Services Rugby
SAPPERS DIG DEEP
The Corps ‘pipe opener’, the VT Tens held at Aldershot last month, saw from the first kick-off a number of teams determined to de-throne the Royal Engineers who have held considerable sway at Corps and Army level rugby for the past three seasons. The Royal Artillery looked very sharp against the Infantry but it was the Royal Logistics Corps, albeit denuded of some key players, that produced the first shock of the morning. Led by veteran Army lock Andy Geary the RLC produced a powerful forward display that rocked the Sappers 12-3 and then they went down to the Gunners. Reaching the VT Final came down to pretty tight mathematics. In their final league match the Sappers needed to score five tries against the Infantry to rescue a place at the top table—and that is just what they achieved, setting up another battle with an undefeated RLC side. After 30 exciting minutes the score remained at 0-0. The RLC forwards were still moving with menace but Army prop Rick Reeve was back taking the heavy stuff and Darrell Ball was everywhere. With the Sapper forwards gaining success the backs came out of the trenches for a final thrust. Gerhard Wessells stepped up a gear whilst new recruit winger Gavin Clegg was hard to stop. However, in extra time it was a Stu Butters penalty that earned the three golden points, and a Sapper victory for the third year in succession. Many of the 150 players on display will return to Aldershot for the Combined Services v Barbarians match on 11 November. As the prizes were being presented the Army Rugby Stadium was being ‘measured’ for the temporary stands required to accommodate such a great game. The Women’s competition was won by the RLC who beat Army Womens 7s Champions REME 15-5 in a great final.
Firefighters spark Stockton rugby surge
Tony Simpson
Rugby Union’s links with the emergency services have again been developed via a successful partnership between the Teesside Rugby Development Team and Cleveland Fire Brigade. The aim of the Try Rugby scheme is to deliver safety, health and social responsibility messages to school pupils after a report suggested that children and young people involved in sport are less likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour. Piloted in the Stockton-on-Tees area, the initiative has seen excellent results, with more coaching in schools by firefighters and youngsters moving to local clubs. Within the Stockton area 20 secondary and primary schools were offered free rugby coaching for both boys and girls. In January 2009 a competition at Stockton Rugby Club not only helped Rugby Development Officer Dave Reed and his team to further publicise the initiative, but also acted as a barometer of the success achieved. Between September 2008 and May 2009 Stockton Rugby club has seen its youth section increase from around 40 to over 100 members and that total has now swelled to around 120. “The project has been a huge success, so much so that the Fire Brigade are backing us with more funding next year to expand and develop the programme,” says Reed: “The involvement of the firefighters has meant that the service now has 40 tag rugby, 20 Level One and two Level Two coaches involved. Many involved already play or are former players, but there has been the added bonus of ex-players starting coaching and being drawn back into the sport. It really has been a terrific success.” Fire Brigade funding has helped volunteers through their RFU Level 1 Courses and put another 18 people through a tag rugby course. The project has now moved into Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
British Police Rugby Sevens
The Garda Síochána from Ireland became the inaugural 2009 British Police Rugby Sevens Champions when they beat South Wales Police 36-05 in the final held at Stourbridge RFC last month. With 18 forces competing, as the Guards roared into an early lead and one which South Wales Police, like other sides before them, couldn’t reverse. The ‘Colin Hillman Trophy’ for the Player of the Tournament also went to Paddy O’Toole of Garda Síochána. All teams played five tough games in their pools and the Garda were drawn against Devon & Cornwall in the semi-final winning 24-7 to reach the final, along with South Wales Police who defeated Staffordshire 31-12 in the other semil. In the Plate competition, the Metropolitan Police beat Kent and then completely over-ran West Midlands, who had earlier defeated West Yorkshire, 50-17 with a superb performance.
