Four days after the memorable game against Jersey it was hoped that the momentum would sustain the Gunners at Aborfield but disruptions and injury took their toll. It was nevertheless a very disappointing result because they played well enough in the second half to sneak a victory but ultimately had given the REME too big a head start. The pitch was very heavy and playing up the slope in the first half seemed to make it heavier still.

RARFC started slowly but their opponents were fired up and had all the early pressure. They were well organized and pinned the Gunners back in their own half. The first score came just inside 10 minutes and was the result of a simple missed tackle. The try scorer was tackled but not held and strode over. On the half hour the REME scrum half, Slade-Jones (younger brother of the Gunner Slade-Jones) made a break from the half way line and a clever solo run took him all the way for a splendid individual try. Again, he should really have been tackled but out-foxed the defence. Two penalties were added and the teams turned round 0-20.

It was always going to be an uphill struggle in the second half despite playing down the hill but the half time talk by Osman (who was sadly injured and therefore only on coaching duty) and Butler made a difference.

RARFC Team

1. Lt Sharpe (AFC(H)),
2. Lt Davie (32 Regt),
3. Lt Griffiths (39 Regt),
4.Sgt Butler (7 Para RHA) (Capt),
5. Sgt Tidman (19 Regt),
6. Capt Budd (3 RHA),
7. LBdr Perris (7 Para RHA),
8. Gnr Sauliga (12 Regt),
9. Lt Hogben (40 Regt),
10. 2Lt Honeybun (39 Regt),
11. Gnr Seru (19 Regt),
12. Bdr Davies (47 Regt),
13. Gnr Tupuo (19 Regt),
14. LBdr Baudromo (19 Regt),
15.LBdr Casqusau (19 Regt).


Replacements: Capt Derbyshire (19 Regt), Lt Montgomery (19 Regt), Bdr Guilbert (47 Regt), LBdr Gray (40 Regt), Gnr Savage (40 Regt), Gnr Kataiwai (16 Regt), Gnr Ravouvou (16 Regt).

RARFC were much more fluid and stepped up a gear taking the game to the REME. They got their rolling maul working and Griffiths and Butler made some good runs. At the end of the third quarter the pressure told and Hogben capitalised on quickly rucked ball to scurry over for a hard earned try. Honeybun converted.

The Gunners kept running at their opponents and although they were chasing the game they were chasing hard. Seven minutes later and following a series of rucks and mauls some excellent handling led to Sauliga going over. The conversion was missed so there were still two scores in it but with 10 minutes to go Honeybun slotted another penalty. The score was 15-20 and the REME looked to be running out of steam. The tension mounted but as time ran out the opposition converted a penalty, regaining their lead which they hung on to until the whistle. It was another good spectacle and a great fightback by the Gunners but they left themselves too much to do in the second half.

Result: RARFC 15 Jersey 23

See also RA RFC web site.