RAF V SOUTH AFRICA NAVY - 36-7

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First match of the tournament saw the RAF pitted against the South African Navy. The game started tentatively but the team soon got into its stride and the weeks training started paying off with some excellent offensive play across the backs with the ball being passed out to SAC Gutteridge on the wing on the halfway line. Gutteridge stepped inside breaking two tackles and continued through to score in the corner. Conversion missed. 5-0.

Kick-off saw the RAF regain possession in the centre of the field. Flt Lt Barlow stepped back to realign his backs then broke through the centre before off-loading to Fg Off Smith who continued through the centre with a clear run to score under the posts. Conversion kicked. 12-0

The Navy started off strongly from kick-off and made some ground through the centre, but a loose ball was picked up by Gutteridge who again broke through the centre, through two tackles, to score under the post. Conversion kicked. 19-0

Halftime

The RAF started off strongly in the second half with the backs moving the ball nicely back and forth across the pitch. The ball came back to Smith in the centre, and seeing the sweeper was out of place, chipped through at the halfway line, and showed excellent footballing skills to dribble half the length of the pitch, closely followed by two Navy defenders, to collect and score near the corner. Conversion missed. 24-0

The Navy start off strongly and retain possession for some time in the centre, but eventually the ball is knocked on and Gutteridge is there to collect again. Breaking another tackle, he found a gap in the centre and sprinted from the halfway line to score. 29-0

From the kick-off Flt Lt Hall is unlucky not to take the catch and unfortunately knocked on. From the subsequent scrum the RAF pushed the Navy back hard and SAC Bardgett managed to collect the loose ball which again went to ground before being picked up by Cpl Garrett who broke through the centre to score under the posts. Conversion kicked. 36-0

From the kick-off the RAF manage to collect, but a loose ball knocked forward allowed the Navy the advantage which they took to score in the corner in the last minute of the match. Final score 36-7

A solid start to the tournament where the squad played a tight defensive game. In offence passes were accurate and ball handling good.

RAF V RUSSIA – 0-33

The second group match was played against the strongest team of the tournament who were solely committed to winning the event. A well disciplined side, they had been training and playing together for 7 months in preparation for this tournament. This was always going to be a hard-hitting game, and lived up to expectation.

The RAF started well with some good defensive play against a formidable Russian offence which was accurate and fast. It was only a matter of time before the Russians broke through a small gap and scored under the posts. 0-7

The RAF tried to poke holes in the solid Russian defence but to no avail, and unfortunately from an unseen offside position, the Russians managed to take the ball from the ruck to score a second try before halftime. 0-14

Halftime

The second half started off well, with the RAF trying to move the ball wide across both sides of the field, but again the Russians managed to grab at a loose ball for another score. 0-21

The game was now rather one-sided and even a moments lapse in concentration allowed them through to score. The RAF rallied hard to pull it back together, but by now the fitness and pace of the Russian team was telling. 0-28

In the dying minutes the Russians managed another last gasp try to leave the score 0-33 at the final whistle.

This was always going to be a tough game against the eventual winners of the tournament. The Russians were fitter, faster and had the advantage of having been playing together regularly for 7 months. However it was important not to let heads drop and raise our game in the next match to ensure progression in the tournament. A good learning game, where many observations were made as to how to improve our game against stiffer opponents.

RAF V SANDF PRESIDENTS – 21-28

This was always going to be an exciting close game based on previous performances in the competition. Both teams played a similar style of rugby and it was therefore down to skill and execution on the day.

The RAF took the kick-off and some good defensive play from SANDF allowed them to make some progress up the pitch. An unfortunate decision off an early ruck allowed SANDF to score under the posts and convert. 0-7

From the kick-off the SANDF manage to regain possession and a good passing game allows them to make ground up the pitch. They manage to force an overlap on the right hand side of the pitch and are in for a score. 0-14

It is important now that the RAF squad move up a gear and show the grit and determination which took them past the SA Navy. Cpl Garrett tries to force play in the centre of the pitch and it soon pays off as he makes a great chip through the centre and follows it up to regain possession, shrugs off a tackle and scores under the posts. 7-14

The team is now playing with a new sense of determination and some good passing out to the wing means Flt Lt Jones has an opportunity on the left hand side of the pitch. Jones manages to step outside his man and run from the halfway line to score under the posts. 14-14

Halftime

From the kick-off the RAF retain possession and some good movement of the ball across the backs leaves a gap exposed in the centre. Cpl Gunning breaks through and has a clear path to the posts. 21-14

Immediately the SANDF reply from the kick-off taking the ball straight through to bring the score back level. 21-21

In the dying minutes of the match, Flt Lt Jones makes another break down the wing but is caught at the 22 by the SANDF winger, the ball goes loose and the SANDF winger breaks back to score as the hooter goes to indicate full-time. 21-28

A shaky start, probably inherited from the previous loss to the Russians. However, confidence grew as the game progressed and was high by half-time with the teams level. Unlucky to lose as the RAF definitely had the upper hand for most of the second half.

RAF V ZIMBABWE – SHIELD FINAL – 26-0

Confidence was high at the start of this match following the close defeat to the SANDF. The team made good progress up the pitch, before Fg Off Smith spots a gap in the middle and breaks through to score under the posts. 7-0

From the kick-off Zimbabwe manage to hold onto the ball and play drifts to the far side of the pitch before a scrum is called at the half-way line. Great hands by SAC Bardgett allows the ball to be spun out to the wing where Flt Lt Jones is waiting to receive and again makes a good run to score. A good conversion follows. 14-0

Halftime

From the kick-off Zimbabwe fail to make the 10 yard line and a quick return kick from the RAF allowed a quick ball out to Cpl Gunning who scores after running from the half-way line, breaking two tackles in the process. 19-0

Play remains in the middle of the pitch for some time, before a loose kick forward by Zimbabwe allows Jones to collect and run right around the Zimbabwe defence to score under the posts. The hooter follows a minute later. 26-0

A great way to finish. Confidence was knocked following the game against the Russians, but by the Zimbabwe game, all those great elements of the first match were relived. This was the first overseas tournament for the RAF 7s team, and only the third tournament. The week of training prior to this tournament really paid off and bodes well for next year. Confidence is now high and the team is on a roll which will hopefully carry over into 2009.