Army Masters XV Match Reports
Season 2009-2010

Army Masters XV (30) v Richmond Heavies (30)
Aldershot - 26 Feb 10

A cold, windy night on Queens Avenue; Richmond kicked off and kept the Masters in their half until a successful penalty attempt put the score at 0-3 after 7 minutes. A good break out from defence by Richmond is halted by a cover tackle from Sgt Dave Goddard, further big tackles doesn't hide the scrappy, scrambling defence from the Army. A penalty takes the Masters back into the Heavies half and from the resulting lineout the backs pull a move that allows LCpl Pete Inoke to go over, with the conversion missed, the score moves to 5-3 after 14 minutes played.

Good pressure from the Army and another penalty, this time converted by Maj Alex Biggs, sees the score at 8-3 after 18 minutes. With the game seemingly settling down into the middle of the park, very good hands by the Masters backs, in particular Cpl Nabs Nabakeke and LCpl Tom Tom Turagabeci, allows SSgt Mark Reed to go over in the corner, conversion missed, 23 minutes played; 13-3. More solid defence is required by the Army as the Richmond Heavies press, a succession of penalties follow - with the score moving to 13-6 (31 minutes) and then 13-9 (37 minutes).

With obvious frustration a further penalty results in a yellow card for WO2 Neil Griffiths and a try under the posts for Richmond, converted, half time score of 13-16. The following replacements took place; WO2 Paul Radford for Cpl Alfred Vakacoko-Vanua, Alex Biggs for WO2 Andy Kershaw, Pete Inoke for SSgt Mark Kane, SSgt Errol Jones for Maj Mike Nawaqaliva, Nabs Nabakeke for WO1 Muz Murray, WO1 Shaun Collins for Maj Mike Atkinson and Dave Goddard for Capt Jamie McMeechan – a number of positional changes complete the coach’s blast.

From a good break out (22 to 22) by Tom Tom Turagabeci and Mike Nawaqaliva, a penalty from Mark Reed ties the score at 16-16 after 48 minutes - Maj Peter Francis on for Neil Griffiths. A yellow card on 49 minutes for Lt Col Simon Orr is shortly followed by a 5m scrum, after a tackle by Mike Nawaqaliva when the Richmond winger had crossed the line, resulting in Peter Francis swapped for Shaun Collins. The Heavies driving maul from a lineout leads to another try which is converted and so after 53 minutes play the score is 16-23.

With Richmond ahead everything is kicked to ensure the Army have to build from their own half, which they do, until they are camped in the Heavies 22 and with a yellow card for the Richmond back rower surely it's just a matter of time. Simon Orr and Peter Francis come back on with LCpl Steve Dobie going off. After 68 minutes Shaun Collins is bundled over and Mark Reed converts to take the score to 23-23. A great break, involving Peter Francis and Mike Nawaqaliva, sees Alfred Vakacoko-Vanua power through to go under the posts, conversion by Mark Reed, 71 minutes; 30-23.

After another driving maul from a lineout, the Heavies score a converted try to tie the scores after 75 minutes play; 30-30. Dave Goddard comes back on for WO1 Marc Wilding, as the Richmond exchanges become more frequent; I used the word 'guile' in my notes to describe the Heavies play! A big last effort from the Army sees Alfred Vakacoko-Vanua go over in the corner however the final pass was deemed forward by the officials and the game ends - a fair result (depending on who you talked to!!). Many thanks go to Phil Ware and his assistants, Dave Squires and Frazer Todd (An all RAF team of 3).

Posted: 1 Mar 10

Army Masters XV (7) v Richmond Heavies (15)
Richmond - 28 Nov 09

A good turnover is negated by yet more penalties, enabling Richmond to release any build up of pressure – Mark Reed is replaced by SSgt Mark Kane (37 minutes). From a good scrum the Heavies number eight shows his frustration and is yellow carded, penalty missed – half time! A couple more changes are made with LCpl Idris Davies replacing LCpl Tabs Tabalakia and SSgt John Pines on for SSgt Paul Tink – with WO1 Shaun Collins, skipper for the day, moving to hooker.

A positive start to the half by the Army; after a good tackle from Maj Peter Francis, a break from CSgt Trevor Harland brings the Masters into Richmond’s 22; however this leaves LCpl Pete McDonald being carried off and replaced by LCpl Dan Ratu (47 minutes). With more play in the Heavies half, an interchange with Mark Kane, WO2 Dean Ross and WO2 Andy Kershaw gains good ground; it’s coming slowly; Jason Gunning is replaced by Andy Wilkinson after 55 minutes play.

More replacements with Mike Atkinson for Cam Cameron and Paul Tink for Shaun Collins; from the restart the Army show their mettle and take the game to Richmond. A penalty (yes, to us!) is taken quickly by Lala Lalauvaki and with fast hands the winger Andy Kershaw scores, converted by Idris Davies, 73 minutes played, 7-15. The Heavies use their guile to see out the rest of the game and gleefully accept their first win over the Masters; they now look forward to the return match in February.

Posted: 2 Dec 09

Army Masters XV's (37) v Farnborough (43)
Aldershot - 03 Nov 09

A cold, wet night in Aldershot saw the Army XXXV's take on a young, but not inexperienced Farnborough side. The majority of the Army bench were wrapped up as the back bone of a CS side with a fixture at the weekend, however from the Farnborough kick off Cpl Charlie Wainiqolo is helped off - replaced by Maj Cam Cameron - and an ensuing penalty starts the scoring at 0-3. At the back of the line Capt Jamie McMeechan takes the ball into contact and from a messy ruck LCpl Idris Davies kicks through, a fumble from the Farnborough full back allows Davies - who followed his kick - to drop on the ball over the line, missed conversion, 5-3.

Mistakes aplenty with the wet ball allow a busy Farnborough side to spend time in the Army half but good individual breaks bring the play back to the middle of the park. Solid work - a 10/7 move, 9 & 10 line clearing kicks and a cover tackle from the skipper for the day Lt Col Mike Campbell - just delays the next score as the Farnborough backs pull a move and go under the posts, 28 minutes played, 5-10. A XXXV's penalty just inside their 22 allows LCpl Pete McDonald to bring the score to 8-10; then a turn over in the backs by Farnborough, and when a trip on the cover tackler goes unpunished, the winger went in at the corner to put the score at 8-15.

From the re-start Farnborough break through to score under the posts, 8-22, the wrong decision at an Army penalty leads to another turn over and a hat trick for the Fijian winger (or centre - who knew!), leaving the score, 40 minutes played, at 8-29. Disjointed, missed tackles and running away from support would be a bit of a cynical view taken for this first trial match of the season, hey ho, half time changes include Cpl Phil Turagabeci for Lt Col Dave Eastman and WO2 Boz Boswell for Pete McDonald. The second half kicks off with a fourth try for the Farnborough wing / centre, 8-36; the needed response is only a drop goal from Maj Alex Biggs, 11-36.

On 48 minutes the changes are Sgt Dave Goddard, Cpl LaLa Lalauvaki, WO2 Neil Griffiths and SSgt Mark Reed on and WO2 Jim Evans, Idris Davies, Maj Peter Francis, WO2 Dean Ross and SSgt Tiny Baker off - school boy error! Pressure is immediately brought to bear on the Farnborough try line, 5m scrums and penalties galore, resulting in a yellow card - thus equalling the sides! Dave Eastman comes back on for LCpl Chris Tugaga, another penalty - this time Dave Goddard goes over, converted, 18-36. WO1 Dave Boocock enters the fray and on the hour mark WO1 Muzz Murray crosses, Alex Biggs converts and the score moves to 25-36.

With things coming together it's all XXXV's and an all hands move ends with Muzz Murray going over in the corner, 65 minutes played, 30-36. Farnborough make full use of rolling subs with their large squad and a yellow card for the XXXV's seems to give them a momentum that finishes with a steal against the head, a kick into the corner and an isolated winger to fall over the line, converted, 30-43. Some big runs from Phil Turagabeci keep the opposition in their half but penalties and injuries slow the play down as the clock ticks on. Good work all round (support play) in particular LaLa Lalauvaki and Dave Goddard, sees the Army camped inside their 22m!

Another penalty, a line out and SSgt Tinksy Tink ends good play by squeezing under the posts, converted by Biggs to leave a final score of 37-43. A few new faces and a few old reliables' with all giving the coaching staff plenty to think about before the next match. Quote from Mr Gary Allcock (Farnborough Coach): "I enjoyed a really good game of rugby; our first half dominance won the game", and thanks to Colin Moore for stepping into the middle!

Posted: 5 Nov 09