RAOC Gazette - page 9
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
3 BAD WIN THE ARMY CUP A REPORT ON THE ARMY RUGBY CHALLENGE CUP FINAL AT BAD LIPPSPRINGE v THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF WALES THE conditions were not conducive to good running rugby and after losing the toss, the Bracht Captain Digger Denholm, kicked off into the teeth of a gale. The start that 3 BAD had wanted came in the second minute of the game; a crooked feed by the RRW scrum half gave Bracht a free kick fifteen metres from the Welsh line, from a set move Chris Christopher crashed over for a try but the conversion attempt by Don Robertson, the Bracht full back, was held by the wind just short of the posts. We then expected and received a typical Welsh reposte but the 3 BAD forwards were equal to the challenge and although an average of two stone a man lighter, responded magnificently by being much quicker around the field so not allowing the RRW pack to settle into their normal rhythm. On two occasions in the first half 3 BAD had chances to increase their lead firstly when a blindside break by the halves Lister and Denholm put the right wing Ian Crawford in the clear five metres from the line but the wind carried the ball a little and Crawford was unable to hold the pass. Then, five minutes later, scrum half Roger Lister chipped beautifully over the RRW line and as Crawford dived onto the ball a loose RRW boot just managed to clear the danger. So it looked as if 3 BAD would turn round at half time four points up after adequately controlling play in the first thirty five minutes, but it was not to be, two mistakes in de- fensive situations when forwards went over the top at rucks allowed Nipper Rees the combined services fly half and a renowned place kicker to put over two penalties giving the RRW a half time lead by six points to four. This was a great pity because the Bracht fifteen had played magnificently against all the elements and had better territorial advantage with Denholm kicking the ball low into the wind, allowing the foraging back row of Christopher, Travers and Green to create havoc in the RRW defence. Although annoyed with themselves at losing the lead, to be only two points behind with the advantage of the gale in the second half and with Bracht renowned late starters, it was a very strong position to be in. The second half started with once again 3 BAD playing the better more controlled rugby, especially in the line-out phase of the game where we expected very little ball. The Bracht second row consisting of Danny Daniels and Knocker ^Ms§^ The Bracht Barbarians, Army Rugby Champions 1 9 7 9 / 8 . Back row left to right: Corporal Bisson, Lance Corporal W r i g h t (sub), Corporal Robertson, Corporal Christopher, SI Shaw A P T C , Corporal Daniel, Corporal Creen, Sergeant Tarr, Lance Corporal Powell, Lance Corporal Mansfield, Corporal Travers and Lance Corporal W a t k i n s (sub); front row: Lance Corporal Crawford, Lance Corporal Evans, W O l Denholm,Sergeant Scott and Corporal Lister. — 6 WOl Denholm with the trophy. Powell doing marvellously against opponents who towered over them and with the 3 BAD centres Mai Shaw and Alan Evans knocking down everything that moved, the RRW were finding it very hard to get into the game. After only seven minutes of the half had gone the RRW pack collapsed a scrum and Robertson put over the ensuing penalty to restore Brachts lead by seven points to six. On the few occasions that the RRW attacked, good kicking using the following wind by fly hall Denholm always relieved the pressure. The one occasion tha the Bracht defence was breached was on a RRW attack dowi the right flank with the winger A'Hearne diving over in th( corner; but to the relief of all the Bracht supporters, he wa! • penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. Just aftei \ this, desperation began to show on the faces of the RRW pack; \ after three successive scrums the Bracht front row of Tan j Bisson and the veteran Bobby Scott won the ball against thl | head but with all this possession 3 BAD just couldn't finis! off their good approach work with tries. \ \ Then with only five minutes to go after a period of intensi j RRW pressure a Bracht forward gave away a penalty under hii j own posts and inevitably Rees of the RRW converted, restorini; their lead by two points making it 3 BAD seven points, RR\\ | nine. So it was a torrid cliff hanging last five minutes witl ] Bracht throwing everything into attack but solid defence wort; by the Welsh keeping them out. Then, with only seconds oi' injury time left, Bracht had a line-out five metres from the RRW line and as the ball was thrown into, play the referee Captain Bruce Reece-Russell RAMC, who had handled the game very well indeed, noticed that the RRW left wing had encroached into the field of play and a penalty was awarded to Bracht under the posts. The whole Bracht team looked away as Robertson ran up to take the kick; the roar of the crowd told everybody the story, 3 BAD back into the lead by ten points to nine. There was only enough time left for the RRW to kick off and Bracht once more carried the attack deep into the RRW twenty two metre area before the final whistle went, so the final score was 3 BAD RAOC ten points—1 Battalion RRW nine points. {Continued on page 8.) |
| Book number | R0404 |