11 -try Spectacular Warms the Crowd on a Cold Devon Night

On a fresh night in Plymouth, albeit with a strong wind, the rain that had battered Devon everyday since the beginning of the year relented (kind of) for a pair of hours allowing the Navy Senior Men and Plymouth Albion to put on quite a show.

Plymouth Albion RFC, flying high at the top of National Division One welcomed the Royal Navy’s Senior Men to Brickfields for what was their first game in the build up to the 2026 Inter Services competition. The Albion XV was made up of squad players with a sprinkling of guests from local clubs. A very impressive crowd of over 750 packed the main grandstand and were to be treated to an end to end 80 minutes with the result up for grabs right until the final whistle.

A close game didn’t look likely at the start of the first half as the Plymouth side got into their stride early on. The fact that they were playing into the strong wind made this even more impressive. Some great interplay between backs and forwards saw them race to a 19 - 0 lead at the 20-minute mark including a length of the field effort after a great break from their scrum half who passed to his left wing for a 50m sprint to score in the corner. Two successful conversions from three including a touchline effort against the wind may have had some RN supporters thinking this could be a long night!

However, LA(AH) Bubba Watson and his team had other ideas and got stuck into the remainder of the first half to do some damage of their own. The fightback began with little more than 10 minutes remaining on the clock with a well worked lineout catch and drive leading to a try in the corner by hooker LCPL Rhys Williams. This was followed by an individual piece of skill by scrum half AET Jay Toogood who caught the defence napping with a quick tap and go penalty and darted in to score near the posts. The final play of the half saw another well drilled lineout and a good inside break allowing AET Jack Davis to finish for the Navy. Two conversions from LAET Dan Rutter saw the Navy draw level.

HT Plymouth Albion XV 19 – 19 Royal Navy

Several changes to the RN pack at halftime as the coaching team took the opportunity to rotate the playing squad in this first fixture for the group.

The RN took the lead for the first time in the match just 5 minutes into the second half with another fine break from Taunton’s Jay Toogood who went in under the posts. Dan Rutter added his third conversion of the night for a 19 - 26 lead.

Not to be undone, the Albion Team then put together an impressive series of half breaks and offloads to score three unanswered tries, two of which were converted to push into a 38 - 26 lead with 10 minutes remaining to play.

The final points of the match went to the Navy who were awarded a penalty try by the referee to bring an end to what was a very entertaining game played by two teams who took every opportunity to run the ball and test themselves rather than taking what would have been the easy option and turn the game into a kicking duel in the high winds.

RN Head Coach Cdr Charlotte Fredrickson was impressed with her squad’s first effort:

‘’First game done. It’s always pleasing to see the squad transfer the work from the training park to the pitch. A particular highlight was the composure the team showed to come back from an early deficit”.

Next up for the Senior Men is a return trip back here to Brickfields in Plymouth to take on a Devon Select XV on Wednesday 18^th February with a 1945 kick off.

FT Plymouth Albion XV 38-33 Royal Navy

Senior Men: K Beasley, R Williams, B Watson (C); M Scott, R Hawkshaw; H Utton-Smith, A O’Brien, W Scott; J Toogood, D Rutter, J Davis, G Edson, G Wacokecoke, F Elliott, F Wood.

Replacements: J Wright, D Cleverley, A Einchcomb, T Ashton, J Ryder, H Mayes, J Bartlett, T Briggs.

Words by Paul Clark

Images by Jarrad Hulm