The Courage Cup 2007
RAF Regiment 10:36 Royal Marines
After a slow start the Royal Marines recorded a comfortable win over the RAF Regt in the annual Courage Cup trophy match at RAF Uxbridge. Typical of the recent weather the match got underway in torrential rain which alternated with bright sunshine throughout the match making conditions difficult for both sides.
The first quarter of the match was very evenly balanced with the defence from both sides snuffing out any serious attacking moves however the RAF eventually broke the deadlock with a try out wide for full back Donald following a soft penalty. This breakthrough led to a flurry of points before the break as both sides matched each other try for try. The RM replied to the opening try with one of their own from sub Sutherland only to see the RAF come back with another under the posts from their Captain Simms and with the conversion from Pearson the flyers were ahead 10:4. As half time approached the RM launched another attack and this time veteran hooker Mark Donaldson crossed under the posts to give full back Fear a straightforward conversion to tie the scores at the break.
The first score of the second half came shortly after the break and it was the RM that continued where they had left off in the first half, a try for skipper Williams following a slick pass from hooker Donaldson saw the RM take the lead for the first time in the match. Fear was again on target with the conversion and the Corps were ahead 10-16. The match was scoreless for the next 15 minutes as the RAF tried to get back on terms but the RM now had the initiative and began to gain good ground against a tiring RAF side. Mark Donaldson was next to score after good work from the scrum he beat three defenders from 15 metres out and the conversion saw the Corps ahead by 12. The RAF were now finding it increasingly difficult to make any ground against the Royals and a further four tries in the last fifteen minutes with the final score from Kettly out on the wing rounding off a good solid performance from the Royal Marines maintaining their dominance of the Courage Cup competition.
RM – Fear, Howe, Kettly, Llewelyn. Daku, Pichilangy, Guy, Rose, Donaldson, Evens, Norman, Ashton, Mould. Williams. Johnstone, Sutherland, Turner, Suka, Riches, Owen
Scorers;- T, Donaldson (2) Norman (2) Sutherland, Williams, Ashton, Kettly
G, Fear (2)
RAF Regt – Donald, Skeete, Simms, Williams, Mills, Cummings, Pearson, Bell, Bardgett, Lloyd-Thompson, Bland, Hirst, Gilmore, Breese, Chung, Perry, Carey.
Scorers: - T Donald, Simms
G. Pearson.
DT_Xtremez_30: I bet that sticks in the throat of a few people!!!!