ground actually saved – as if in prayer – on his knees. This led to the award of Navy’s


short corner No.7. Captain Matt Brokenshire had been intercepting and breaking down attacks all match – but uncharacteristically he managed to make a mess of the corner.


RN then Army attack, an Army shot and miss. Jon Bishop saved from the dangerous still-under-23 Army junior star Sean Vincent, it


Published by Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth and printed by Wyndeham (Roche) plc.


looked as if he had had to wait for all the bugginses to have their turn before he got on. He did not get much court time – which probably suited the RN. The Army’s


to their fourth, both snuffed out. A Navy attack produced shots from Sean Trevethan and Dalton; the latter’s shot rebounded off ‘Dancat’s pads to Jenkin for number five. After the Army had wasted their fifth and sixth short corners, Jenkin found himself able to run to and fro across the front of the Army circle. A long hard pass from Adam Duke was deflected first time by Jenkin; it flew just over the Army crossbar so the half-time score stayed at 5-0.


h Continued on page 47 third corner led


Mne Patrick McHugh (40 Cdo) in the U25 final, a category which was also well supported including some new faces showing much promise for the future. The ladies event also had good numbers with familiar and not-so-familiar faces as a number of newcomers emerged this year. Nevertheless, Lt Danielle Hancock (HMS Dragon) comfortably retained her title for the second time.


The doubles competition,


always providing hustle and bustle, proved to be an entertaining affair and was enjoyed by all players and spectators alike.


Defending champions Ellicott


and Armstrong were paired together again, however the duo of Cdr Steve Shaw (Chairman RNSRA) and Lt Cdr Robin Young, long time stalwart of Navy squash and winner of many trophies and titles, could not be discounted. The above two pairs did emerge as finalists and provided an entertaining match, with last year’s winners “nicking it” at the end of the second game. For the first time in many years


Robin Young did not feature in the veterans final. With the age group now starting at 35, it allowed the younger element to take the honours this year. Out of a field of 23, Lt James Roue (JHC HQ) and CPOPT Jason Wallace (BRNC) made it to the final. In a pulsating and energy- sapping five-game match, both men chased and retrieved almost everything and at the end of a gruelling 45 minutes, Roue managed to defeat the man from Dartmouth. In the veterans’ plate final,


Dave Milford beat WO Charlie Mathews (FOST) in straight games.


On the Saturday, a racketball taster session was carried out for those who had energy remaining in their batteries, and this proved to be very popular. It is intended to hold a Racketball competition at Temeraire in February or March; further details will be advertised in the New Year.


On completion of play, Cdr


Shaw thanked all competitors for such a record turn out and congratulated everyone for their commitment, fitness and for the standard of squash on show over a highly dynamic weekend. The President of the RNSRA, Cdre David Langbridge then presented trophies and prizes to all winners and runners up and wished all players taking part in the impending Inter-Service Championships at Aldershot the very best of luck.


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