RAF Spitfires return to Kent!

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The Spitfire Canterbury Sevens

This was the first time the RAF had participated in this prestigious Sevens competition, and it was also the first fixture of the new season. The squad had spent a few days at Halton in preparation for this event and travelled down to Kent on a warm and sunny bank holiday to compete against the best the South-East had to offer. Three leagues allowed the teams 4 pool games each, with the winners and highest runner-up going on to the Semis and the runner-up from each group playing for the plate. The RAF team were drawn against a mixture of teams including the University of Kent, Sevenoaks, the Argylls, and Dover RFC. The squad was limited – given the senior tour to New Zealand which coincided with the tournament, but were confident of some success given their preparation for the event.

RAF Spitfires v University of Kent

The first match of any tournament is always a bit nerve-racking, especially when you don’t know the form of the opposition. However, the RAF had prepared well for this competition and were confident in their abilities to perform on the day against the University of Kent.

From the kick-off the RAF Spitfires managed to retain possession, and Reggie Reid broke through the centre of the defence to run half the length of the field to score under the posts and convert his own try – 7-0. From the kick-off the University lads passed the ball back inside their own 22, but Tim Barlow of Halton was too sharp for them and intercepted the pass, breaking through the sweeper and scored under the posts – 14-0. The RAF maintained the pressure for the next few minutes, and James Challenger was unlucky not to get past on the wing, stepping into touch. However from the lineout Reggie Reid regained possession and ran the length of the pitch to score in the corner bringing the score to 19-0. From the subsequent kick-off the Kent University winger, who was lightning quick managed to spoil the RAF rout and broke around the outside to score a try and close the gap to 19-7. However, the RAF had a flyer of their own in James Challenger, and with a spurt of blistering pace he ran around his opposite number to score under the posts – 24-7. The RAF did well to regain possession from the kick-off, and some excellent handwork back and forth across the back line showed what the RAF were capable of. Their patience paid off, as just before half-time a loose ball on the wing was picked up by PJHQs Reggie Reid, who ran it over to touch down leaving the score at 29-7 at half-time.

The Kentish student started the second half well, and worked their way into the RAF 22, where the Spitfires were penalised for not throwing the ball 5 yards at the lineout. However the University students failed to capitalise on the free kick and were then penalised for offside. From the subsequent penalty, inside his own 22, speed merchant James Challenger took on the whole University team, stepping around the outside of their winger, and running the full length of the pitch to score, and subsequently convert, bringing the score to 36-7. The University lads started well again, and a break from their winger was stopped by Tom Dietrich bundling him into touch. Again, there were some excellent passages of play, with the RAF testing the students defence, biding their time waiting for a gap to appear. The students knocked-on, and playing advantage, Tom Dietrich picked up the loose ball and ran it home for a score – 41-7. The RAF were unlucky not to score a minute later, when a deceptively slippery patch of grass got the better of Jimmy Bardgett, but his excellent control of the back 4 more than made up for any hiccups. In the dying seconds, the students managed to pull one back with a break down the wing to leave the final score 41-14.

A terrific start from the Spitfires – confidence was high and the ball handling was better than had ever been seen in previous seasons. The squad were relishing the chance to have a go at the next opponents, Sevenoaks RFC.

RAF Spitfires v Sevenoaks

From the kick-off the RAF looked to be in control and with the ball soon ending up in touch, a strong lineout performance allowed Alex Blackstock of 12 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, to collect the ball on the wing and outpace the defence to run half the pitch and score in the corner – 5-0. From the kick-off, Sevenoaks collected but managed to knock-on allowing the RAF to take advantage of their scrum. The ball was passed out to the wing before coming back inside, and RAF Brize Norton’s Tom Dietrich spotted a gap in the middle which he exploited to break through and score, converting the try himself – 12-0. From the kick-off, Blackstock again got control of the ball but was pushed into touch. From the subsequent line-out Sevenoaks managed to knock-on, giving the RAF possession once more and Halton’s Tim Barlow broke through the centre, side-stepping around three defenders to score under the posts – 17-0. However, Sevenoaks were quick off the mark and managed to break through t the RAF’s 22, before an excellent covering tackle by Gaz Dunn of Leeming saved an almost certain try. From the subsequent knock-on, the RAF capitalised and a long pass out to Alex Blackstock allowed him round the back of the defence and a long run to the other end of the pitch to score – 22-0.

The second half started briskly and from the kick-off the RAF retained possession. James Challenger came on to replace Blackstock and decided to make an early impression, noticing the opposite winger had stepped inside, he broke outside him and made a clean break for the line to score – 29-0. Sevenoaks were now definitely on the back foot, and another good ball from the line-out allowed Honington’s Jimmy Bardgett through the middle to score – 34-0. The scoring was to continue – next was Rory Wood from Cranwell, seeing a gap appear in the middle following on from a Sevenoaks penalty, he broke through to score under the posts and safely convert – 41-0. The final score of the match came from the team flyer, James Challenger, who again made a mockery of the defence and sprinted round the outside before stepping inside the sweeper to score under the posts and convert – 48-0.

An impressive display from the Spitfires. Excellent ball handling throughout, and not a dropped pass in sight. They controlled play from the beginning, slowing the ball where required to maximise on defensive errors from Sevenoaks.

RAF Spitfires v Argylls

This was always going to be a hard-hitting game. The Argylls, like most Army teams now, were sporting almost a full team of Fijians, and had already had a player sent off for punching. The objective was to step back and play sevens like it should be played, and avoid contact. The Argylls started well and gained a fair bit of ground down the pitch, but Barlow managed to turn over the ball from a ruck and break through the middle to get the first points on the board for the Spitfires – 7-0. From the kick-off the RAF regained possession and some good ball handling allowed a hand off to Reggie Reid on the wing, who drove with barnbreaking force through the defence to score – 14-0. Again the Argylls drove forward and got inside the Spitfire 22, but were penalised for not releasing. They subsequently threw in a few high tackles, and from the subsequent penalty Phil Thomas regained possession and ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts – 21-0. Shortly after the Argylls were penalised again for another high tackle. This time Phil Thomas was involved again and chipped over the defence for Tim Barlow to chase – he deftly picked the ball up and crossed the line to score – 28-0.

The second half began with the Argylls starting strongly again and driving the ball up to the RAF 22, but they then upended a ruck to give the RAF a penalty. The ball was passed out to Reggie ‘Barnstorming’ Reid who broke down the wing but was shoved into touch. Post the line-out the RAF slowed the pace down looking for a gap and it was Tom Dietrich who found it, breaking down the wing to score – 33-0. Again the Argylls tried to drive the ball forward but following a break, were called back for a knock-on. From the back of the scrum, the ball was handed out to Alex Blackstock, who managed to break the defence and walked the ball in for the last score of the game – 38-0.

A hard hitting game which certainly took its toll on the players, having now played three games in the space of 2 hours. The last pool match was to be against Dover, who were also unbeaten at this stage of the competition.

RAF Spitfires v Dover

Dover started strongly, and the ball passed back and forth across the middle of the pitch, until at last the unrelenting pressure got the better of the Spitfire defence and Dover broke through to score in the corner – 0-5. However, upper lips were stiffened, and the RAF started well post the kick-off. An excellent break by 111(F) Squadron’s Chris Pearson allowed the ball to come back to Tim Barlow who handed the ball to Blackstock who ran it home to score under the posts, and subsequently convert – 7-5. From the kick-off Dover pushed forward but were penalised for not releasing. From the subsequent penalty Backstock elected to run the ball through the centre and then stepped outside to take it down the wing and score – 14-5. Again Dover continued to push forward and knock-on to give the RAF the advantage. But Bardgett is unlucky to be called offside, and form the subsequent scrum the Dover winger made an excellent dummy to then break around the outside and score leaving the score at 14-12 at halftime.

Tiredness was now starting to show, and the Spitfires were unlucky to knock-on inside their own 22. Dover capitalised on the situation and broke through the centre to regain the lead – 14-17. By now there were some very tired legs on the field and Dover were awarded another scrum from which they broke to score in the corner – 14-22. With only a minute left to play, the Spitfires now had an uphill struggle and from an untidy scrum, Dover managed to break away for the last score of the match to leave the final score 12-27.

Tiredness was evident in this game. The team had played a match every 40 mins for the preceding 4 hours and it was clear that it was taking its toll. However, the performance was strong, and the RAF were unlucky to lose, given that they had held the lead until 4 mins to go.

This result left the team second in their pool, and they had enough of a points difference for them to proceed into the final of the plate competition.

RAF Spitfires v Warlingham – Plate Final

The final of the plate was always going to be a tough fixture. The 5th match of the day against one of the local favourites with the squad reduced to 10 men was going to be a big ask. From the start, Warlingham looked strong and it was not long before they managed to break through the tired defence and score on the right hand side of the pitch. This was followed only a minute later by another score down the other side to leave the RAF trailing 0-12. The Spitfires tried time and again to break through the defence, and it almost looked like they had when Tom Dietrich broke through and was away down the wing before being bundled into touch just before the line. Unfortunately, Warlingham managed another two scores before half-time to leave them sitting 24 points up by the whistle.

Sevens finals are played for 10 mins each way, and tiredness was again showing in the RAF squad as Warlingham managed to run in another try in the first minute of the second half. Another followed a minute later, and all seemed lost when the RAF began to fight back, with both teams looking very tired indeed. James Challenger came on as a substitute and some good handiwork across the centre of the pitch allowed him a gap on the right to break through and score under the posts. The Messiah from Wales was at it again 1 min later when he took a quick tap penalty and ran around a tired defence to score another try in the corner. But the comeback was too late, and the Spitires went down 12-50.

This was the first outing of the Sevens season for the squad, and given their inexperience, they performed admirably on the day. Playing 5 games in the space of 5 hours is a tall order, and considering some of the squad had been representing the Combined Services the previous day, it was no surprise that there were some tired legs out there. However, to finish 2nd in the group with a points difference of +100 points was an excellent achievement and something the squad can only build on over the season. To come home with runners-up medals in their first tournament is an achievement in itself and the players can be justly proud of their performance.

The Spitfires play their next fixture at the Bournemouth Sevens on 24 May, and hopefully a fully fit squad can build upon what was achieved at Canterbury.

RAF Spitfires:

Flt Lt Tim Barlow Captain/Coach RAF Halton

Flt Lt Alex Blackstock RAF Lossiemouth

Fg Off Chris Pearson RAF Leuchars

OC Rory Wood RAFC Cranwell

Cpl Gaz Dunn RAF Leeming

Cpl Phil Thomas RAF Brize Norton

Cpl ‘Reggie’ Reid PJHQ

Cpl Tom Dietrich RAF Brize Norton

SAC Jimmy Bardgett RAF Honington

LAC James Challenger RAF Lyneham