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| PLAYING HARD: AB Thompson from HMAS Newcastle taking the fight to the Royal Navy team. Photo: ABPH Jo Dilorenzo |
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Buoyed by its breakthrough victory on Australian soil, the Royal Navy brought its big guns to bear with winning effect against the RAN in their April 14 rugby league international in Sydney.
Playing at Brookvale Oval, home of the NRL team, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, the bigger, fitter RN side won 44-4 against a gallant RAN representative side in a rebuilding stage and with little experience together before the match.
The Royal Navy celebrated its 10th anniversary of playing rugby league by making its second tour of Australia to meet the RANRL, also celebrating its 10th year.
On its first trek Down Under in 2002, the RN lost 32-14 to the RAN, 36-10 to Renown United and 28-20 to the NSW Defence Force.
Its 2007 campaign began at Leichhardt Oval No 2 ground when it once again took on St George A-grade side Renown United, famous as the junior club that produced Reg and Mark Gasnier.
Renown United beat the RN 32-24 but on April 10 the RAN had its first win on Australian soil 34-22 against the Harman Seadogs Navy select side at Queanbeyan’s Seiffert Oval.
The British got off to a good start, establishing a 16-0 lead after 10 minutes of action with tries coming from Marc Hunter, Danny Johnson and Scott Partis.
Harman bounced back with three tries to level at 16-all after 30 minutes. Royal Navy replied with tries to Ken Botwood and Lee Rossiter to lead 28-16 at half-time.
The visitors made it 34-16 two minutes into the second half when Jamie Goss raced over under the sticks.
The Seadogs had a plenty of field position but had to wait until the 61st minute to cross the British try-line.
The RAN-RN international was played following the junior representative matches played between Manly and Illawarra.
The RN opened the scoring with a third-minute try to Ken Botwood, who churned through a gap.
There was no love lost in a physical encounter between the two before a confrontation which resulted in the referee sending one British and one Australian player to the sin-bin for 10 minutes each.
The British stepped up a gear and crossed for three tries to take a handy 24-0 lead at half-time. Partis began the scoring when he stepped inside two defenders, while Jamie Goss raced 25m to score. Winger Marc Warren, looking more at home in the forwards, finished the scoring.
Warren added another try early in the second half before RAN crossed in the 55th minute through Jason Hill on the back of three penalties.
The game never reached great heights but was a torrid affair. The commitment from the RAN was first-class despite going down 44-4.
The RANRL is seeking players to take on Army and RAAF at the Combined Australian Services Rugby League Championships in Sydney, starting in late May.
This carnival will be used to select the CASRL side to tour WA in June.
The RANRL will play a Police team in August and is planning to tour the Gold Coast later in the year to conduct a training camp under the tutelage of the new NRL team, the Gold Coast Titans.
The RANRL has developed close ties with the Titans to help the RANRL in establishing a competitive team.
The annual Patron’s Cup is planned for September 12 and it is expected teams from many establishments and ships will make this the great day it has been in past years.
Establishments and ships are encouraged to raise sides for this knockout competition which is expected to be staged at either Leichhardt Oval or North Sydney Oval.
The RANRL is also seeking coaches interested in being a part of the RANRL. |
