Marines Inflict Pain on the Medics 

A hugely entertaining and high scoring game mixed with an unusual ending to the first half and beginning of the second certainly kept the decent crowd firmly engaged. 

The first half was one of real dominance for the RM side who went into full attack mode from the off. A dominant scrum mixed with some great attacking lines, powerful fends and neat footwork saw them race to 4 very impressive tries within 30 minutes.

One of which will last long in the memory as it was a ‘coast to coast’ effort, after stealing the ball on their own goal line they worked it downfield after a long-range breakout. With Fly half Cadywould perfect from the tee the Royals were sitting pretty with a 28 - 0 lead. 

An unusual ending to the first half then ensued. The Medics were camped on the RM tryline when one of their players sustained a serious looking injury. The team of officials made a sensible call and ended the half so the player could be treated by medical staff on the pitch.

The players returned after the usual halftime break period and effectively ‘finished’ the first half. This resulted in the Medics taking a tap penalty from which they scored. The teams them immediately switched ends and began the second half. 

HT RM 28 – 5 Plymouth and Exeter Medics 

The halftime break somehow galvanised the Medics forward pack who managed to reverse the RM’s first half scrum advantage and begin to dominate that facet of play.

However, it took a while for them to turn that advantage into points with the first score of the second half not coming until nearly 20 minutes into the second half shortly after the RM received a yellow card for repeated infringements on their own line. The Medics pack took advantage of the numerical and scrum advantage and after another powerful shove they worked the ball wide for the left winger to score. 

The Medics were then reduced to 14 men themselves after one of their players was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball forward although the crowd near the incident seemed to think it was a legitimate 2 handed effort to catch the ball! 

From the resulting penalty the Marines took a driving lineout to score in the corner with ‘Cads’ hitting the post from wide out with the conversion. 

However, he more than made up for it after converting the Marines next try from very wide out on the left-hand touchline. 

The game concluded with a final score for the RM, resulting in a 45-10 victory. The RM scorers on the night were:  Capt Colliver, Capt Simpkins, Cpl Clarke, Mne O’Brien, LCpl Ducker x 2 and Mne Cooper with Sgt Cadywould converting 5 tries.

A great victory for the Marines with two players chosen as player of the match in Mne Crawley and LCpl David.  

FT RM 45 – 10 Plymouth and Exeter Medics 

Royal Marines Squad: G Jenkins, A Louden, A Lynch, J O'Neil, A O'Brien, J Ryder, D Seals, F Shaw, G Starr, W Walker, M Watkins, F White, K Young, T Barrowcliffe, R Cadywould, T Candita Simpkins, J Clarke, J Colliver, J Cook, W Cooper, J Cooper, C Crawley, S Crouch, G David, L Ducker, J Grossey.