Two tribes go to war...

By stonehousealbion
May 11 2015

The Annual SHA End of Season Rugby Treat took place this past weekend. Due to the conflict of work commitments, the C'ship play-offs were... off, so it was a pier-head jump onto a National Express coach early on Friday followed by a baby-sitting gig in exchange for a bed with the family just down the road from the Cabbage Patch. Billed (a little tenuously) as the biggest amateur club game in the world, the annual face-off between the upper echelons of Service rugby has also been described as an unnecessary interruption to a serious day's drinking. It's certainly come a long way from the games I remember (just!) in the 80s when a few thousand would trade cheers from either side of a rather empty and then open-ended HQ. A bit like going to a Nottingham game at Meadow Lane - but with some company opposite. 

Just in case anyone is in doubt, there is a HUGE disparity in playing numbers on the two sides of this fixture. The Navy are also slightly hampered by having some of their preferred players practicing on steel pitches in mid-ocean on the day of the game. And then there is the Fiji factor which the Army have not been slow to exploit. For every Josh Draoniniou, there are platoons of burly south sea islanders in red shirts. The moan in the RN camp is that we discovered the place back in God knows when, but the Army get all the benefits. This is life in a blue suit writ large - if you can't take a joke...

In spite of the skewed playing population, A v N is a sporting event that service men and women have taken to their hearts in recent years and what was a date for a relative few who happened to be nearby/available is now an unmissable day out for tens of thousands of serving members, veterans, friends and families. Whole pubs on the road into London are commandeered, there are Ladies/Senior supporting fixtures and in some cases regimental cookhouses decamp en bloc to provide sustenance for the followers. Pith helmets seemed to be this year's must have fashion accessory along with camo rugby shirts and the odd item of field uniform. The atmosphere (at least prior to KO) is laid back and easy going and with fine weather, the outdoor catering fraternity were minting it.

But make no mistake, this is an opportunity for heavy-duty beer consumption. The local hostelries get in mega quantities of vital fluids (and even stick an extra 20p on a £4 pint!). The Turk's Head in St Margarets was chocker right up until 14.30 and there were extra staff in logo-ed polo shirts catering to a unit event in the function room; ker-ching! No ticket? No problem. As a big Grenadier dished them out by the handful, a quiet enquiry got the desired result at face value (£20.00). Some poor wretch was "missing in action" and the sarn't major wasn't going to take a hit for a straggler. If you want to take a chance, there may be bargains to be had outside the stadium, but why ruin the refreshments for the sake of a couple of quid? Pint in hand, almost the first people I bumped into in blue tops were Albion fans, so there was the inevtiable post-mortem for our shocker this season. A vast background knowledge of service rugby is NOT essential; I pick up that the Army were beaten by the RAF earlier this year. Hmmm, better get another beer in - there's a tough game ahead...

It's a mile or so yomp down the A316 for the game and lunch on the hoof. A few divisions of well-lubed ticketholders all have the same idea of cutting it fine, so it's zig-zagging through the traffic and the old short-cut through the Toyota dealers, followed by a brisk tab up the helter-skelter to reach my seat in time for kick-off. Royal Marine band? Been there, done that, so we're straight into the rugby after an introduction from my neighbour - who just happens to be a Bedford fan.

On the field, things become a whole lot more partisan; silence for the kickers? Er, not really... and boos are not uncommon. Nothing really unsporting, just making a point. It's penalties to start with and a swirling breeze is making life difficult for kickers. As a Navy fan you have to hope that the boys in blue can keep a lid on things and play the long game. Mistakes will be punished ruthlessly and you'll be outflanked by a red shirt in no time flat. This seems to work until about half an hour in and then the Army get some breathing space. It's by no means over at half-time, but the feeling is the Navy will have to come up with something special. Not so - and when there's a twenty-plus point gap, it looks a bit cut and dried. Even when a man down, the red line just about prevails. A late consolation try to Jolly Jack won't be enough.

With the result more or less decided and injuries or TV replays (the full Monty for this match) cropping up, the crowd's attention starts to wander. For a while, we're into serious Mexican Wave mode. As we get into the final quarter, there is always the chance of a one-man pitch invasion and/or streaker. We get both and they're rewarded by bigger cheers than some of the rugby. One of the problems with one-off games at this level is the absolute level of ability is limited and the energy level inevitably drops. OK, you got a Bath guy in red doing the business, but that's not, er... uniform. It's almost like we need a 20-20 type of game to compensate. The audience is also starting to suffer from a degree of alcohol deprivation as well... You'll notice that there's not a bundle of detail here regarding the game. Well, Army v Navy games are not really about the finer points of the 15 man game.

FT: Navy 18 - 36 Army (Full match report - RN Rugby) Att: 81 116!

Endex! Then it's a swift exit to avoid the rush and a dash back to the pub for a de-brief. Result? What result? 

Report of Proceedings: Navy v Army 2015

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 11/05/2015 22:05

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
11/05/2015 22:05

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Captain Birdseye
12/05/2015 09:04

Brilliant!!!!!!!

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noibla
12/05/2015 10:37

Top drawer stonehouse, well done and thanks.

Semper Sersum.

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Exile626
12/05/2015 11:35

But most importantly the RAF won the Inter Services Tournament for the first time in over 20 years



Run like a Rampaging Rhino - It is BIG and it is Clever

Heeeeeeeaaaaavvvveee

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Captain Birdseye
12/05/2015 14:56

Only ones with time on their hands to train!!

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stonehousealbion
12/05/2015 14:59

"But most importantly the RAF won the Inter Services Tournament for the first time in over 20 years"

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!

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noibla
12/05/2015 15:29

Tally Ho, over and out.

Semper Sersum.

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