News from the Royal Signals Rugby Club
RLC composure wins through
06/09/10
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The final round of the Corps Merit Competition saw the Corps playing host to the RLC who had powered their way to four victories from their previous four fixtures, leaving them as the only undefeated side in the Competition. With the memory of last year’s collapse against the RLC, this match was as much about gaining respect and rebuilding self belief as it was about securing a final placing that reflected the efforts of the players over the course of the season.
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The Corps got off to a strong start with some aggressive running from the set piece, however the RLC defence held and the Corps had to settle for a long range stab at goal which drifted wide. The RLC settled into a rhythm before slipping passed an otherwise rock solid defence with some impressive handling and a strong turn of speed out wide. The Corps managed to hold off the RLC as they rumbled into range before they too forced a long range penalty wide of the posts.
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As the game settled into the second quarter it was the Corps who found themselves on the edge of the RLC 22 metre line. An impressive take from LCpl Oates (16 Sig Regt) allowed Sgt Secker (21 Sig Regt) to split the RLC defence and set up a powerful rolling maul which was finished with a try from the ever impressive Cpl Bates (3(UK) Div HQ & Sig Regt). An unsettled RLC team allowed the Corps to snipe through and keep them under pressure with a sharp try LCpl Dukes (This was also the tale of the remainder of the half with the RLC team looking below par, particularly when the Signals put together a driving maul on just about half-way that went to ground only five metres from the RLC line where, after a series of impressive attacking phases, LCpl Dukes (3(UK) Div HQ & Sig Regt) who cut through on the left wing to leave the Corps with a comfortable 10-0 lead at half-time. .
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The RLC came out with all guns blazing in the second half and, despite having much of the early pressure the Corps unforced errors allowed the RLC to kick their way back to within striking distance and it was the RLC who opened the scoring with a solid penalty. The RLCs physical presence began to show in open play as they began to draw players into the tackle area and thereby started to open gaps out wide. Despite some impressive defence from LCpl Harrison (30 Sig Regt) and Sig Thompson (10 Sig Regt) the RLC once again got themselves into striking position and walked their way over the line after a well worked catch and drive from a line-out.
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From that point onwards the RLC stepped up a gear and began to force uncharacteristic errors which left the Corps scrabbling to halt the growing tide of pressure. The RLC earned a well worked close range drive off the back of a scrum which saw them score under the sticks. The game did see a debut for Sig Morgan (11 Sig Regt) who came on for the injured LCpl Thompson (10 Sig Regt) but, despite several changes in the final quarter, the RLC now sensed a victory and pressed hard on the counter attack. To compound the Corps issues, the RLC finished the game with 5 minutes to play after some more slick handling which allowed them to breach the defence out on the wing.
With a surprising set of final results the Corps were left adrift towards the bottom of the table whilst the RLC will deservedly face the ever present RE in the final at Aldershot. An impressive, and very unlucky, Infantry side now find themselves facing the threat of relegation as they face the AGC in the play off.
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