nav_page_title_single_blue.gif
Sapperrugby win 26-12 against Shelford, with several newcomers impressing ahead of the Corps Festival...
The Army Merit League Final 2010 Match Report
 

Sapperrugby v The Royal Logistic Corps - Wednesday 31 March 2010
Sapperrugby; Proud and together
The Sappers new they had to improve to make it four Corps final wins in a row, it has never been done before....the Loggies had won all their five league games and the Sappers had a stuttering season by their high standards, losing to the RLC at Marchwood and the Infanrty in a cut short game earlier in the month, motivation was the requirement and indeed ex England International, Gloucester manager and turned Sky rugby TV pundit Dean Ryan who presented the shirts to the team prior to the match highlighted the requirement, they had brought back last seasons head coach Andy Sanger due to Gareth Evans being deployed in Afghan and the traditional pre match DVD focused on the necessary points (watch via this link) and all was set for a great game of rugby. Skipper Ben Hughes spoke the final words as he did at Marchwood earlier in the season when the RLC had their day......
The Sapper scrum had a dominant first 40...

Reported by Roger Thompson. The 2010 Corps Championship Final at Aldershot was a titanic contest between two teams determined to play rugby. Both teams showed skill and enterprise enabling non-capped players to play a major part in the outcome of a fine match. At stages both teams held a commanding lead and lost it and, above all, as befits the Army's senior rugby competition, a fine Spirit pervaded throughout.

Before a throbbing Army Stadium the question was when would the three times champions, the Sappers, release their Army backs. Within five minutes they had devoured enough ball to make an England XV think they had arrived in Heaven. However when the Sapper attempted to light the fuse, they went into a song and dance routine, spilled the ball and the RLC scored two tries. That's rugby.
Nakka with Garry Windle in support
Army wing Malakai Magnus zoomed down his wing for the first whilst Taukei welcomed a Chris Clifford dolly pass to stride 50m to the Sapper line. An RLC 12 pt-nil lead was a 'low odds' score after fifteen minutes but made for a cracking atmosphere. The tempo rocketed further as fortunes swung from Sapper attack against last trench RLC survival-and vice Versa. Sapper fly half Ken Davey made and took his chances. If there had been a decent prop on route he would have been marmelized but the cheekiest 'Show and Go' ensured the defence never laid a finger on him as he went under the posts.
Jope on the charge
Ken davey offloads

Of course 'lightning never strikes twice' but five minutes later Davey repeated his audacious move. Flanker Darrell Ball, returning to full fitness added a third for the Sappers to take a 17pts-15 lead into half time. Neither side had dominated the first half but both Corps had the stars to finish the job in the second period. Three minutes in the Sappers established a 7pt lead. Peceli Nacamavuto had been a constant thorn in the RLC defence, Gus Qasevakatini and 'Baks' Bakoso were two of the fastest men in Army rugby but it was Gerhard Wessels who crossed far out with all the time in the World.

Wes heads for the try line

Maybe the Sappers had drawn the headlines with four tries but the RLC were far from overawed. Their driving pack with Joe Kava and Williamson in the vanguard gained ground. Quick recycling by the ever bouncy Gareth Parry once more released Magnus who danced through. Add a couple of penalties for drama. Twenty five minutes to the final whistle and 25 pts all-anyone's game; Predictably it was the Sappers' pack turning the screw that steadied the ship. With five Army caps up-front the Engineers regrouped skilfully to score two more tries through Bakoso and Gareth Libbey.
and scores to make it 25 - 30

The restored 10 pt lead proved decisive as the Maroon and Blue forwards further squeezed the life blood out of a very game and well organized RLC pack ,The Sappers certainly had deployed the big guns including nine Army caps to win a fourth successive Corps title. That they were held until the last throw of the dice by the RLC shows what a good side the 'Loggies' had built in recent years under the tutelage of former Army back row forward Major Chris Christopher.

Moment of Magic Sapper prop Chris Clifford (him of the early dolly pass) arrived first to a crumbling maul, drove and secured the possession which led to the Wes Thomson try. At that very point the tide started to turn.
game over, 3 mins to go...25 - 35

So the Sappers did it, both teams had given their all; they were exhausted, proud and done. Referee Steve Penfold who refereed the game with one of the lowest penalty counts I have ever seen called an end to the proceedings. Ben Hughes collected the trophy once again from General Mans, four in a row will be recorded in the history books of the Army Rugby Union, it won't show though that this game was a ding dong battle that ebbed and flowed to the last minutes.

The Sappers regrouped and held the traditional end of season dinner in Minley, Dean Ryan enjoyed the celebrations, as did the other 45 Sappers sat with him. Awards went to Club Member of the season - Darren Crooks, Most Improved Player - James Erasmus and player of the Season Baks Bakoso. What next, The UK Sapper Cup in Chatham on Wed 21 Apr followed by the winners of that against 35 Engr Regt from Germany for the Campbell Cup; a trip to the delightful Boston USA in May beckons for 36 all up to play the Boston Irish Wolfhounds a USA Superleague Club amongst others. After that the sevens team will gather for sun and speed, see you soon........Ubique.

Man of the Match – Some great performances throughout, Ken Davey was close with two great individual trys Gary Windle on promotion day was back to his very best, the Army backs of Ves, Nakka, Gus and Backs displayed speed and class but it was Darrell Ball who was just immense all over the park for the complete game.

Sapperrugby – 1. Chris Clifford 2.Garry Windle 3. Rick Reeve 4. Rob Taylor 5. Ralph Cook 6. Ledua Jope 7. Darrell Ball 8. Ben Hughes (skipper) 9. Wes Tomson 10. Ken Devey 11. Gus Qasevakatini 12.Peceli Navacamuto 13.Ves Wessells 14. Boks Bakoso 15. Rhydian Slade Jones 16. Gareth Libbey 17.Sam Sema 18. Jon Auld 19. Zac Vakasawaqa 20 Gavin Clegg 21. Noxy Laqekoro 22. Adam Karran

Director of Rugby Rich Garrett, Manager Tim Poole, Coaching Staff Andy Sanger, Mike Thomas and Vic Reeve. Kit Mark Westlake and Darren Crooks. Physio Sam Emery and Ant Marx.

Thanks to Roger Thompson for his report and photos, Jonathan Fowke for his video highlights and Garry Cootes for the additional pictures

 
Impossible Performance - Home