Royal Australian Navy Rugby League (RANRL) | Navy Titans

NAVY RUGBY LEAGUE

TRI-NATIONS

NEW ZEALAND TOUR

RAN 20 defeated Royal Navy 12

RAN 12 lost to RNZN 38

Navy Rugby League recently toured New Zealand; the first

overseas tour in six years signifying an upsurge in Navy Rugby

League after a long development process. The RAN competed in

the inaugural Tri-Nations Navy tournament against New Zealand

and the United Kingdom.

NZ Touring squad 2010

The first match was always going to be hard against the RNZN in

New Zealand but the first RAN training session, amazingly held

without a single mistake. The importance of the occasion was

shown by the NZ Rugby League providing the actual 'World Cup'

for the two sides to line up alongside during the national

anthems. The RNZN then performed the recently developed Navy

Haka with signature 'waka' moves to raise their 'mana' showing

the Aussie boys that they were in for a real game.

The RAN came out slow and the RNZN put on some early tries,

which they continued throughout the first half to go to the break

24 nil. The RAN side was unable early to counter the slick

backline of the RNZN manoeuvring on the back of big forwards

making inroads up the middle.

The second half was a different story however with the RAN

coming out in a different frame of mind to put on two tries against

the RNZN having received a massive rev-up by coach Dave

Kemp. The RAN showed they could actually match it with the

RNZN with strong defence and attack with the second half score

line ending at 14-12 RNZN. The final scoreline was 38-12 RNZN

and there was much to be done before the match against the

Royal Navy who had put 70 points on the RAN in the last

encounter 5 years ago at Brookvale Oval.

While the RN typically had the better songsters during the

anthems the RAN came out in a different frame of mind to the

RNZN game. Massive and passionate hits were the order

of the day against the old foe coupled with consummate ball

movement enabling the RAN to put on two impressive tries to

take the score to 12 nil through Matt Docker and Bobby Ashman.

The RN put on a late first half try through an intercept and a 75m

run against the run of play to go to half time 12-4 RAN. The

second half was also going the RAN's way through a try by

Hastings-Ison out wide through a clever kick through but the RN

soon found some inspiration scoring two tries from kicks over the

top, again against the run of play, to take the score to 16-12

RAN.

The next twenty minutes was a nail-biting duel which could have

gone either way with both sides desperately trying for that extra

six points. Right on full time the RAN had resumed its first half

confidence while attacking the RN line running a very polished

backline move drawing each player as it went through the hands

with the final pass from Matt Docker putting an unmarked Edward

Smith in the corner to take out the match 20- 12 RAN.

In the final match between the RN and RNZN the RNZN was

victorious to take out the tournament with the RAN coming in

runner up. This was a successful tour for Navy Rugby League

developing the side well for the future.

There were some great displays of football from all the players

with some of the standouts being Matt Docker who dominated

and shut down his opposite number on the RN side with great

defence; Dan Struber was excellent at 5/8^th manoeuvring the

team around the park; all of the forwards displayed outstanding

grit and determination taking some huge punishment and dishing

it out in return and there was none better than Simon Hoare's

display up front despite his diminutive size taking out the

tournament. Player's Player; accompanying him was Dan Capilli's

excellent football in both games up front and out in the centres

taking out the tournament's Best Player.