SCOTLAND’S LOSS IS MEMORIAL TRUSTS GAIN

The evening of Wednesday 18th February 2009, saw RN Scotland RFC compete against Glasgow Hawks development 15 in a fixture that would honour the name of former Royal Navy Rugby Union player – Mne Craig Hodgkinson. Craig suddenly passed away in 2006 whilst representing the Royal Navy Rugby Union in a fixture. After his death, his parents John and Di Hodgkinson set up a memorial trust in his name with the aim of providing a life-saving Heart Start machine to every Rugby Club in Scotland. A fun-filled evening of events began with displays by Royal Marines and Royal Navy Recruiting Teams, who were on hand all evening to provide advice for prospective joiners to the services and fun filled games for the younger spectators. A sponsor’s dinner was held within Glasgow Hawks club house, with an exclusive raffle following the dinner. Prizes were generously donated by club sponsors, Forces Finance, British Heart Foundation and Royal Navy Rugby Union. At 1925, saw both teams take to the pitch for press photographs and prior to kick off a one minute round of applause took place to celebrate the lives of all servicemen and women who have lost their lives in the recent months. The referee’s first whistle blew at 1930 with Hawks kicking off the match. Despite the lack of experience within the RN Scotland due to the RN Senior team having representative commitments, they worked hard to pick up the early pace of Hawks back line. The Scotland forwards established themselves well in the scrum, pack leader and Team Captain PO Moffs Moffat (Sceptre) ensured that they held themselves against a younger and more drilled pack. Despite winning more line out ball, the clock ticked round to half time, and there was still no score on the cards for RN Scotland and although Hawks penalty count was creeping up so was the overall score. 2nd half saw RN Scotland come out of the dressing room with more will and determination to move forward. Full Back Mne Mitch McGrath (Cdo Display Team) made his way through the line to take RN (Scotland) within yards of the try line. The defensive experience of Hawks shone through and they won back the ball, only to kick it out of RN Scotland’s reach and score again. Scotland Flanker Logs T Tamoi (Nept) fought through the line but again the ball was lost owing to Hawks’ soild defence. With 30 minutes still left, Scotland made a number of changes to bring on fresh legs and continued to fight on until the final whistle. The game ended Hawks 59 – RN Scotland 0. Despite the lack of score the determination and drive of all the RN Scotland Players who took to the park should not be forgotten, they were an honour to the shirts on their backs and are now looking forward to building up to the Scotland Inter Service Campaign, which begins against the RAF Scotland at RAF Lossiemouth in April. On completion of the game, a player’s dinner was held in the Main Bar of Hawks Club house. There was a presentation of Representative Command Colours to all players of the RN (Scotland) Team. One of whom ET Taff Baker (Sceptre) had only played his 2nd game of adult rugby. An official presentation was then made by the Craig Hodgkinson Memorial Trust to RN (Scotland) Rugby team of the first Heart-Start Machine to be given to a rugby club in Scotland. This was greatly received by Lt Doug Wylie, PT&RO/ARO Scotland The successful evening ended with the announcement that over £1000 had been made for Craig Hodgkinson Memorial Trust Fund. This will be put to good use providing life saving equipment for rugby clubs in Scotland.