'Le Crunch' Preview

Whilst much of the Royal Navy is enjoying the Easter break, the Royal Navy Senior XV and Women travelled to France to renew traditional rivalries against an old foe. This clash of adversaries spans over 2 centuries from Nelsonian times when the British Navy won its historic victory at Trafalgar, to just eight years ago when the inaugural fixture between the Royal Navy and la Marine Nationale was raised at Kneller Hall, a game that saw the Royal Navy victorious by 20 points to 5.

Last year the Marine Nationale travelled to Plymouth and in one of the most entertaining games in the recent history of the fixture, the Royal Navy ran out eventual winners 17-10.

Although the Navy leads the series 5-2, memories of the mauling they received in the ‘Cauldron' of Stade Mayol in 2010 will remain fresh. This was the biggest margin to date, when the home team took the match 29-3.

Royal Navy Skipper, POET (Dave) Pascoe commented: 'A couple of years ago we were a little caught out by the incredible atmosphere and hopefully we will be more prepared for the passion of the French crowd. It will be a fierce battle, as it always is, but we are ready and looking forward to it.'

Before the Senior XV game the Royal Navy Women take on the Marine Nationale Women in the first ever 15 a side game between the two sides. Last year saw an inaugural 10-a-side fixture in HMS Drake.  The French Women hold the title and boast several French National players in their ranks. However, coming off the back of a positive performance against Trojans, the RN Women are confident that they can match the ‘French Flare' with plenty of ‘Navy Spirit'.

As the teams kick-off, both the Senior XV and Women will be aware that across the channel the 1st round of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship will be taking place between the RAF and Army at RAF Halton.

The 2nd rounds of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship will take place in Portsmouth on Wed 18 Apr 12: Women kick off at 2pm; Mariners at 4pm and the main event, RN Senior XV 7pm.  The matches will be played at HMS Temeraire and USSG Portsmouth with free admission.

The final round of the 2012 Babcock Inter Service Championship is on Sat 28th April between the Royal Navy and the Army at Kneller Hall (Women and Mariners), who both kick off at 10.30am and at Twickenham for the Senior XV, kick off at 3pm.

Royal Navy Senior XV

 

1.         NA (AH)          K Mason* ** ^               HMNB Devonport

2.         Sgt                 G Evans* **                  1 ASRM

3.         Lt RN              T Blackburn *               RNAS Culdrose

4.         NA (AH)          J Quarnivalu                 RNAS Culdrose

5.         POAET            M Cormack* **             RNAS Yeovilton

6.         Mne                B Fox                             45 Cdo RM

7.         MA                  S Laird *                       HMS Collingwood

8.         ET (WE)          I Cooper*                       HMS Ambush                        

9.         POAET            D Pascoe (Capt)* **    RNAS Culdrose

10.       Capt RM          T Glover                       CTCRM

11.       S/Lt RN           A Vance* **                  HMS Sultan

12.       AB                  D Bamford                     HMS Dragon

13.       Mne                N Huntley                     40 Cdo RM

14.       Logs(CS)         J Drananui* **             WMO Devonport

15.       AET                 J Humphrey                  RNAS Yeovilton

16.       Lt RN               D Smith                       HMS Vanguard

17.       AET                 K Beasley                    RNAS Yeovilton

18.       S/Lt RN           H Mitchell-Heggs         HMS Sultan

19.       Mne                 S Ramakita                 42 Cdo RM

20.       AET                 G Jones*                     HMS Sultan   

21.       Mne                 J Foster                       40 Cdo RM

22.       ET(ME)            D Sleeman* **             WMO Devonport

Denotes Capped:

^ International

** Combined Services

* Royal Navy

Royal Navy Women

LET(WE) Atkins

Lt Bennett-Smith RN **

Lt Fredrickson RN (Capt) **

AB Greene

AB Hargrave

Lt Cdr Jamieson RN

LET(WE) Jenkins (Vice Capt) **

Lt Leach RN

AB Lewis ** ^

ET(ME) Marner

LPT Marshall

ET(WE) Mitchell

AB Morton **

LAC Park

NA(AH) Penrose

LA(ET) Sharp

LS(AWT) Swinton *

LET(WE) Thomas

ET(ME) Vakuruivalu

AB White


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