Copy
A selection of latest stories that have been published on the Royal Navy Rugby Union website or the History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography website.
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View this email in your browser
Paul Saberton Receives the Mike Connolly Award - Image Credit: Neil Kennedy
Historical Editorial from the Extensive Archives of Alligin Photography
Congratulations
 

With the end of season show case taking place on both Friday and Saturday the presentation of the main playing awards for the Mariners , Women and Senior XV took place over two days.  Whale Island was the back drop for the award of the Mike Connolly Award and the Roger Sherratt Award whilst the following evening at the Lensbury Hotel the Cossack Sword and Proud Heritage Exciting Future was presented along with the Soapy Watson Award.

It is a while since Whale Island has hosted Inter Service rugby and regretably it could not be described as a success.  For the Women in particular it is hard to reconcile the desire to promote the women's game in the Royal Navy whilst playing the showcase match on a sub standard pitch with limited access for spectators.  Whilst there were some mitigating circumstances it must be hoped that there is no pretence from the decision makers that the choice of venue was fiit for purpose and with the other two Women's games in the Inter Services being played at the Twickenham Stoop and Kingsholm a venue fit for the aspirations of the women's game is found for next year.

The Women are certainly playing their part at the moment with a noticeable improvement in their game.  Against the Royal Air Force they showed structure and a clear game plan against a very good side whilst against the Army, after giving them too much respect in the first half, the Women produced a second half display that must rank as one of their best halves of rugby they have played.  However, and there is always a however, they need to back this up with on-going improvement next season.


This newsletter though is about the award winners and the five are certainly most deserving for very differing reasons.  All at the History of Navy Rugby offer our congratulations to their achievements as we add their names to the various prestigious rolls of honour.

 
Geraint
 

Mike Connolly Award

 
"The Mike Connolly Award is given to the member of the Royal Navy Mariners Rugby Union Squad who has made the most impact through the season. This player will have shown leadership, commitment and energy in the finest tradition of the over-35's game."
 
2019 Winner - Paul Saberton
Paul Saberton in action against the Army Masters
Paul was a stand out performer for the Mariners in what was otherwise a disappointing Inter Services campaign.  He was at the heart of everything that was good about their play with frequent snipes around the fringes, a sound kicking game and a work rate that unfortunately was not infectious amongst a few of his fellow Mariners!  He certainly deserved his evening of recognition having long been a stalwart of the Unit, Command and Sevens game.

His all action game did mean that he took a few hard hits over the course of the two matches but true to form he kept bouncing back, returning to the fray for more. 

I can't help thinking that Mike Connolly must have had mixed thoughts when presenting the trophy that bares his name.  Paul is the sort of player that when he is on form frustrates the opposition backrow immensly as he possesses a wicked side step that takes him out of the clutches on the intended full on tackle.  It is the sort of play that in his day would force Mike to re-double his efforts to ensure, as Ray Gravell once said, "to get the big hit in early, even if it is late".  I am sure Mike has mellowed now, with the responsibilities of being a Trustee of the Union, and purely enjoyed Paul's live wire displays for what they were.  And would never let the hint of a knowing smile cross his face when Paul did catch the big hits from the Air Force and Army backrows.

A very deserving seventh winner of the Mike Connolly Trophy, congratulations Paul.
 
Paul Saberton Receives Treatment Against the Royal Air Force Vultures
 

Roger Sherratt Memorial Trophy

 
"The Roger Sherratt Trophy is awarded to the member of the Royal Navy Women’s Rugby Union Squad who is deemed to be the most valuable player of the season.  This player will have shown strong leadership qualities both on and off the field, have provided a positive influence on the Squad and have displayed the attitude and bearing that epitomises the values of the Royal Navy Women Rugby Union Team.

The Trophy is awarded in memory of Mr Roger Sherratt, who was the first benefactor of the Royal Navy Women’s team."

 
2019 Winner - Emily Park
Emily Park formally receives her trophy from Ellie Ablett  Image Credit: Neil Kennedy
Hopefully it will not prove to be a false dawn but there were some very promising signs coming from the Women's squad this season.  And the improvements have to be set within the context of an Army set up that benefits greatly from its strength in depth and the development within the Royal Air Force Women's game over the last four years which has ensured that many of their squad have international or Tyrrells Premiership Experience.  For the Royal Navy Women to close the gap next season and build on the promise they have shown this, they will need to unearth some new talent, but also they will need to have some of their existing players follow Emily's example.

Long before I was aware that Emily had won the Roger Sherratt award I had remarked about the huge improvements in her performances this year.  She had clearly worked very hard on her fitness and this was showing in her play.  Against the Royal Air Force she was one of the Navy's key defenders but it was in the second half, against the Army, that the transformation a player can make of herself shone so brightly through.

For much of the second half the Navy Women put the Army under real pressure.  Ollie Critchley at half back and Emma Maxwell at centre were demonstrating the quality players that they are.  Ollie's darting runs and Emma cutting back on the out to in line were frequently getting the Navy on the front foot.  With quick ball Ollie desparately needed a runner to keep the tempo high and prevent the Army's defence from resetting.  Time and time again that option was Emily Park.  Though each surge may have only made a couple of metres, they were invaluable metres.  And, as she was tackled to ground, she was back on her feet and once more available as the in-tight runner. 

Getting off the ground is one of the fashionable metrics in rugby these days and it would be interesting to see the 2018 Emily Park statistics against this season's figures.  Her transformation provides a template for her collaegues and also real hope for the future on the Women's game in the Navy if we see others following suit.

Congratulations to Emily on becoming the 11th recipient of the Award.
Emily Park carries the ball strongly in to the heart of the Army defence.
This year the trophy was awarded twice.  The formal award was made by Cdre Ablett at the after match function but it was also presented immediately after the game in the presence of Dee Sherratt.  For those of us who remember the pioneering days of Navy Women's Rugby it was so satisfying to see that the Sherratt family have remained so connected with the progress the squad continue to make.
 
Dee Sharratt with Emily Park and the Roger Sherratt Memorial Trophy immediately after the match  Image Credit: Neil Kennedy
 

Soapy watson Memorial Award

 
"First presented in 2007 the trophy, in memory of Warrant Officer ‘Soapy” Watson is presented to the team support member who has contributed over and above the call of duty. Soapy was the most consummate of team players."

 
2019 Winner - Andrew 'Jan' Laity
Jan Laity, former Senior XV hooker and this year Senior XV Kit Man
Jan remarkably becomes the first former capped player to win the prestigious Soapy Watson award and another of the 'man with the van' to be recognised.  All the representative teams benefit from the unselfish work of their support staff and the Senior XV this year was no different.  The visible side of his role was running on with the kicking tee but that hides the long hours and all the unseen work to ensure everything runs smoothly.  But like Soapy, in his prime, he still managed time to slip away for a sneaky coffee and sticky bun during his early start trips to get the kit to the venue and sorted before the players arrived.

Congratulations to Jan who becomes the 16th recipient of the award.
 
 

Proud Heritage, Exciting Future Trophy

 
"First presented in 2010 the trophy is an acknowledgement of the young and emerging talent within Navy Rugby.  This talent if nurtured and developed will ensure that the future of the Union will remain vibrant and exciting.  The trophy was specially commissioned and fashioned from original oak and copper from HMS Victory.  It symbolizes the proud traditions and heritage upon which the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and Navy Rugby are founded."
 
2019 Winner - Brad Janes
Brad Janes fends off Andy Byrne during his first taste of Inter Services Championship rugby  Image Credit: Nick Flexman
Having watched Brad in his second capped game, and his Championship debut, and then watched his opposite number for the final game, Dan Tooth, make his debut for the army, I was in no doubt that the tussle between the two of them was going to be worth the Twickenham entrance fee alone.  It did not disappoint!

Brad, along with fullback Craig Duncan, has burst on to the Senior XV scene this season and helped bring a new dimension to their back play.  He has formed a rock solid defensive partnership with Seta Raumakita in the centres which withstood a tremendous and sustained examination through power running from the Army.

Brad thoough is also surprisingly creative in attack, frequently getting outside and partially past his man with an ability to manufacture an off load or slip pass to put a support player through the newly formed gap.  His progress over the next few years will hopefully, for Navy supporters, be one to savour and I am sure he will add many more to his three caps won in his first representative season.

Congratulations to Brad becomes the 10th recipient ofthe Award.
 

Cossack Sword Trophy

 
"The Cossack Sword was presented to the Royal Navy Rugby Union by former player and selector, Captain Leigh Merrick Royal Navy and first awarded in 2000.  The sword is for “Ground Gained and Held” and awarded at the end of each season to the player, from the Royal Navy Senior XV, whose performances over the course of the season best meet the battling qualities invoked by the heritage of the “Cossack Warrior”."
2019 Winner - Greg Loydall
Greg Loydall captains the U23XV team to victory in 2015 Inter Services
The team that Greg captained as an U23 in 2015 contained a number of players who subsequently became regular firm fixtures in the Senior XV and rightly captured their fair share of headlines and plaudits.  Greg was probably more on the fringes of the Senior side, making useful contributions but never making the break through.  He made a number of telling contributions in the Sharks jersey which again gave fleeting glimpses to his wide skill set.
Greg Loydall in action for the Navy Sharks
That the Senior XV team made a significant step forward this year has been well established by a number of respected commentators.  One of the key reasons for this has been the form of Greg Loydall at fly half.  His understated play has provided a game management which has brought the best out of his back line while keeping variety in the game and making use of the ball carrying forwards he has at his disposal.  Though his kicking game is not as obvious as some of his predessors in the jersey it has suprising variation but also is not used as a default option because he has run out of ideas.  And finally he is strong in the tackle and doesn't shirk any of the defensive responsbilities.
The moment Greg Loydall dislocates his shoulder to end his Army v Navy Match as he looks to stop the Army No. 8 Iferiemi Boladau.  Image Credit: Nick Flexman
Indeed losing Greg from the field of play probably had has much an impact on the result as the TMO call to rule out the Dimmock Williams try score which would have given the Royal Navy a 10-0 lead.

Leigh Merrick, who presented the trophy to the Union, was a contemporary of Mike Connolly in the backrow for the Navy.  As I alluded to at the start of this newsletter, backrow forwards have a certain mentality when viewing half back pairings but I suspect that both will have huge respect for Greg's play this season and the physical attributes he brought to the midfield.  I am sure if they were still playing and found themselves on the opposite side to Greg that, as they were tying their boot laces, they may have been hatching one or two special measures to welcome the fly half to the fray.

Like Connolly, Merrick was a no nonsence grafting backrow forward, comfortable and 8 or 6 and hard in the tackle.  When he presented the sword to the Union he was clear with the ground rules against which it was to be presented.  He will be pleased, I am asure, with Greg's appointment.  The only potential blemish on Greg's season is I am not sure that you would ever have seen Leigh removed from the field on a medical cart!!  But perhaps someone out there knows different.

All at the History of Navy Rugby hope Greg has a speedy recovery and congratulate him and all the award winners on their achievements.  2019 was the 20th time that the Cossack Sword was presented and the 19th different recipient.
History is about people not about dates and data.  The History of Navy Rugby website remains dedicated to bringing you the stories behind the players, officals and administrators that made the Union what it is today.  The views are those of Alligin Photography alone.  We remain proudly unofficial.
Use your own custom HTML
Share
Tweet
Forward to Friend
+1
Copyright © 2019 Alligin Photography, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp