HMS PWLS Goes Down Fighting

HMS PWLS RFC continued their rugby travels with a fixture in Stavanger during a PVST as part of OP FIRECREST. With the majority of the team enjoying the delights of Stavanger’s many bars and restaurants the night before, a squad of 25 arrived to play the fixture at Stavanger RFC, Norway’s premier rugby club.    

The game started off as a close encounter with PWLS enjoying early possession and scrum dominance with the team taking an early 0 - 7 lead. However Stavanger’s dangerous backline soon found a gap in the defences cutting PWLS open from the halfway line to score in the corner. The remainder of the first half was an evenly matched battle with both side’s defences on top, with some huge hits being put in by both sides. With PWLS’s lineout operating effectively, the ball was spread wide with slick passing from the backline to release our winger into the corner. With the difficult conversion missed PWLS went in at half time 7 -12 up. 

The second half saw Stavanger applying the pressure scoring twice in the opening 5 mins, putting them 19 – 12 up. The contest remained competitive, but with the effects of the previous night’s exertions and the decision to rotate all 25 players to maximise game time, the hosts were able to exploit openings and produce a series of breakaway tries. The final score 42 -19 to Stavanger which fails to show the competitiveness of the fixture and effort put in by the entire squad. 

The post-match pitch side BBQ was enjoyed by both players and the large crowd of Ship's Company and locals. With further defence engagement between both teams continuing at their unofficial club house of the local Irish Bar in Stavanger both sets of players continued to debate the match into the early hours.   

A huge thank you from PWLS to Stavanger RFC for hosting us and we wish them every success with the upcoming season and cup competitions.  

PWLS has multiple fixtures planned over the coming deployment, making use of the flight deck and judo gyms to maintain a solid training regime which will help make steady progress towards the next port visit.