The 2010 Williamson Trophy was played in Abingdon on Thu 2 Sep, under blue skies and a warm sun.  Capt Jase Lowe had organised the competition into 2 separate groups of 4 teams, with each team playing the other once.  The first 2 in each group progressed to the semi finals with both third placed teams competing for the Chris Cox Memorial Cup.  With only one pitch available timings were tight, but with the organisational and motivational ability one would expect from a former Corps RSM flood lights were not required!  With several key players absent on duty for the Army Rugby League or deployed on operations, there was a chance for the unheralded to shine.

Group A

9 Regt began their campaign with a hard fought victory over 27 Regt, who were attempting to re-assert their rugby pedigree after several years in the wilderness.  An unconverted try and a penalty were enough to ease 9 Regt home 8-0 (Ed – apologies on lack of detail, I missed the game!). 

Trophy favourites 17 P&M Regt began their campaign against a young 3 LSR.  Sporting a strong back line the Dolphins were able to spread the ball around the park, stretching the 3 LSR defence.  A quick lineout from LCpl Corderoy caught 3 LSR out and lead to the ball being spread from right to left and back for a try in the corner.  LCpl Corderoy was on hand again, using his pace to make an excellent break down the left wing to score another try in the corner.  With the Dolphins’ confidence now high their talented Corps back line put 3 LSR to the sword, with scrum half LCpl Parry, fly half LCpl Ramwell and centre Pte Ferguson to the fore.  Although 3 LSR refused to take a backward step they were overrun, conceding further tries and eventually lost 24-0.

Both 3 LSR and 27 Regt, who had lost their first games, met for what they believed to be a play-off for the opportunity to play in the Chris Cox Memorial Cup.  The 1^st half was evenly matched, with 3 LSR unable to take a lead into half time when they missed a penalty kick.  27 Regt began the 2^nd half with gusto and barged over from a 5 metre penalty only to drop the ball before the try was scored.  Fortunately for them redemption arrived minutes later after excellent play from the forwards lead to a converted try under the posts.  The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed, but 27 Regt were able to seal the victory with a penalty just before the final whistle, winning 10-0.

down before racing down field and off-loading for Pte Colati to score.17 P&M Regt won 17-0.

17 P&M Regt had a quick turn around for their next game against 27 Regt, with the boys from Aldershot taking advantage early on.  Their pressure lead to a penalty on the Dolphin’s 10 metre line, but this proved to be just out of range.  17 P&M Regt eventually found their feet and a good break up-field by the rangy prop (he wasn’t fat enough to be a real prop) lead to another try by Pte Korobiau.  The Dolphin’s No 5 then displayed a moment of individual brilliance, side stepping the defence in midfield before turning on the afterburners and out flanking the 27 Regt defence to score under the posts.  The Dolphins thought that they were home and dry after some quick hands in the midfield released Pte Burenivalu to scorch down the wing and score on the right, but 27 Regt had other ideas after forcing a try through the middle.  LCpl Parry put the Dolphins under further pressure when he was yellow carded for lively debate with the referee!  27 Regt were unable to capitalise and lost 17-7.

The last group game saw 3 LSR trying to score their first points of the competition against a 9 Regt team trying to confirm their appearance in the semi finals.  9 Regt dominated the game without placing too much pressure on the 3 LSR try line.  In fact 9 Regt resorted to kicking a penalty to take the lead.  They eventually sealed victory when the outside centre made a great line break and then kicked ahead to score a try under the posts;  9 Regt winning 10-0.

Group B

in the 2^nd half with all guns blazing in an attempt to redress the balance.  It was all one way traffic, with the ARRC defence remaining resolute.  When 29 Regt eventually made it over the try line, the referee adjudged their effort to be held up and a 5 metre scrum was their only reward.  ARRC Sp Bn emerged triumphant 7-0.

Next up in Group B was 4 LSR against the usually powerful 23 Pnr Regt.  The Pioneers did not disappoint and constant attacks on the 4 LSR try line lead to a try in the left corner.  Some excellent individual skill from LCpl Qualubau saw him make a clean break from the base of a ruck, accelerate through a gap in the defence, before handing off a desperate tackle and scoring under the posts.  23 Pnr Regt maintained the pressure, but could not add to their total and came away 10-0 winners.

After their defeat to the ARRC Sp Bn, 29 Regt entered their game against 23 Pnr Regt knowing that a win was vital if they wanted to reach the semi finals.  Their front row, including Army veteran LCpl Dobie, took the game to the Pioneers and forced them onto the back foot.  It was a  very tight game which ebbed and flowed from one end to the other.  It was eventually settled when LCpl Ratu took too long in clearing the ball from inside his 22 and LCpl Qualubau charged the kick down to score under the posts.  The Pioneers attempted to make the game safe, but were unable to convert a penalty attempt from halfway and sailed close to the wind until the final whistle gave them victory 7-0.  29 Regt had been extremely unlucky to have played 2 games losing both with no points scored.

ARRC Sp Bn were now up and running in their first attempt for RLC silverware and they over powered 4 LSR in their next game.  Two well worked tries were converted to give ARRC their second victory in the group 14-0.

The top of the table clash in Group B between 23 Pnr Regt and ARRC Sp Bn was fiercely contested.  Not only because it pitted pioneer against pioneer, but the loser would be faced with a semi final against the favourites 17 P&M Regt.  In overall play and pressure there was not much in it.  However, the ARRC managed to sustain a period of pressure long enough to force 23 Pnr Regt to infringe at the scrum just once too often for the referee.  ARRC duly converted the penalty on offer and after much gusto and collision thereafter ran out victorious 3-0.

The final group game saw the so far unlucky 29 Regt come up against a developing 4 LSR, for the chance to stake a place in the Chris Cox Memorial Cup final against 27 Regt.  It was clear from the outset that 29 Regt were keen to eradicate their earlier errors and Cpl Vitykawalu settled the nerves with an early penalty.  The tidal wave of green, flowery shirts (no that is not a typo, the tops are particularly attractive!) forced 4 LSR on to the back foot for the remainder of the half, culminating in another try from the 29 Regt fly half who danced through some poor defence.  LCpl Rayolo furthered his cause to pull on a Corps shirt by crashing over for the final score of the game.  29 Regt advanced to the Chris Cox Memorial Cup final after this 19-0 victory.

Semi Final A – 17 P&M Regt (10) v 23 Pnr Regt (0)

This was an eagerly anticipated game between the usual finalists at inter-unit competitions.  However, rugby took a back seat as LCpl Qualubau sadly suffered a serious neck injury.  After some lengthy pitch-side attention the air ambulance arrived to take LCpl Qualubau to StokeMandevilleHospital for further treatment; I am sure you will join me in wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 

The game was effectively won when good work by Pte Korobiau released WO2 Gibbon (a back row forward doing a rather good impersonation of a prop – perhaps he has spent too much time with WO2 Hendy?) to score the games only try.  LCpl Parry sealed things when he converted a penalty.  The game ended 10-0 in favour of 17 P&M Regt.

Semi Final B – ARRC Sp Bn (3) v 9 Regt (0)

The second semi final was a cagey affair that failed to ignite the interest of the impartial observer.  However, there were many members of the ARRC Sp Bn who made their feelings known as they cavorted up and down the touchline in the hope of inspiring their team.  A close game was settled when some good continuity play by the ARRC back line created enough pressure to force a penalty from 9 Regt.  With the penalty converted the ARRC Sp Bn won 3-0 and advanced to the final at their first attempt.

Chris Cox Memorial Cup – 27 Regt (3) v 29 Regt (8)

This game was a real ding-dong battle between two evenly matched sides.  The play was committed with a touch of class, but the defence was always sufficient to snuff out the threat.  27 Regt were the first to break the deadlock when they converted a penalty, and then looked to maintain their slender advantage.  This change of tack was enough to let the combination of the silky skills of Cpl Vitykawalu and the human battering ram called LCpl Rayolo to force 27 Regt onto the back foot.  This pressure earned 29 Regt a penalty, which Cpl Vitykawalu converted to take the game into extra time and the nerve jangling golden score.  With most players exhausted from the day’s rugby gaps began to appear, and it was through one such gap that 29 Regt managed to squeeze, scoring the winning try in the left corner.  It was an exhilarating final that did not deserve to have a loser.

Williamson Trophy Final – 17 P&M Regt (15) v ARRC Sp Bn (0)

So 17 P&M Regt met the Pioneers in the final, except that it wasn’t the team of pioneers they were perhaps expecting!  Nonetheless the ARRC Sp Bn had played some fluent attacking rugby throughout the day and started the final looking to bag a debut victory.  The Dolphins used their creative back line to probe for gaps and found some room down the left wing only to let the ARRC off the hook by conceding a penalty.  The ARRC tight five were excellent in defence, giving little opportunity to the Dolphins’ pack, and it was from this forward work that ARRC earned a penalty on the Dolphins’ 22.  Unfortunately, the opportunity was spurned, but it wasn’t long before the ARRC back line was trying to get in on the action.  Pressure was being applied in bucket loads, but crossing in the midfield whilst in the ascendancy gave 17 P&M Regt respite.  The resultant penalty was fired into touch and at the subsequent lineout ARRC were penalised for being offside.  LCpl Parry didn’t pass up the opportunity to get some points on the board. 

17 P&M Regt were now starting to look menacing in the backs and an interception in the midfield by Pte Ferguson turned the ARRC defence inside out.  Some excellent cover tackling brought the rampaging Ferguson down short of the line, but his awareness of support was equally good, LCpl Corderoy receiving his pop pass to score under the posts.  LCpl Parry converted the try to put the Dolphins 10-0 ahead.  Pte Ferguson was now excelling in the midfield, with an excellent rip tackle unfortunately coming to nothing.  However, a moment of madness from the ARRC scrum half (kicking out at his opposite man) left the referee no alternative but to brandish the yellow card.  It was precisely the wrong time to be one man short and 17 P&M Regt duly took full advantage of their numerical superiority.  Pte Tuiteci made an excellent break before releasing Pte Korobiau to score in the corner.  The ARRC Sp Bn had the edge in the forwards, with a special mention for their superb marshalling of the lineout throughout the final, but were unable to break down a resilient defence eventually succumbing to a 15-0 defeat.

WO2 Gibbons, captaining the Dolphins from the unfamiliar dark and dingy world of the front row, received the Williamson Trophy from RLC Director of Rugby, Maj Gary Thomson.  Many new faces were identified for both the Corps senior and development squads, which bodes well for the forthcoming VT LAND Inter-Corps Tournament later in the month and the remainder of the merit table season.