On a dry typical September afternoon the RAFRU U23 squad captained by SAC Mark Sheriton (RAF Brize Norton) arrived in Teddington, west London for the first full fixture of the season against United Hospitals following from their successful training camp at Pontypool. United Hospitals (UH) are a side drawn from the best players in six of the medical school around the London area.

The game kicked off at 1530hrs with a very evenly matched start, after a short spell of pressure the U23’s gave away a penalty which was duly converted allowing UH taking an early lead, scoring 3-0. The following 25 minutes allowed the small crowd to watch a good tight contest almost entirely played in the centre of the ground where no quarter was asked or given. The RAF capitalised on a well worked phase of play which allowed SAC Jonny Porter (RAF Lyneham) to score in the right corner after they were able to release the ball to the backs quickly and accurately. The score remained 3-5 at half time.

The second half started brightly with the RAF starting to dominate play which resulted in a 60+ meter turn over breakaway try by AC Josh McNally (RAF Cosford). The big second row was able to use him strength and pace to both out run the defenders and go over the top of an UH isolated defender, LAC Andy Mundy (RAF Kinloss) converted, score 3-12. UH came back strongly and put a lot of pressure on the now defending RAF team, pressure that earned them a penalty which was again converted, score 6-12. After this score the RAF regained their composure and was able to soak up the pressure that UH placed on them and turned over the ball on a number of occasions. The RAF forwards who had caused so much of the pressure on the UH team lost two of their front row players, SAC Ryan Dolby (RAF Lossiemouth) and SAC Mitch Batten (RAF Lyenham) from injury resulting in the scrums becoming uncontested. This was a blow to the RAF side as they felt that was one area of the game where the pressure was really starting to show and thus dominate in the second half. On one of these occasions LAC Sam Attwooll capitalised by scoring a well deserved try, score 6-17. The RAF now started to dominate the play where they were again rewarded by another try scored by AC Jordan Andrade (RAF Cosford) and converted by SAC Jonny Porter (RAF Lyneham), score 6-24.

Once again the RAF’s pressure seemed to rejuvenated the UH team which refused to give in and with great resolve they scored a well deserved try with a series of driving mauls allowing their forwards pressure to reap the rewards, score 11-24. The RAF continued to put pressurise on the UH defence which result in SAC Sam Dodwell (RAF Kinloss) scoring, final score 11-29 to the RAF.

RAFRU U23 Team:

*AC Barry Latter (RAF Cosford), SAC Mitchell Batten (RAF Lyenham), SAC Ryan Dolby (RAF Kinloss), *SAC Darren Oliver (RAF Leuchars), *SAC Richard Pollard (RAF Cosford), SAC Sam Attwooll (RAF Brize Norton), SAC Mark Sheriton (Cap – RAF Brize Norton), *LAC Matthew Morgan (RAF Waddington), *SAC David Robins (RAF Benson), *LAC Andrew Mundy (RAF Kinloss), *SAC Sam Dodwell (RAF Kinloss), *AC Jordan Andrade (RAF Cosford), SAC Dan Millership (RAF Leuchars), *AC James Armigar (RAF Cosford), SAC Jonny Porter (RAF Lyneham) - reserves AC Josh McNally (RAF Cosford), *AC Jonathon Clark-Acaster (RAF Boulmer), *SAC Stephen Turzza (RAF Cosford),* SAC Jordan Jones (RAF Leuchars), *SAC Terry Robson (RAF Cosford), *AC Sam Barratt (RAF Cosford), SAC Sam Greener (RAF Cottesmore), *SAC Mike Jones (RAF Cosford).