Army 7s Tournament
Aldershot - 20 May 09
Men Final - 1 Scots beat 17 P&M RLC (42-12)
Men Plate - 2 Welsh beat 3 Yorks (24-10)
Men Bowl - SEME beat 1 Yorks (25-20)
Men Tournament Player - Pte Jack Prasad
(1 Scots)
Women Final - REME beat RLC (29-12)
Women Tournament Player - Cpl Rosie
Haigh (REME)
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Mens Final
1 Scots (42) v 17 P&M RLC (12)
First Double Double
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Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson
The 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland added the Army Sevens crown to their Premiership title at Aldershot on 20th May. Only they in recent times, as the Royal Scots in 2006, had previously achieved the 'double' and achieved such a commanding position within Army unit rugby.
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Fielding two Fiji internationals in Apo Satala
and Jack Prasad and two players with
Middlesex 7s winners medals it was always likely to
be a Scottish victory but in a worthy final they were
made to work hard in the first half by a well drilled
and thoroughly motivated 17 Port and Maritime Regiment.
On a glorious day designed for sevens there were other contenders for the Mariners place in the final. BA(G) winners RSDG with Maciu Saulailai looked good as did
2 SCOTS, who played with verve and came within a whisker of a place at the top table.
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Fijian international Jack Prasad (1 Scots) on song |
In the 20 minute final 1 SCOTS were not their normal smooth
selves showing more aggression and sheer speed than
we have been accustomed to since 2000. Skipper Mathew
Raikosa and Satala clattered
the opposition whilst Prasad and the
evergreen Epeli Qolikibua provided
contrasting attack ploys which frequently had the Mariners
clutching at cobwebs |
Raikosa was a huge driving force and in terms of speed and weight as good as anyone in the Army. Qolikibua on the other hand was the 'smoke and mirrors man' who has lost little of the supreme guile that makes him such a great sevens player. |
 Matthew Raikosa (1 Scots) - too hard to handle |
 Mariners steaming ahead |
Considering the current operational pressures this was a great turn out with high quality sevens from sixteen men's teams and eight women's teams-250 players and a shed load of referees and officials to dignify the day. One main conclusion is that there are some very fit people out there for whom sevens is a great sport.
Posted 22 May 09 |
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Womens Final
REME(W) 39 v RLC(W) 12
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Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson
The REME lifted the women's title with quite a lot
to spare against a marginally favourite RLC side that
contained half the Army strike force in Sarah
Hudson and Aimee Bywater-Lutman;
REME skipper Rosie Haigh who normally
plays at Army No5 proved to be a bit quick off the blocks
for the RLC, frequently thundering outside the scrum
half to take a scoring pass. Laura Marsh-Yates
was a defence breaker who turned on the heat in the
open. More importantly REME played as a sevens team,
structured in attack and defence and they backed up
each other throughout. Rosie Haigh,
the cornerstone of the REME team, was named as Best
Women's Player of the Competition.
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 Laura Marsh Yates and Rosie Haigh construct another attack |
 Paula Robinson spreads the attack |
Considering the current operational pressures this was a great turn out with high quality sevens from sixteen men's teams and eight women's teams-250 players and a shed load of referees and officials to dignify the day. One main conclusion is that there are some very fit people out there for whom sevens is a great sport. |
 Rachel Davies scores against the AGC |
 Col Mark Pemberton, Director Community Rugby presents the 'Best Woman Player' Trophy to Rosie Haigh |
Posted: 22 May 09 |
