By Charlie Neve, Lt Cdr RN, RNRU PRO

The Royal Navy’s first three games using the Academy squad in preparation for the Inter Services Championship 2004 were a great success. The first game was lost to a strong Dorset and Wilts County side by 5 points to 39. However, the Academy side, with a lot of young stars of the future, performed well against Devon and beat them at the Rectory, Plymouth by 29-15. The RN again went on to grind out a 13-6 win over Devon in Hayle, Cornwall.

These three games gave a positive platform from which to launch their campaign and prepare new players for the forthcoming championship. The Inter Services Championship will, for the second year, be sponsored by BABCOCK and will end with the RN v ARMY fixture at Twickenham on 1st May 04, KO 3pm.

The success of HMS RALEIGH in both the sevens tournament and the John Inverdale Inter-Command competition might be partly put down to the couple of South Sea Islanders who have recently joined the Royal Navy.