Carrier Pays Tribute to Fallen Teammate with Gritty Victory in Japan

HMS Prince of Wales earned a 26 - 5 win over Yokohama Country and Athletic Club (the oldest club in Japan) in a match played in memory of Lt Rhodri Leyshon RN. After a moving tribute, PWLS overcame an early YCAC try with strong defence and second-half scores from Turke, Little, Munroe, and Nichols, securing a fitting tribute to their teammate.

PWLS continued their unbeaten deployment with a hard-fought win against Yokohama Country and Athletic Club under a blazing Japanese sun, with the score line of 5 – 26 belaying the tightness of the match

The game took on an increased significance for the team as it marked 1 year since the tragic accident which took the life of Lt Rhodri Leyshon. Rhodri, a passionate rugby player, would have been on deployment with the Ship. On the same day, a memorial game in Cardiff, attended by his friends and family, honoured his memory. In solidarity, the Ship and its Squadrons aimed to show their support. YCAC, the oldest rugby club in Japan with historic ties to the Royal Navy—having been founded with the help of an RN Lieutenant nearly 150 years ago—marked the occasion with admirable respect and dignity. The teams where lead out onto the pitch by a lone piper, with a minute’s silence from both teams in memory of Rhodri before a moving speech from Lt Deri White RN as the Ship retired the number 7 jersey from the match.

The game started off as a close encounter in nearly 40-degree heat with the hosts enjoying possession for the most part, with some dangerous midfield players breaching PWLS line on several occasions only to be halted by desperate scrambling defence. However, the line was finally breached by the hosts after 10 mins.

After sustained pressure from PWLS’s dominant scrum, PWLS started to put together phases of play however frustratingly as in previous games the last pass or off-load failed to go to hand on a number of occasions. However just before half time scrumhalf Travis Turke darted over and converted his own try giving PWLS a 5 - 7 going into half time.

With both teams taking a much-needed water break at half time, the emphasis from the coaches was to slow the game down, work through the patterns and be more direct with ball in hand. No sooner had the 2nd half started than AET Little clearly with player/ coach Kye Beasley’s words ringing in his ears stormed through the YCAC 22 to score under the posts. The game continued to be a tense affair with YCAC’s dangerous outside backs continuing to make line breaks but unable to finish. With 2 late tries from Cam Munroe and Jamie Nichols, PWLS gratefully heard the final whistle marking a 5 - 26 victory for the visitors

A huge thank you from PWLS to Yokohama Country and Athletic Club for hosting us both on and off the pitch. The generosity shown and the camaraderie in the bar after during some questionable karaoke will live long in the memory, and we wish them every success with the upcoming season and cup competitions.

PWLS marked the halfway point of their deployed making it 4 wins from 4, with further fixtures planned as the Ship starts it return journey home.

Words by Mike Jones