Rugby Football Union - Remembrance Match

Remembrance Match

By Roger Thompson

The Combined Services v Barbarians annual Remembrance Day match saw the Barbarians spending the morning with the Royal Engineers at Minley Lake. Getting to grips with the Sappers assault boat paddles, the visitors became very competitive. Later ‘bergen boating’ in the pool created waves of laughter and proved that trained soldiers can make life a lot easier for themselves in adverse conditions.

That evening at the Army Rugby Stadium, Aldershot, under floodlights and in the swirling drizzle, the traditional two minutes silence had special poignancy as many of those playing had only recently returned from Iraq.

The match lived up to all expectations. The Barbarians dazzled, the Services dug in to repel the onslaught and the crowd of 3,000 was treated to a real contest. Fielding seven internationals, the Barbarians played with huge ambition and skill.
After Dave Pascoe, the Navy scrum half, landed an early penalty, Canadian international captain Dan Baugh broke the Services’ line and cantered 30m to the posts. When a second try seemed imminent, the home side regrouped and launched a fierce counter attack to force the Barbarians on to the defensive.

Thereafter, the Services gave no ground. Led into open contact by Scotland international prop Mattie Stewart, they successfully bombarded a Barbarians defence primarily deployed to attack. Together with hooker George Kemble and former England schools international Steve Trethewey, he made life uncomfortable for the Baabaas’ front row.

Lock Lee Soper (England Counties), now returned from duty in Iraq, and to his best in the line out, secured sufficient clean ball off the top for the backs to challenge the Barbarians at the gain line.

With centre Ed Smith in belligerent form and winger Bruno Green finding top gear with a little bit of space, England sevens forward Andy Dawling (No7) and Fijian international Alfred Vakacokovanua (No8) provided the sort of close formation support that would have done the Red Arrows credit.

It required three moments of professional acumen from Ben Whetstone (Bedford), Jason Foster (Newport) and Malheiro (Portugal), and stout defence thereafter, to secure a Barbarians win by
26-8.

On this showing Services rugby remains highly competitive and at the top end of National League One. England sevens international and former Harlequin Howard Graham, working with television sport, said, “Considering the strength of this Barbarians side, the Services stuck to their guns magnificently. They matched the Barbarians in all phases of the game and only three flashes of professional ‘know-how’ separated the teams at the end.”