BATTLE ROYAL
RAN in Commonwealth contest

The RAN Rugby Union side in full voice during the National Anthem prior to its game against the Royal New Zealand Navy in Auckland. Photo by SGT Sarah Jardine.

LSMT Andrew McKie eyes off his backline during the Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup. Photo by SGT Sarah Jardine

By Michael Weaver
The rugby union sides of three Commonwealth navies contested what can only be described as a battle royal during the 2003 Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup in Auckland from May 9-18.

Hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy, this year’s tournament saw the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Navy pit their best rugby players in nail-biting action.
The Republic of South Africa Navy was also invited, but was only able to send two observers in preparation for the 2006 tournament, held every three years.

The RAN took on the RNZN in the opening game, with a mere penalty goal again separating the two teams before more than 300 spectators in a classic trans-Tasman encounter.

RAN won 21-18 after scores were locked at 15-all at half-time. RNZN led 15-5 at one stage in the first half, but not before RAN fullback LSET Chris Bohan scampered 90 metres for a converted try and then a penalty goal to level the scores.

The second half remained a dour struggle with both sides adding a penalty goal to their tallies before the RAN made best use of a following breeze to camp themselves in the opposition half where a penalty was conceded and POATV Andrew Thorpe slotted the winner in the 70th minute.

LS Bohan was RAN’s man of the match.

Two days later on May 14, the RAN players faced their British counterparts and had to withstand continual pressure in their own 22 during the opening 20 minutes.

Two RN tries were disallowed after being held up over the line, with the RAN defence relentless against the dominant RN tight five.

RAN was rewarded with a penalty goal on half-time to go to break leading 3-0.

However, the second half saw the RN turn their glut of possession into points with a converted try putting the score at 7-3 despite many try-saving tackles by the RAN.

On the 68th minute the RN had another line out some 30 yards out, with the following drive seeing the RN forwards push their man over the try line for a sweet five points and a 12-3 scoreline.

LS Bohan again proved a handful at fullback when he scored under the posts to bring the score back to 12-10.
RN slotted a penalty to lead 15-10 with 10 minutes to go, but the RAN levelled the score with an unconverted try with just two minutes remaining.

The RAN knocked on inside its 22, the scrum was won and RN took the ball up. The referee impeded the next forward drive, giving the RN another scrum.

This scrum was not so dominant and the RN had to rely on a line-out to go for the win.

When the RN lost the line-out, the RAN went to its backline, but was penalised 20 metres out and in front of the posts. Pascoe stepped up and slotted the ball effortlessly over for the RN victory.

The RAN man of the match was again LSET Chris Bohan, also named tournament best and fairest.

The full RAN Rugby Union side was as follows: POCIS Andrew Bertoncin, CPO Darryn Thompson, PO Matthew Hyam, ABBM Dallas Cleary, LSSN Jason Harrington, ABATA Shaun Megahey, POCSSMW Andrew McMillan, LEUT Andrew Hawke, LSMT Andrew McKie, POATV Andrew Thorpe, LSCD Bradley Simmons, PO Shaun Guppy, LSATV Grant Lelliot, ABATA Jason Cook, LSET Chris Bohan; replacements: SMN Adam Green, SMNMT Shane Robson, LEUT Levi Watters, LSET Robert Waugh, ABET Damien Tamanka, ABMT Nathan Sheargold, SMNET Morgan.

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