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Aaron Moon Young and the OLD Charity Rugby Match |
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 On a windy afternoon in Wigan as the British lions were taking on South Africa, 3 RN U23 squad players (AET’s Richard Brunning, Ryan Cox and Mark Tattersall), plus 3 members of last seasons coaching team (Lt Doc Cox, Capt Mat Barlow and WO2 Bruno Brunning), donned their kit to take part in a Charity Rugby Match to raise funds for Mne Aaron Moon and Help the Hero’s at Aspull Rugby Club Lancashire; Aarons former team before joining the Royal Marines.
Aarron was severely injured whilst driving in Helmond province earlier this year and sustained multiple life threatening injuries. He is now currently at Hedly Court under the stoic care of the Doctors, Physio’s and support staff, in his quest to recovery; along with other comrades injured in Afghanistan.
The fixture saw Aarons County Under 21 winning side reform to take on the present U21s from Aspull. Ex players travelled from far and wide to make the journey back to play in front of a partisan home crowd, who had ventured out to add their support instead of sitting in and watching the game from Durban.
The RN U23 players and coaches split evenly into the two sides, playing for the majority of the match, this despite Bruno Brunning and Doc Cox resembling Chelsea pensioners amongst their younger team mates; however, Matt Barlow and the RN U23 players looked at home amongst the youth of both sides!
As the final whistle blew after 80 minutes of open running rugby, Aaron presented the winning cup to his old side that came out on top over the current Aspull U21’s. AET Ryan Cox despite being on the winning side noted “there were no losers only winners today on both sides, it was a privilege to take part in this special match for one my fellow Navy U23 players. Having played at the start of the season with Aaron against Bridgewater I was not going to miss this match and having honour to play in his old side”.
After the match the club organised a raffle to raise funds where Doc Cox donated his Coaches top and Bath RFC Captains warm up match shirt, a present from former RN U23 Head coach Dave Guayan, now Bath’s 1st team manger. However the best prize to be donated and will be auctioned off this Saturday at the Help for Heros 7’s tournament in Bath came from Matt Barlow, who had obtained Marc Cuato’s England Saxon’s playing shirt, signed by all the squad in Argentina. Matt received the shirt from his old team mate the morning of the match and it is hoped will raise a fair amount of money this coming weekend.
The charity match was organised by Aarons former coach Stephen Bailey, who had coached him all the way from his first day of rugby from the age of 5. Stephen said “ I would just like to thank Bruno, John White and the Royal Navy Under 23’s for coming such a long way in contributing to this very special day for Aaron and for the items so generously donated to be raffled off to raise money for Help the Hero’s”.
Picture shows present and past Aspull U21 with the RN U23 representatives Prior to the match with Mne Aaron Moon
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NATO LIONS IN L’AQUILA MEMOMRIAL TOURNAMENT AND FUND RAISER |
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 The sad events that occurred to L’Aquila due to the earthquake earlier this year are still felt by the region with homeless victims still camping on Abruzzo Rugby club pitch, NATO lions under took two separate events to raise funds in order to help in whatever way they could during the past 4 weeks, culminating in Party in the Paddock all day social.
On 24 May 09, on a blisteringly hot Sunday afternoon NATO Lions took part in the Orvieto, L’Aquila Memorial rugby tournament in the region of Umbria, comprising of 3 teams from different Italian regions. The competition was promoted nationally with a youth event in the morning and adults in the afternoon, to raise money for the appeal funds to aid those that lost family members, possessions and houses in the recent devastating earthquake that destroyed a local community and killed several members of the L’Aquila rugby club.
After the welcoming ceremony the lions soon took to the field against the hosts with several key Lions players away on National commitments, giving the Head Coach John King (RAF Vets) the opportunity for new players to further develop their rugby skills. During the initial exchanges the Lions controlled the game but could not penetrate a very dogged Orvieto defence, pinning them down in their own 22 for the majority of the half. However one break away try and a quick taken penalty the hosts went into half time 14-0 up.
In the second half the lions soon put training ground phases of play together and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Structured play involving forwards and backs soon lead to a try under the posts scored by Mike Conard in only his second match. “V” Vakacegu slotted the conversion to bring the match to a pulsating last 10 minutes. Again the forwards provided the platform with Doc Cox (Navy Sharks Coach) supporting dogged play from Buster Brown and Swampy Riley, powering past the gain line and setting up quick ball for the backs to score under the posts after the Orvieto defence collapsed. Once again “V” Vakacegu slotted the ball through the uprights to draw the match.
The last match against Montevirvinio Oriolo Rmano (1970) saw the lions start to play open rugby with “V” Vakacegu continually breaking through the opposition defence and setting the ball for the forwards to take on. What was exceptionally pleasing from the coaches’ perspective was the way in which the new players started to enjoy themselves. Strong performances in the lineout by Phil Casey and BG Ben Pong gave Dave Greninger the ideal platform to release the backs and allow them to put some of the training ground plays into fruition. Old war horse Chris Smith, continuing his breaks from the back of rucks piercing the oppositions defence line time and time again. By the end the game the Lions had won by a commanding 21-7, this was despite playing two games back to back in temperatures in the high 30’s. Head Coach John King commented “it was especially pleasing to see so many of the new players stepping up to the mark in only their second or third rugby games, bringing to the match what the guys have been working hard on at Carney park, especially in such tortuous conditions the guys kept plugging away and stuck to the game plan of stringing together phases of play from breakdowns, line outs and scrums”.
By the end of the day the Lions had to concede winning the tournament by points difference, leaving the hosts and organisers of the event taking the top spot. Backs Coach Doc Cox added after a typical Italian post match feast “Its not about winning or losing, it’s about forming friendships with fellow rugby players, united in such a worthy cause.” As the Lions then had to look forward to the 3 hour drive back to Naples and another late night all for the love of the beautiful game!
Then last weekend the Party in the Paddock Charity event organised by Back Row forward Rebecca Rodriguez-Metlan and John King (but to name a few), an all day Barbecue, Bouncy castle and live performance by the “Duddy Boys” fronted by scrum half Dave Greninger. An auction was conducted and a vast amount of Bath RFC kit was donated by their 1st team manager Dave Guayan who was visiting, raised a substantial amount for the earthquake appeal. The event was a complete success with music and food going continuing well into the night. All proceeds will be handed to the earthquake fund organisers at the Gaeta Beach rugby tournament to be held on Sunday 05 July.
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Cumberland Ladies Challenge Malta in Ladies VIIs |
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 The inaugural Rugby match for HMS CUMBERLAND’s ladies team took place in Valletta Malta against international opposition in the form of the Maltese ladies international 7’s. The host team are preparing to take part in the European Championships in Belgium, and were keen to use this game against the Navy girls as vital training due to a shortage of opposition.
Team:
LET (ME) H Wilson
LS (EW) Abi Wilson
AB (CIS) Michele Taylor
AB (LOGS) Fiona Pitcher
AB (LOGS) T Keni
AB (WS) Jade Playforth
ET (ME) V Vakuruivalu
ET (ME) Nikki Phoenix
AB (WS) Ashley Casey
Team Coach:
CPO (UW) Dave Sibson
The teamwork and experience of the Maltese girls was evident very early on with slick ball handling skills and movement off the ball; leading to two early tries. However despite the gulf in experience, the CUMBERLAND ladies made their international counter parts work hard for their tries, and with their refusal to give up the girls from the visiting side were rewarded with two tries of their own scored by AB (WS) Jade Playforth and Royal Navy Ladies player ET (ME) V Vakuruivalu; resulting in the final score being 30 points to 10 in favour of the hosts.
Photograph shows: LS (EW) Abbi Wilson takes the ball into contact, with support inbound coming from AB (LOGS) T Keni
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