Combined Services XXXVs (31) v OSD Spartans (5)
Saturday 7th November 2009 - Cardiff

The combined services Veterans (CS XXXV) played their second ever fixture against a very strong South Wales police team (OSD Spartans) on Saturday 7 Nov 09, this fixture was again in support of the H4H and part of the Remembrance Day matches. With the run up to the fixture being extremely wet the game at times looked like it could have been rained off, still the CS XXXVs trained in earnest for the fixture, the RAF players endured the austere conditions of the barracks and stayed away from the Hilton hotel and the comfort we are used to!!

The CS XXXVs arrived at the wet Glamorgan Wanderers ground on the Saturday afternoon ready for the Kick off and started their pre match warm up, both teams were slightly weakened by Operational commitments and injuries, but it’s to both of their credit that still a lot of talent was on show, the South Wales Police however called up a ringer, in the form of RAF Veterans Prop Sgt Orkey Lenard, who has played RAF, CS at senior level and who played in the original H4H game at Twickenham with many of the worlds greatest players.

From the kick off the CS XXXV's are put under early pressure from the Spartans (South Wales Police), working the blind well the winger goes over in the corner, 5 minutes played, 0-5. A good tackle from Paul Dix stops a quick follow up attempt and the next 10 minutes are spent weighing each other up, the CS XXXV making a number of errors which the Spartans capitalised, however the strong defence of Dave Mason, Paul Dix and Craig Farington kept these challenges at bay and strong leadership around the fringes by the CS scrum half Paul Keen, soon the first two changes aided by rolling substitutes see Taff Evans and Paul Clark on for Mark Reed and Dave Mason. Ground making crashes from skipper of the day, Chris Richards, followed by a good solid scrum which see’s both RAF veteran props Lee Bramhall (CS XXXV) and Orkey Lenard (Spartans) go head to head in an epic battle concludes and sees Dave Goddard bash his way through to score, converted by Clark, 24 minutes played; 7-5. An interception just inside the Spartans half and Dan Haseltine runs the ball in, conversion missed, to move the score on to 12-5 at half time.

One change, Dave Boocock for the RAF talisman Paul “Copper” Keen, and the CS XXXVs kick off for the second half with the Spartans showing their metal by trying to play Baa Baa's rugby - but in response - a good tackles by Lee Oakey and Tubbs Reffell, another run from Chris Richards and great hands again from Paul Dix on another strong run, sees Evans only just stopped on the 5m line. As Spartans try to run it out of their 22m, tackles galore are made (Cam Cameron and Lee Bramhall) and when they run out of numbers a kick is put in, picked up and run back in for Tom Tom Turagabeci to score, converted by Paul Clark, 53 minutes played, 19-5. Further changes are Dave Mason and Reed for Paul Dix and Craig Farrington; following good work from the pack, hands and then a kick into the corner, Dave Mason out strips the Spartans defence and scores, 57 minutes; 24-5.

With the scrum still offering a good platform, despite the immense battle between the two RAF players, a 40m interchange between the two strong army back row players DaveGoddard and Neil Griffiths sets up the XXXVs inside the opposition 22m, again. Good hands and Taff Evans is able to go over in the corner, with an excellent conversion from Taff Reed, 61 minutes play, 31-5. Tackles continue to be made, notably by Shaun Collins and Lee Oakey, the last change after 65 minutes sees the outstanding Dave Goddard Limp off (with a some what dubious injury, to be known as Coach gate) – The ever green Simon Hill (Asst Coach) braves the weather to make another personal appearance, that see’s the crowd reach fever pitch! A good finale from the Spartans see’s Simon Hill make two outstanding tackles that deny the Spartans from scoring anymore points which in turns inspires the CS to stay resolute. Skipper, Chris Richards, can now claim the CS XXXVs first victory. Thanks must go to South Wales Police, Glamorgan Wanderers and our sponsor, Steve Lagadu (Serco), it is hoped that this will become an annual fixture (trophy is ours), for a very good cause.

Combined Services Team

1 WO1 Shaun Collins Army
2 SSgt Alan Reffell Army
3 FSgt Lee Bramhall RAF
4 Maj Ewen Cameron Army
5 Cpl Lee Oakey RAF
6 WO2 Neil Griffiths Army
7 SSgt Dave Goddard Army (MoM)
8 WO2 Chris Richards Navy (Skipper)
9 Sgt Paul Keen RAF
10 Sgt Dave Mason RAF
11 Sgt Craig Farrington RAF
12 SSgt Mark Reed Army
13 Sgt Paul Dix RAF
14 CPO Dan Haseltine Navy
15 LCpl Tomasi Turagabeci Army
16 Lt Taff Evans Navy
17 Lt Paul Clark Navy
18 Capt Dave Boocock Army
19 WO2 Kev Davies Army (Injured)
20 WO1 Trevor Howard Army (injured)

Combined Services Officials

Col Andy Allen Army (Chairman)
WO1 Hywel Thomas Army (Manager)
WO1 Mitch Mitchell Army (Head Coach)
SSgt Tiny Baker Army (Asst Coach)
Sgt Simon Hill RAF (Asst Coach)
Lt Radcliffe Army (Physio)
Wendy Briggs Navy (Physio)

Players Left to right: Paul Dix, Simon Hill (Coach), Craig Farrington, Paul Keen, Lee Bramhall, Lee Oakley, David Mason