Divisional Select Vs Newark

In the initial submission of the paper proposing the Divisional Tournament, it was recommended that a Divisional Select XV play a couple of games as a further step up on the representative ladder. This proposal was accepted, but not taken up last season. This year a concerted effort was made to find suitable fixture and Newark agreed to resurrect the annual match for the George Crawford Memorial Trophy. George was an RAF Policeman who was capped in 1983 in an all Cpl RAFP front row; he and Martin Whitcombe (now coach of Skipton who the Eagles played as a warm-up game) were the props for Mark Wheeler (now the Deputy Provost Marshal). Unfortunately George died on 11 Feb 1985 while travelling with the RAFG Band when their coach collided with a fuel tanker. As he had played for Newark while based at what was then the RAF Police Depot at RAF Newton, an annual match was started between Support Command and the Newark club; however this fell by the wayside when Support Command folded.

A large and enthusiastic crowd greeted both sides on a evening when the playing conditions were almost perfect. From the kick off the Select XV started at a frantic pace and put Newark under a lot of pressure. However, at the very first lineout, SAC Joe Avazian (the loosehead prop) suffered a broken wrist and this meant the loss of a very powerful scrummager. This set back was weathered and the Select XV continued to pressure the Newark line; their efforts were rewarded when the winger SAC Richard Rutherford (RAF Lossiemouth) when over to open the scoring. The bigger and stronger Newark forwards then started driving at the Select XV and were awarded a penalty, which was followed soon afterwards by a very well worked try which was converted. The Select XV were undaunted and just before half time a grubber through by SAC Gareth Hopkins (Lyneham) was collected by SAC Tom Perrin (Odiham) and he went over in the corner. So the half ended all square at 10-10.

The second half started much like the first with both sides putting frantic efforts into their play when a more steady approach would have been a better option. Hopkins put the Select XV back into the lead with a well struck penalty, before Newark hit back to retake the lead by converting 2 penalties of their own. Newark were now well in the ascendancy, with the forwards continuing to batter the Select XV and it was only some frantic defence that stopped the line from being breached. Replacements were being made a regular intervals to ensure that all members of the squad took the field and after looking if they were about to crumble, the Select XV, driven on by their captain, SAC Dean Wight (RAF Leuchars), suddenly found a new lease of live. Wight scored to start a final flourish; two further tries followed, so the Select XV scored 22 unanswered points in the last 10 minutes of the match to put the game beyond Newark’s reach. Final score 35-16.

This was a good result in the first outing for the Divisional Select XV and was further proof, if any was needed, that divisional rugby is now an integral part of the RAFRU structured season. Newark have said that they are more than happy to continue this fixture as it bring benefits to both them and the RAFRU.