Eagles start Divisional Season

The Eagles commenced their build up towards the Divisional Tournament in Nov by playing a warm-up fixture against Skipton RFC, a Yorkshire Division 1 side coached by Martin Whitcombe, the ex RAF and Combined Services prop.

At an excellent setting in the Yorkshire Dales, the Eagles were made most welcome by their hosts. The players, who travelled from all parts of the Division, had not played together before, so a couple of training sessions on the day of the game were run by FS Niall Thomson, the Eagles Team Manager and general factotum.

Skipton used the game as a pre-season trial fielded 2 full sides, one in each half, so the 19 Eagles players were always going to be up against it. Undaunted by the task that lay ahead the Eagles started the game with a flourish, driving at the opposition, knocking them back and then spinning the ball wide. Particularly noticeable during these early phases of play was the back row of Brett Evans (Waddington), Gaz Roper (Cott/Witt) and Graham Fowles (Honington), as they stopped the opposition in their tracks. The half back pairing of Tom Billingham (Brampton) and Gaz Dunn (Cott/Witt) ensured that the backs received quick ball, when they were not making sniping runs themselves. Ben Royle (Leeming) playing at fullback ensure that any balls kicked through were returned with interest, as he used his siege gun boot to good effect.

The Eagles finished the first period with a lead of 10-0, following an interception on his own 22 meter line by Matt Clarke (Cott/Witt), who then ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Clarke, although not strictly eligible for Divisional rugby, was using the match as part of his return to full fitness, and hopefully regaining his place in the RAF XV, following a year out through injury.

In the second period Skipton came more into the game, however their scores only came because of errors by the Eagles; a few poor tackles being the most noticeable failure.

The Eagles suffered a few minor injuries and this meant the teams’ organisation was disrupted as players had to be shuffled around; it did mean that every player took to the field, some on more that one occasion! The hosts, with their fresh players, eventually pulled away to win an absorbing fixture 27-10.

This was a full-on contest that both sides relished and has given the Eagles much to build upon as they move forward to challenging to become Divisional Champions.

Skipton RFC were excellent hosts and welcomed an RAF side to an area where personnel wearing light blue are very rarely seen, unless it is on low level flights!! The members of the Divisional Committee in attendance were approached by club members who expressed the amazement that the players had come from so large an area; individuals also recounted their rugby playing experiences while in the RAF. The game, which was watched by an enthusiastic crowd, certainly showed the Service, and in particular the RAFRU in a very good light, and the Club want the fixture to become an annual event. The Eagles management are more than willing to oblige and the Team Manager commented that ‘All in all it was a very worthwhile exercise in rugby and public relations’.