Flower of Scotland
Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson
The 2009 Premiership Cup at Aldershot was a titanic contest between two totally different teams-each a classic in their own style. Both teams showed Strength, Speed and Stamina but above all it was great Spirit that dominated this match.
 Jack Prasad scores the second try |
Before a throbbing Army Stadium, the impromptu singing of the Welsh had to
compete with the vastly more tuneful skirl of the Scottish
pipes band, tones apart, it made for a cracking atmosphere. Both sides were desperate to win the Trophy, the tempo rocketed as fortunes swung from desperate attack to desperate defence. The Scots struck with three excellent first half tries for a 21pts-6 advantage. In the closing quarter the Welsh Guards mounted a superb recovery only to experience a great 'revivalist' try from the Scots Fijian international Jack Prasad. |
Predictably the Welsh Guards opening gambit was their driving pack. With four Army caps up-front the Guards kept the Scots largely on the back foot - but seldom in deep trouble as they regrouped skilfully within their own '22'.
The tide of disciplined Welsh green shirts with the Scarfe brothers
in the vanguard was relentless. Welsh forward progress
was evident - until the ball was released. The drive
/ kicking strategy with such a strong pack was fine
providing attacking kicks retain control of the ball.
The Welsh were profligate with hard won ball and kicked
it down the throats of serial counter-attackers - which
is probably the story of the match.
Mathew Raikoso lunges for the first try |
Apo Satala starts a Scots counter-attack |
In the second quarter the grinding mood changed as centre Mathew Raikoso, skipper and No8 Kite Rawalai and flanker Apo Satala started to attack from all positions. Support for the runners was superb.
Having returned from the Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai, Satala
was back as one of the boys surging forward into the
12 / 13 channel and frequently needing three Welsh players
to stop him. That created gaps within the Guards defence
and it was Raikoso who struck first,
thundering run through to the posts. Centre David
Duffus converted.
 Scrum half Hiscock gets the Guards moving forward
Against the run of play? No, not a bit ! The Welsh looked stunned but weeks
before they should have seen it coming. The Scots had
fielded two full Fiji internationals and additionally
skipper Kite Rawalai and Bul
Bulumakau who have Fiji 7s pedigrees. Five of
the team had played a major part when the Army team won
the Middlesex 7s Trophy.
 No stopping Tui Leketu for the Scots third try Tries from fly half Jack Prasad and a blitzing run from lock
Tui Lekutu gave the Scots the ascendancy
and a 21pts -6 lead at the break. Welsh full back Rob
Sweeney, normally a certainty in the opponent's
half, clipped two chances before grabbing a brace.
The second half saw the Scots fall foul the referee Dai Williams
on a fairly regular basis. A string of penalties
pinned the Scots back into their own '22' . The
Guards pack, rejuvenated at the mere thought of
a comeback, hounded the Scots who, to make matters
worse, had a torrid time in the scrum. A penalty
try and a 5m sprint to the line by prop Melvyn
Lewis, both converted by hooker Matt
Dwyer, reduced the scoreline to a nail-biting
24 pts - 20.
Certainly the Scots were catchable until Jack Prasad produced a rabbit from nowhere and sprinted 20m for 5 pts. For once Duffus, who was awarded the Man of the Match tankard, failed with the conversion from far out but that was, at 29pts -20, sufficient to restore the difference to two scores.
The 2009 Final was as predicted a tumultuous game which,
until the final ten minutes, was too difficult to call.
The Welsh Guards were adrift at half time but then demonstrated
great resilience, then a resurgence leading to a pair
of tries which they must have planned in early 2008.
Their supporters sang and sang to encourage one more
score - even after Prasad scored the
fourth try and Duffus had slotted 3
pts to restore the 9 point advantage.
The Guards certainly had big, big guns including four Army caps in the pack who all had great games. However there must be a nagging thought that if only they had stuck to the close game and kicked more accurately they would not have been left with a 23pts-6 mountain at half time.
|
 Prop Melvyn Lewis breaks from cover
Skipper Kite Rawalai lifts the Trophy |
Enough'ifs'. On 11 March at Aldershot Rawalai, Prasad and Tuilekutu scored four memorable tries, Bulumakau led the prayers and Epele Qolikibua led the choir with 'Au rai vei kemuni'. The Scots were back in style.
 Jubilant Scots team share their moment of Victory
Posted: 14 Mar 09
The 2008-9 Premiership Rugby Challenge has all distilled
down to a Final with fabulous potential Can’t get more tasty than that for partisans
and neutrals alike, with many eminent Army players
on the blocks. David v Goliath, Cutlass v Rapier, Scots
v Welsh.
It will be the open play of the Scots laced with Sevens
players and reinforced by the return of Apo Satala
from Rugby World Cup 7s duty against the blood and
thunder of the Welsh Guards pack.
As Field Marshal Lord Kitchener said
“ BE THERE”.
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2009
Army Rugby Stadium
ALDERSHOT KO 1530 hrs (TBC)
Posted: 9 Mar 09 | 
