NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008 49
Closing the gap
The row
to glory
FLAGSHIP HMS Illustrious
TEMERAIRE was the
arrival of the Army number one
rowed to glory in the Armed
venue for the 2008
and ex-world ranker, to play
Forces winter league with a range
Inter Services squash
against Navy number one Damien
of medals that have just been
May.
announced.
championships, writes Lt Although May had lost The league consists of fi ve
Cdr David Cooke, secretary
convincingly in 2007 he was in a
rounds stretched between
RNSRA.
buoyant and confi dent mood.
October and February, with
Preceding the Championships,
May won the fi rst game and, to
teams of four and eight covering
an inaugural Combined Services
the surprise of many, the second
distances ranging from 2,000m to
U25 fi xture had been arranged by
too, but he lost the next two and
16,000m.
Sgt ‘Westy’ West RM (RN squash
the score was even.
The carrier competed in three
U25 manager) against Portsmouth
Half way through the fi nal game
categories: men’s open VIII,
Grammar School.
both were level on points and a
ladies’ open IV and men’s over 35
Although the pick of the Services
major upset was certainly possible,
IV (the average age of the latter
U25 players were involved, they
but for all May’s best efforts he
team was 42 with one entrant,
were no match for a PGS side that
was unable to match the skill of his
WO ‘Brum’ Endall, being a
bore little resemblance to grammar
opponent and fi nally succumbed
sprightly 47).
school boys. The result, a 0-6
2-3.
The men’s open VIII took silver
defeat, was a foregone conclusion.
Three of the other RN
in the Armed Forces challenge
On the fi rst day, the RN U25s
senior players took their Army
and also achieved silver in the
opened proceedings with their
counterparts to four games, with
whole league, the ladies took gold
match against the RAF but
Crew winning his encounter 3-1.
and silver, and the ‘mature men’
without their number one string
The fi nal morning started
took a thoroughly-deserved gold
OM Richard Rowley (HMS
with the RAF vs Army U25
in the challenge and silver in the
Middleton).
contest, which provided fi ve game
whole league.
In his place, AET Stephen
encounters in four of the matches.
“The reason we entered this
Wallace (Sultan) played very well
Although all four matches were
was as a result of the sports day
against a tough opponent, but a
very close, the Army fi nally came
we held on board against the
lack of match fi tness proved too
out on top and took the trophy
USMC last year,” explained
much for the Navy player who had
4-1.
Brum.
to concede defeat after an 8-10
Next on court was the veterans’
“When we beat them in the
result in the third game.
fi nal, where once again the RAF
rowing, we had a pretty good
Mne Martin Sadler (42
were too strong for the Army and
team that was ready for another
Cdo RM) at number two won
edged home 3-2.
challenge... which turned out to
comfortably, but the remainder of
In the ladies’ competition there
be this competition. And what fun
the team each went down 0-3.
was a repeat of the 2007 fi nal where
it was!”
The RN veterans playing against
the RAF, current champions, once
More fun was provided by the
an ever-youthful Army veterans
again managed to fend off the
return of an old favourite: It’s a
● 42 Cdo’s Mne Martin Sadler (foreground) and AET Stephen
team never got a look in, except Lt
Wallace (Sultan), RN U25 squad members, warming up for their Army to take the title 4-1.
Knockout.
Cdr Robin Young (Nelson) playing
clash with the Army at Temeraire Picture: LA(Phot) Kaz Williams
The fi nal series of matches
After a busy ship’s programme,
in an unfamiliar number two slot,
brought together the Army and
the PT staff decided to use
who disposed of his opponent in strongest team possible too, yet veterans side were next on against
RAF seniors, with the result in the
the no-fly day to get the ship’s
three straight games. were no match for an experienced last year’s champions, the RAF,
balance throughout the match.
company together for some ‘fun
● Hooperstar... ET(ME) Justin
A strong RN senior team Army side who brushed the dark and encountered a very confi dent
The Army won at numbers one
in the sun’.
Campbell scores during the
looked to stand more chance of an blues aside apart from Cdr Fiona Air Force team that included a and three, the RAF had matches
The event involved 17 teams of
demolition of the Winchester
upset this year than for a number Fawcett (Beaconsfi eld) who pulled player recently moved up from four and fi ve in the bag and all
ten, who entered in various forms
Wizards
of years and when the Navy a leg muscle early in her match their senior squad. hinged on the outcome of the
of fancy dress.
champion Capt Damien May RM but still managed to extend her The Navy were no match number two seeds, which was
There were ten ‘disciplines’
Warming up for
(771 NAS) beat his RAF opposite opponent to fi ve games. and were beaten comfortably eventually won by Capt G Clarke
to complete, including ‘knock
number – the current Combined On the second day, all four 0-5, no RN player ever seriously (Army), ensuring victory for the
the EWO off the slippery pole’,
the big ones
Services individual runner-up – an RN teams were in action. In the threatening. soldiers 3-2.
‘flipper dribble’, ‘fill your boots’
upset really was on the cards. U25 section, Wallace took his Because of unavailability and the Over the three days, there
and ‘colander relay’, all of which
Lt Jules Crew (815 NAS) Army opponent and current CS previous day’s injury to Fawcett, was much top quality squash in
involved a good quantity of water.
MORALE-boosting results at
narrowly failed to beat his individual under 25 champion, to the RN ladies were always on the evidence and although the Senior
Eventually the fun and games
HMS Collingwood saw both
opponent in fi ve games and Lt fi ve games, but match fi tness was back foot and were outclassed by Service did not come away with
came to an end as the sun began
senior and junior RN basketball
to slip over the horizon with the
Matt Ellicott (HMS Westminster) again his undoing. the RAF ladies, who fi elded a team any trophies, scores and results in
sides provide more evidence of
overall winners being the AED
and POAEA Neil Martin (815 The remainder of the U25s that looked very similar to the one many matches did not refl ect just
growing confi dence which can
team.
NAS) both had good tussles in never got a look in and were that won the title in 2007. how much the RN players have
only be achieved through victories
four games, but without success. eventually defeated 0-5. The fi nal section of the day closed the gap on the other two
against quality opposition.
The RN Ladies fi elded the A slightly re-arranged RN brought on the eagerly awaited Services.
Following a three-hour
‘blowing off of the cobwebs’
session on Friday night, an early
Saturday morning match against
Winchester Wizards saw the
RNMBA side struggle initially
to get into their stride, writes Cdr
Tour launches crucial year
Rob Knill, chairman RN Basketball.
When they did, however, they
THE Navy’s cricket team staged
sailors crumbled to 55 all out, coming back meeting with the Academy players, this time in
produced some of the most fl uent
a season-shaping tour of South
down to earth with a dull thud. the guise of a Western Province U19s.
basketball seen in recent years,
Africa’s cricketing heartland ahead
The arrival of the RN’s most experienced The Groot Drakenstein ground, in the middle
eventually rolling out 84-46 player Cdr Chris Slocombe (DE&S) could of the wine lands, boasts the fi rst grass wicket
winners. of their biggest year on record. only strengthen the bowling and so it proved laid in South Africa but sadly a thunderstorm
● Going logo... WO Pete
LET(ME) Blair Charles, and 2008 will see the centenary Army vs RN as the next opposition of Cape Town CC precluded this from being used and instead an
Berrow (captain RN squash)
ET(ME)s Myron and Justin match at Lords, the razzle and dazzle of the were restricted to what was believed to be an artifi cial wicket was laid which all the bowlers
and Cdr Steve Shaw (chairman
Campbell (all HMS Sultan) and Inter Services Twenty20 tournament and the attainable target. struggled to come to terms with.
RN squash) model branded
Mne James Woodcock (RN Poole) campaign to regain the Inter Services trophy The RN middle order ground to a halt in the The Groot Drakenstein club is steeped in
shirts as part of a trial by the
were all on song. which the sailors last lifted in 2000, writes Lt face of restrictive home bowling and left the history and the pavilion was a shrine to the
RNSRA.
The return of Mne Mike Andrew Ainsley, HMS Severn. late order no chance of reaching victory. greats of the old game.
The association is trying out
Stubbs (CTCRM) and discovery The team last visited South Africa in 1997, The middle weekend of the tour had always Local custom saw the visitors bat fi rst so as
long and short-sleeve shirts
of Mne ‘Oz’ L’Abbatte (FPGRM) not long after the end of apartheid, and in the been targeted as an opportunity to secure some not to be unduly affected by the midday sun
and hopes that other RN sports
also showed increased depth in interim they have also toured India (2000), positive results as the team bus headed away but was balanced by having to drink a between-
associations will adopt this
the playmaking area. Australia (2001) and a rain-soaked Barbados from central Cape Town to Stellenbosch and innings toast to the hosts.
initiative, funding for which will
The development squad then in 2004. then Constantia. Despite runs from Snelling, Mne Alvin
be supplied by HMS Temeraire.
snuck a narrow win against a For the small group of 13 players this was to Team aspirations were not to be disappointed. Pollard (CTCRM), Ainsley and Parker the
Representatives from
well-established Portsmouth be a tough challenge with seven games in 11 days Playing the Scorpions CC beside a wine- target never looked enough and was chased
associations and clubs
Command team (57-55) before as well as coming to grips with the peculiarities bottling facility, the RN won the toss and down in quick time.
interested in this corporate
going almost as narrowly in of touring for a relatively inexperienced party. elected to bat and set a large total of 243-8 Could the players raise their game just one
wear should contact Lt Cdr
a follow-on fi xture against Training had been on-going since November on the back of a maiden RN century for Mne more time and see off the Academy players to
David Cooke (9380 23741 or
Winchester, 59-62. but nobody could predict just how the small Cullum Smith (45 Cdo) and a supporting 50 fi nish the tour on a high?
rnso4@a.dii.mod.uk) for further
LMEA ‘Jack’ Paxton (HMS group of players would fare in the scorching from skipper Snelling. Winning the toss and batting on a damp
details.
Kent) and Mne Dale Solf (Cdo heat of one of the world’s most forward-looking Bowling on the back of such a solid batting track the sailors were always fi ghting with their
Logs Regt) made signifi cant cricketing nations. performance the Senior Service were always backs to the wall but runs once more from
contributions, as did ET(ME) The tour opener against the South African in control, with Ash Haw again bagging three Smith, Ainsley, Parker and a quickfi re knock
Run in the sun
Ben Whitaker. Navy did not prove to be the test that had wickets, and secured victory with overs in by ET Marlon Crichton (Sutherland) gave a
A further two hard-fought been expected and the opening partnership hand. glimpse of hope. THE Army is inviting RN and
games on Sunday saw the of Sgt Shaun Needham (Cdo Logs) (86) and The Constantia Oval hosted the next day’s This was quickly extinguished as attacking RM teams to take part in an
development squad lose a debutant ET Harry Young (MWS) put the game against the Western Province Academy batting and a handful of dropped catches gave exhausting day-long endurance
highly-charged encounter with opposition bowling to the sword with RN and the picturesque setting will remain with the the U19 side an easy victory and produced a race next month.
Whitleigh Wolves by just three captain, Lt Cdr Paul Snelling (DE&S) leading tour party as long as the incredible result will. fi nal tour reckoning of played seven, won two, 2 Signal Regiment is
points (64-67) and the seniors the late contributors. The prospective fi rst-class cricketers were lost four, tied one. hosting Race The Sun, a 15-
– now wilting as a result of such The RN bowling attack took heart from the out to secure professional contracts and their The record books may not show this to have leg competition, spread across
an intense series of matches – go batsmen’s performance and had little trouble bowling highlighted this as the sailors were been a successful tour but as so often pure 200km of North Yorkshire.
down 80-89 to a highly talented in knocking over the SAN batting line-up, with unable to see out their allocation of overs and statistics do not tell the true story. The squad The May 15 race comprises
Solent Smugglers national league Mne Ash Haw (42 Cdo) taking 3-13, to record posted what looked a below-par score despite is certainly stronger as a group and more running, paddling, cycling, cross-
Div 4 outfi t. an opening match victory and bragging rights. a confi dent 37 from ET(WE) Harry Young than ready to face the challenges of the 2008 country, forced march, a half-
Overall, it was a hugely There were tougher challenges ahead: the (MWS). season. marathon, mountain biking, a fell
benefi cial ‘workout weekend’. next match threw the Navy into the lion’s den Nobody had foreseen what was to follow. In terms of individuals, Smith and Young run, orienteering, swimming and
The squad now moves to against premier league club Western Province A fi ne opening spell by Lt Jonathan Parker look to have long careers ahead of them, the finally a 3km stretcher race.
HMS Drake for pre-Inter Service CC. (DCSA) and Ash Haw, who fi nished with 3-33, middle order has shown depth, fi ght and fl air, Each team can enter up to two
training camp (April 6-12) and The decision to bowl fi rst with temperatures took four early wickets and when wicket keeper Haw seems to be developing as an all-rounder competitors per leg – the fastest
the Inter Services tournament reaching 32 degrees had the RN on the back Lt Andrew Ainsley grabbed two quick catches and the opening attack of Parker and Adams, time counts. A team member
proper at Grantham (April 18-20) foot from early on. standing up to the stumps the sailors sensed when fi t, bowl with genuine pace and fi re. can compete in more than one
with much of the blood, sweat Despite playing on the quickest pitch they blood. With the scores level it fell to LMA ■ TICKETS for the Army-Navy encounter at leg, but cannot repeat the same
and tears already behind them had bowled on for many a year the Navy bowlers Gareth Freeman (Portsmouth NHS) to take Lords on Tuesday July 29 are now available: discipline. The stretcher race
this year. failed to make in-roads into a powerful Western the fi nal wicket and leave the game as a tie. adults £10, children and OAPs £5. Details requires a six-strong team.
More details from Cdr Knill on Province batting card and faced a daunting The fi nal cricketing push saw matches from Lt Cdr David Cooke 02392 723741 or Details from Capt Shaun
94391 7641. 249-run chase which proved too much as the against Groot Drakenstein GC and a second rnso4@a.dii.mod.uk Wilson on 94777 5899.
0049_NN_Apr.indd 149_NN_Apr.indd 1 118/3/08 11:42:388/3/08 11:42:38
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