RAFRU Senior XV v Oxford University (OURFC)

SENIOR XV LOSE 38 – 14 ON OPENING GAME OF THE SEASON

Having had the first fixture of the Inter Services (IS) build-up against Nottingham RFC cancelled, due to the heavy snow at the beginning of the year, the RAF Senior XV finally took to the field at Ifley Road on the 26th of January 2010 to face a flamboyant University side. Having been hammered 68 – 3 by Oxford the previous year this opening encounter brought an air of uncertainty. The RAF, with a very young and inexperienced side, took to the field led by the ever impressive SAC Steve Green.

The opening six minutes witnessed the RAF dominate the majority of the early play and putting unrewarded pressure on the University men. However, this pressure was short lived and Oxford soon demonstrated their intention by stealing an RAF line out in their own 22m and surging up the field to see the fly half Charlie Marr open the scoring for the University.

The RAF fought back to gain control with SAC Chris Gordon demonstrating excellent foot work with a deft chip and go, only to be beaten to the ball under the posts by the Oxford full back.

This fixture has proved to be a difficult encounter for the RAF in recent years and the opening twenty minutes indicated that nothing had changed with Oxford now leading 17 – 0, following excellent scoring by the lightening winger Will Browne. The RAF pushed hard and fought back, but were unable to penetrate the Oxford defence or reach the danger zone.

By half time Oxford were firmly in the driving seat leading the encounter 31 – 0, with both Will Browne and Charlie Marr demonstrating exceptional talent. Will Browne clearly on course to replicate his hat trick of tries in the previous year’s encounter.

Halftime brought WO Steve Worrall the opportunity to regroup his men and deliver the inspiration and motivation that they clearly needed. Front row replacements saw Cpl Adam Winchester and Cpl Richie Craig take to the field at the restart. Both men made an instant impact on the game, tackling hard and bringing a much needed grit and determination to the proceedings.

However, Oxford, once again six minutes into the half, capitalised on their dominance and raised the scoring to 38 – 0. SAC Antoni Flammia, brother of capped player Cpl Angel Flammia, on his first Senior outing for the RAF left the field with a blood injury and was replaced by Cpl Stu Catherall also on his first Senior outing.

Ten minutes into the second half saw a triple substitution with debutants SAC Joel Foster, SAC Mark Sheriton, and Cpl Dave Hankinson taking to the field.

The game pushed to and fro and ten minutes into the second half SAC Joel Foster, on his first Senior outing, replaced the hard working Cpl Jimmy Bardgett who was also playing his first Senior game at scrum half. Foster, like the replacements before him, instantly made his mark on the game making three successive hard tackles on the Oxford forwards.

The RAF side, now with its tail up, fought hard and some impressive defensive work was demonstrated by the back line with the most noticeable of tackles devastatingly delivered by the hard hitting SAC Chris Gordon. This delighted the crowd and inspired those around him, Oxford were now on the back foot notwithstanding the score line.

Foster’s arrival led to a change of fortune for the impressive SAC Gareth Hopkins who was also on his first Senior outing. Hopkins, who had threatened to be a talent during the Academy season, but not quite delivered, finally demonstrated his true potential with fast delivery and fancy footwork. On the sixty sixth minute his moment came, following some hard yards from the forwards Hopkins took his opportunity to cut back inside and from the 22m line danced his way through the flailing Oxford defence to cross the line.

Sheriton who had also worked hard since his introduction to the game was shown the yellow card following an unavoidable misdemeanour in the lineout and an injury forced the captain, SAC Steve Green, to leave the field to be replaced by the veteran stalwart Sqn Ldr Howard Parr, himself just returning from injury.

The last ten minutes of the game witnessed the RAF taking the game by the scruff. Cpl Scott Garrett, looking sharp since his return to the UK, cleverly intercepted a ball in the centre of the field and had the vision to feed SAC Paul Gutteridge, who was attacking the wing at pace. Hard running and strong leg drive from ‘Guttsy’ was supported by the now buzzing Hopkins who made a successful burst for the line. The crowd was ecstatic and Hopkins kept his nerve to convert the kick from out wide to bring his points total to 14.

The fight back was strong, but sadly too late, and the game ended 38 – 14.

Forwards:

SAC Nick Kibble (RAF St Athan), Sqn Ldr Jack Matthews (Air Command), SAC Sid Lewis (RAF Coningsby), SAC Matthew Brougham (RAF Odiham), SAC Steve Green (RAF Benson), SAC Antoni Flammia (RAF Brize Norton), SAC Sam Attwooll (RAF Brize Norton), Cpl Al Blewitt (RAF Benson),

Backs:

Cpl Jimmy Bardgett (RAF Honington), SAC Gareth Hopkins (RAF Brize Norton), Cpl James Reid (Northwood), SAC Chris Gordon (RAF Leeming), SAC Paul Gutteridge (RAF Marham), SAC (T) Matthew Clarke (RAF Cottesmore), Cpl Phil Thomas (RAF Brize Norton).

Replacements:

Cpl Richie Craig (RAF Odiham), SAC Colin Evans (RAF Leeming), Cpl Adam Winchester (RAF Coningsby), Cpl Stuart Catherall (RAF Lyneham), SAC Mark Sheriton (RAF Cosford), SAC Joel Foster (RAF Benson), Cpl Scott Garrett (RAF Brize Norton), Cpl Dave Hankinson (RAF Coningsby), Sqn Ldr Howard Parr (Air Command).

Written by

FS Shaun Hesmondhalgh

RAFRU Senior Squad Players’ Manager