Combined Services XXXVs Match Reports
Season 2009-2010

Combined Services XXXV's (17) v The Pride of Yorkshire (31)
Saturday 12th June 2010 - Leeds

An overcast Saturday afternoon in Leeds and the Legends kick off with the CS XXXV's positive from the start. After a few exchanges and with good tackles, from Calvin Venn and Paul Clark, the Legends - having lost their hooker to a blood injury - intercept a long pass and with the backs up in attack, simple hands sees the first score with 6 minutes played, 0-7. The Legends are looking good with ball in hands; the CS 'winning the battle' ethos may yet pay off with good hands across the park, however a quick line out and switch cross park sees the CS backs not realigned and after 11 minutes play, 0-14 (Just to prove the original point!). Time to steady things down and with a few interchanges the XXXV's spend a bit of time in the opposition 22, Dave Goddard (Skipper for the day) with a good ground making break from the back of a maul and a cover tackle showing the way, then an unfortunate turnover on 19 minutes sees the score extend to 0-21.

The CS XXXV’s start the second half, the Legends kick back deep into CS territory and with a 2 on 1 tackle situation, easily turn the ball over, pop, bang the score moves on to 5-26. From the restart the ball is again kicked straight back putting the XXXV’s under pressure in their own half; when the CS do the hard work to make ground, from Dominic O’Connor and Paul Fisher, the deep kick is used yet again as the Legends walk back up the park; isolated breaks still keep the XXXV’s to the task and on 49 minutes, the score moves to 5-31. Tackles continue to be made, from Mark Reed and Dave Boocock, an excellent break from Chris Richards and Goddard is under the posts, converted by Venn, 56 minutes played, 12-31. Good work rate, from Lee Bramhall, Fraser Pearson and Gary Windle, and the CS go forward, matching their professional counterpart’s well– the Physio’s are constantly busy; as Shaun Collins clears out, the Legends can’t slow it down!

Col Andy Allen Army (Chairman)
WO1 Hywel Thomas Army (Manager)
Sgt Simon Hill RAF ( Head Coach)
WO1 Mitch Mitchell Army (Asst Coach)
SSgt Richard Baker Army (Asst Coach)
SSgt Andy Jackson Army (Equipment)
Maj Ally Reece Army (Physio)
CPO Wendy Briggs Navy (Physio)
Maj (Retd) Russ Booth CS (Physio)

No quarter is given or asked for, as the sun comes out; Ewan Cowie gets a ‘well done’ and Richards makes another thunderous run, attack after attack just lacking that finish – not from the lack of effort (Dave Goddard, Lalauvaki and Clark) just the standard of the opposition. A lovely interception by Tomasi Turagabeci as the inter play that follows (Boocock and Kane) is stopped in front of the posts, not an acceptable finish for the CS and the ball is turned over with 77 minutes on the clock. Two minutes left and no let up (Houserman and Mat Stewart), at last a deserved try for the XXXV’s as Chris Richards is carried over by Bob Toomey and Le Mar, a great finish for the CS XXXV’s with a final score of 17-31. Many thanks must go to Moortown RUFC, especially Debbie Sowrey, and our sponsor Serco for their generous, valuable and continued support - the presentations were made by Maj Andy Rapley who stepped in for the Director CS XXXV’s.

Combined Services XXXV Team - 12 Jun 10

2010 Pride of Yorkshire Squad
Sam Coy (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Adam Atkinson (Hull & Yorkshire), Simon Bunting (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Scott Wilson (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Steve Johnson (Castleford & Yorkshire), John Dudley (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Ian Gresser (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Howard Parr (Otley & Yorkshire), Tim Fourie (Rossendale & South Africa), Neil Spence (Hull & Yorkshire), Nick Crapper (Sheffield & Yorkshire), Ben Wade (Rotherham & Yorkshire), Jason Ashcroft (Waterloo & Lanc), Scott Bentton (Morley & Yorkshire), Brad Heppi (Hull FC & Bali Legends), Craig Emmerson (Halifax & Yorkshire), Mark Farrar (Moortown & Yorkshire), Ryan Duckett (Otley & Bradford Bulls), Matt Duncan (Harrogate & Yorkshire), Chris Smith (St Helens & Classic Lions), Stuart Dixon (Bradford & Yorkshire), Ali MacIron (Driffield & Yorkshire), John Bentley (Cleckheaton & British Lions), Meae David (Hull FC & Bali Legends), Martin Moana (Halifax RL & Bali Legends)

HELP for HEROES Charity Rugby Match

Posted: 18 Jun 10

Combined Services XXXVs (31) v OSD Spartans (5)
Saturday 7th November 2009 - Cardiff

A wet Saturday afternoon in Cardiff and from the kick off the CS XXXV's are put under early pressure from the Spartans (South Wales Police), working the blind well the winger goes over in the corner, 5 minutes played, 0-5. A good tackle from Paul Dix stops a quick follow up attempt and the next 10 minutes are spent weighing each other up, the first two changes see Taff Evans and Paul Clark on for Mark Reed and Dave Mason. Ground making crashes from skipper of the day, Chris Richards, followed by a good scrum sees Dave Goddard bash his way through to score, converted by Clark, 24 minutes played; 7-5. An interception just inside the Spartans half and Dan Haseltine runs the ball in, conversion missed, to move the score on to 12-5 at half time - and a happier coach!

One change, Dave Boocock for Copper Keen, and the CS XXXV's kick off for the second half with the Spartans showing their metal by trying to play Baa Baa's rugby - but in response - a good tackle by Tubbs Reffell, another run from Richards and hands from Dix, sees Evans only just stopped on the 5m line. As Spartans try to run it out of their 22m, tackles galore are made (Cam Cameron and Lee Bramhall) and when they run out of numbers a kick is put in, picked up and run back in for Tom Tom Turagabeci to score, converted by Paul Clark, 53 minutes played, 19-5. Further changes are Mason and Reed for Paul Dix and Craig Farrington; following good work from the pack, hands and then a kick into the corner, Dave Mason scores, 57 minutes; 24-5.

With the scrum offering a good platform, a 40m interchange between Goddard and Neil Griffiths sets up the XXXV's inside the opposition 22m, again. Good hands and Taff Evans is able to go over in the corner, with an excellent conversion from Taff Reed, 61 minutes play, 31-5. Tackles continue to be made, notably by Shaun Collins and Lee Oakey, the last change after 65 minutes sees Dave Goddard off - as Simon Hill (Asst Coach) braves the weather to make an appearance! A good finale from the Spartans but skipper, Chris Richards, can claim the CS XXXV's first victory. Thanks must go to South Wales Police, Glamorgan Wanderers and our sponsor, Steve Lagadu (Serco), it is hoped that this will become an annual fixture (trophy is ours), for a very good cause.

1 WO1 Shaun Collins Army
2 SSgt Alan Reffell Army WMC
3 FSgt Lee Bramhall RAF
4 Maj Ewen Cameron Army WMC
5 Cpl Lee Oakey RAF
6 WO2 Neil Griffiths Army WMC
7 SSgt Dave Goddard Army (MoM) WMC
8 WO2 Chris Richards Navy (Skipper)
9 Sgt Paul Keen RAF
10 Sgt Dave Mason RAF
11 Sgt Craig Farrington RAF
12 SSgt Mark Reed Army WMC
13 Sgt Paul Dix RAF
14 CPO Dan Haseltine Navy
15 LCpl Tomasi Turagabeci Army WMC
16 Lt Taff Evans Navy
17 Lt Paul Clark Navy
18 Capt Dave Boocock Army WMC
19 WO2 Kev Davies Army (Injured) WMC
20 WO1 Trevor Howard Army (injured) WMC

Col Andy Allen Army (Chairman)
WO1 Hywel Thomas Army (Manager)
WO1 Mitch Mitchell Army (Head Coach) WMC
SSgt Tiny Baker Army (Asst Coach) WMC
Sgt Simon Hill RAF (Asst Coach)
Lt Radcliffe Army (Physio)
Wendy Briggs Navy (Physio)

HELP for HEROES Charity Rugby Match
Memorial Ground Ely

Posted: 11 Nov 09