Navy Referees See Army Retain Championship
The Royal Navy Rugby Union Referees Society provided the three match officials for the Army’s home U23 XV Inter Service match against the Royal Air Force. Refereeing was Steve Woolley who continues to make good progress through the refereeing ranks. Steve was supported by Dave Prentice and Jamie Edwards who have now fully recovered from their charity bike ride, from Flanders Field to Brickfields, where they raised £2500 for the Royal British Legion and the RNRMC.
Steve ended last season at the same Aldershot ground, where he was an assistant referee for the Army v RAF Senior XV match and duly earned his Referee Colours. Friday’s conditions were far colder than last April but some early feisty exchanges between the two sides kept the man in the middle on his toes and the whistle warm. Eventually, though, the Army took control of the game and were comfortable winners 39 – 3. The win ensures the Army retain their U23 Inter Service title.
Steve’s next representative match is in December when he will be in the middle as the Fleet Air Arm host RN North in the fourth round of the Inverdale Challenge.
The final match in the 2013 Inter Service Championship is RAF U23 XV v RN U23 XV, at RAF Halton on Friday 29 November, KO13:30
Images by Alligin Photography / © John Walton