BRNC CENTENARY RUGBY MATCH - 14 DEC 05
INVITATION INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE XV 53 VERSUS COMMODORE'S BRNC XV 24. A cold crisp afternoon at BRNC provided the setting for a festival of running rugby and try scoring as the Centenary Rugby Match capped a year of celebrations at the college under the eye of Guest of Honour Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope and other honoured guests. The international XV brought together players from Ecole Navale (France), US Naval Academy, Irish Defence Force, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and RAF Cranwell. Up against them a mix of current and former BRNC trainees and staff. The international side grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck early on, their Left Wing going over twice in the first 20 minutes following some excellent passages of support play and phase rugby. Their No. 8 added a third try 5 minutes later. The BRNC XV struggled initially with the pace of their opponents early on, but towards the end of the 1st half BRNC started to get into the game through their solid scrum and line out. However too much turn over ball at the breakdowns as players got isolated allowed the International XV to counter attack quickly leading to both wings adding tries. At half time the score was 29-0. The second half started as the 1st had ended, another try for the International XV wing, however that was where the one way traffic stopped. Galvanised by their half time pep talk and a number of running substitutions the BRNC XV scored 2 tries in quick succession from Tom Flower and Paul Clark. The BRNC XV forwards were starting to compete at the breakdowns and put more continuity into their game, tying in the opposition forwards and allowing the BRNC backs to make more inroads. A chip over the top of the rapidly advancing defensive line gained BRNC another score. Undeterred, the International XV re-organised quickly and soon scored 2 tries through their forwards. However the last word went to BRNC with a try under the posts. Final Score 53-24. The match was followed by a presentation of the cup to the International XV, as well as match shirts and engraved hip flasks to both sides. A presentation was also made to Lt Cdr Carlos Edwards by BRNC Club Captain SLt Bob Pearson for his outstanding contribution to rugby at BRNC. Lt Cdr Iain Whyte.