Army Women (20) v British Police (5)
12 December 2006 - Aldershot

Army outgun Police or British Police Cop it at Aldershot

Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson

The Army Women gave their supporters three tries that they will remember for the rest of the season when they overcame the British Police 20pts-5 at Aldershot.

The Reds opened their Centenary year into a fearsome wind that saw handling difficult, kicking a near impossibility and the lines-out an utter lottery. Nevertheless the Army stuck to their guns and ran some great ball when the opportunity presented itself—which wasn’t that often against a Police side that boasted a number of internationals including England’s Susie Appleby at scrum half.

The Police were clearly intent on preserving their recent record in this annual fixture, mauling and rucking ferociously, producing copious quantities of ball which the Army defence gobbled up somewhere between the Blues No9 and outside centre. None of the 'scragging' a few years back-hard tackling that made most of the men sheltering in the stand wince.

Fabulous Reds tackling prevented the Police forming any sort of a pattern to their play. The back row Maj Sam Shepherd, Sgt Kristen Taylor and, for the last hour, Spr Jane Leonard closed with the enemy and were immediately in the thick of the action, with newcomer Leonard showing why she is being considered for England recognition.

The Police opened the scoring when the Blues pack rumbled over. That being a clear signal, and with so many experienced players, they failed to understand that the place for the ball was up in the air and on the wind to land where it hurt the Army the most.

Their lead was demolished against the run of expectation when scrum half Cpl Nancy Tuva made an instinctive break close to the scrum and turned on the gas to beat the Police backs poised to attack. Through many hands the ball was recycled for Jane Leonard to touch down close in. SSgt Martina Ashton, wind or no wind, realized the significance of the conversion and slotted the ball home.

In the second half with a 7pts-5 lead and with the gale behind, the Army was able to move forward. They also took risks some of which came off and some had their supporters reaching for the grog. Eventually it was the good old fashioned speed of the ball in the hand and the attacking flair of debutante centre Sonic Homer that unzipped the Police defence Homer has pace and poise and an acceleration that could only be God given. She made the second try for long striding LCpl Titilia Bani and then with a squadron of Reds shirts as escort out gunned the defence for 2Lt Emillie Astley-Arlington to crash over for the third. Great stuff and the small but noisy crowd went nuts.

Martina Ashton who had cemented the team, and provided most of the sealing wax and string when the going as tough in the first half, converted a penalty in the closing minutes for a 20pts-5 victory. She had also taken a lot of the stick with some brave forays into the Blue defence when possession and yardage were vital.

In 10 years of watching the Army Women this was their finest hour-and a half. The Army Reds tackled like Tigers and put on an attacking show which was a great credit to the players and their coaches. After the match Chairman Lt Col Eilean Cunningham said "It was an absolutely cracking game. We've waited 8 long years to beat the British Police, gradually closing the gap until we overcame them in such a spectacular fashion. We played six newcomers tonight which shows that Women's rugby is going from strength to strength".