THE Royal Navy rugby squad bounced back from the disappointment of defeat by the Army to win the first stage of their Commonwealth Cup defence against the best of the Royal Australian Navy.

The Commonwealth Cup dates back to 1997 when the RN Rugby Union invited the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) to tour the UK. Coincidentally the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) intended to tour the UK in the same year, so it was decided to hold a Tri-Navies rugby tournament.

The RN won the first tournament and the RAN offered to host the 2000 tournament in Sydney, which the RN also won. This year was the turn of the RNZN to host and the South African Navy (SAN) sent observers to witness the competition with a view to participating in the 2006 tournament. Subject to further negotiations, South Africa may even host the 2006 competition.

The tour had been planned and organised by the RNRU Committee for many months, and they were grateful to the RNRU President, Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, for allowing it to go ahead even with the recent war in Iraq still fresh in the mind.

A 37-strong RN Rugby Union squad of players and support staff, led by RNRU chairman Capt David Pond, got in the mood for the tournament on arrival in Auckland by watching a Super 12s match between the local Blues and the Wellington Hurricanes at Eden Park.

The tourists were given an official Maori welcome or ‘powhiri’ the following day at the NZ Defence Forces’ Marae or ‘welcome house’ in a ceremony situated close to the New Zealand Defence Forces’ rugby ground at Ngataringa.

‘Te Taua Moana’ Marae is cared for by the RNZN and is reputed to be the best maintained and most elaborately carved meeting house in the country. The ceremony lasted for more than an hour and on completion the RN squad were officially greeted by the traditional Maori rubbing of noses.

That afternoon the RN squad moved to Rotorua, a thermal town 200 km south of Auckland, where the players were able to unwind after the long air journey and the excitement of the first 24 hours in New Zealand, and to relax in the warm-water, open-air spa baths as well as take in some of the sightseeing of this beautiful country, including the geysers and mud pools.

Training sessions were conducted at the Kahukura Rugby Club in Rotorua, where the hospitality and facilities were excellent and the whole squad were very grateful of the opportunity to get a good stretch and training session under their belt.

After a team dinner the following night, the squad were up early to travel back to Auckland in order to watch the RNZN take on the RAN in the first match of the tournament.

After a very fast and powerful start by the RNZN, the hosts succumbed to the superior defence of the RAN and narrowly lost 18-21 in a very physical match which featured heavy hits all round – nothing less than was expected.

After a dinner for all three teams, the squads were entertained with a quiz night to allow the players to get to know each other off the field.

The following day’s training session was a direct preparation for the RN’s first game, and with few injuries, none of them serious, the RN was able to field a very strong side.

Rear Admiral Tim McClement, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (ACNS) and a RNRU Vice President, was visiting Auckland at the time and was able to watch all the Royal Navy games.

An additional boost came when Type 23 frigate HMS Marlborough, part of Naval Task Group 03, arrived in Auckland in wintry sunshine on the morning of the Royal Navy’s first match, providing welcome extra support.

Rear Admiral McClement delivered the match ball courtesy of HMS Marlborough’s Lynx helicopter minutes before the game, and with national anthems and music provided by the RNZN band the match had a real international feel about it.

In all-white kit, with main sponsors VT Group prominently displayed on the front of their shirts, the British team piled on the pressure from the start, and the first 20 minutes of the game was spent entirely in the RAN 22 with wave after wave of attack by the RN tight five.

It was 20 minutes before the RAN broke out, but whenever balls were kicked they were well collected by the RN backs who ran into the next ruck for the forwards to take charge of the situation.

The RN line out was very impressive with both locks LPT Glen Cavanagh and Surg Lt Mike Cordner taking a share of the well-flighted ball.

Led by RN captain PO Nick Bartlett the forwards dominated all over the park and twice they had drive-over tries disallowed due to the referee’s call of the ball being held up over the line.

Far from being disheartened, the RN continued their relentless attacks. On a couple of occasions the RAN did break out and their backs looked dangerous, but it was their defence that kept them in the hunt, and a penalty kick 15 yards in front of the posts on 40 minutes scored by RAN fly half POATV Andrew Thorpe put them into a 3-0 half-time lead.

With the New Zealanders joining the Marlborough contingent in cheering on the Royal Navy, the vocal support was rewarded in the 50th minute when flanker Matt Parker made ground up field using his winger AEM James Hearsey and centre Mne Neil Williams in probably the first flowing back line move.

At the next ruck the RN were penalised but won the scrum with a huge drive that the RAN could only collapse deliberately. The resulting, well-taken, line out was driven over for hooker LA Jan Laity to touchdown for five points, which scrum half Dave Pascoe converted.

The RN still needed to turn more of their possession and territorial advantage into points but the RAN defence was good and denied them on numerous occasions.

The RAN were running well and try-saving tackles by S/Lt Michael Cox ensured that the game was kept close.

In the 68th minute the RN had another line out some 30 yards out, again Cordner received the ball and the following drive was phenomenal as the RAN just melted away. The RN forwards drove Cordner over the try line for a well-deserved five points, although this time the conversion was missed.

At 12-3 the RN could not relax, but a loose ball out of a ruck was picked up by an RAN flanker who passed out to their full back, LSET Chris Bohen, running at speed, who was able to go through a gap in defence and score under the posts, giving Thorpe and easy conversion.

Pascoe slotted home a penalty for the RN three minutes later, giving them a five-point margin with ten minutes to go.
The RN’s only poor line out led to a rampage downfield by the RAN, giving them a chance to run in for a score, but the conversion which would have put them ahead was missed.
At 15-15 with two minutes to go, the RAN knocked on inside their 22, the scrum was won and Bartlett took the ball up. The referee impeded the next forward drive, giving the RN another scrum.

This time the RN forwards could not dominate, and they had to rely on a line out to attempt to go for the win.

When the RN lost the line out the RAN began to run through their backs, but were penalised 20 metres out and in front of the posts.

Pascoe stepped up and slotted the ball effortlessly over to clinch a last-gasp victory for the Royal Navy.

RN Man of the match: AEM Dan PARKES.

RAN Man of the match: LSET Chris BOHEN.

ROYAL NAVY team:
1. PO Nick BARTLETT (Capt)
2. LA Jan LAITY
3. AEM Dan PARKES
4. Surg Lt Mike Cordner
5. Lpt Glen CAVANAGH
6. Sgt Bob ARMSTRONG
7. Capt Matt PARKER
8. LOM Ben SLATTER
9. AEM Dave PASCOE
10. PO Dave SIBSON
11. AEM James HEARSEY
12. S/Lt Paul CLARK
13. Mne Neil WILIAMS
14. Mne Richard NEVE
15. OM(W) Dave JONES
16. CPO Wayne PARRY, 17. Cpl Lee NORRIS, 18. Lt Ben GRANGE, 19. S/Lt Michael COX, 20 AEM Owen SALMON, 21 AEM Andy VANCE, 22. WEA APP James WAGSTAFF.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY:
POCIS Andrew Bertoncin, CPO Darryn Thompson, PO Matthew Hyam, ABBM Dallas Cleary, LSSN Jason Harrington, ABATA G Megahey, POCSSMW A McMillan, Leut Andrew Hawke, LSMT Andrew McKie, POATV Andrew Thorpe, LSCD Bradley Simmons, PO Shaun Guppy, LSATV G. 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.

Referee: POPTI Nigel Hooper (RNZN).

Tomorrow: The Commonwealth Cup decider against the Royal New Zealand Navy