On top of winning the Inter-Services in great style on Thu 16 Sep 10 (well done Army Head Coach Capt Andy Sanger RE, Team Manager Maj Mick Scholes RE, the Executive Committee, all the support staff and most importantly; all the players of all the Teams), we also fielded an Army RL Select Team at short notice against a Crosfields ARLFC Select on Sat 18 Sep 10 in Memoriam for Pte Tom Sephton 1 MERCIAN who died in QEH Birmingham on 5 Jul 10, as a result of wounds received in Afghanistan.

A very memorable and humbling day in Warrington – we won a nail biting game 32 – 30 (we were 3 tries to nil down after 20 minutes) against a very tough team.

SSgt Paul Riley RA was outstanding as skipper leading by example by either scoring himself or playing a key role in every one of our tries.

I tried not to rely on the boys involved in winning the Inter-Services on Thu – SSgt Paul Riley is a classic example of someone who would have been in the Inter-Services squad if not on his Gunnery Careers Cse but who committed to back me up for the game immediately. Several of the other boys would have featured in the Inter-Services squads if not on cses or recovering from injury this season. I initially thought of using the outstanding Unit Team of Army RL and current Army Yeoman Cup Champions; 3 YORKS (The Dukes) as a key source of players but stood them down on realising that they were playing a memorial Rugby League game themselves, in Hull on Sun 19 Sep 10 for one of their fallen comrades.

I must particularly thank the guys who backed up from the Inter-Services matches on Thu 16 Sep 10 (less than 48 hrs before):

Army RL1st Team

LCpl Mags Marangon REME

Army RL Development Team

Cfn Kuki Tamani REME

Cfn Casey Shaw REME

Cpl Rushi Naisau REME

Army RL Veterans (RATS)

Sgt Frenchie Debuaghan KRH

SSgt Ryan Swindale PARA

Support Staff

WO2 Pud Cowburn RE

Sgt Nobby Pocock RE

John Hulatt

Julie Hulatt

Brig Andrew Sharpe OBE (Late CHESHIRE) Regimental Colonel of the MERCIAN ran on for last 10 minutes (at 50 the oldest player to ever pull on the Army RL shirt in anger) and did a solid job for us at prop (never dropped a ball or missed a tackle). Pte Tom Snooks 1 MERCIAN (at 17 and too young to deploy; the youngest player to pull on the Army RL shirt in anger at open age) was outstanding at full back and Man of the Match. A Warrington Academy boy - I have his details for Riz for next season.

Sgt Alan Boyle 1 MERCIAN did a great job of organising the event in Warrington – an OUTSTANDING effort.

I must thank everyone who was able to step up and support at such short notice in whatever capacity – you did Army RL proud but most importantly you provided much appreciated support to the family and friends of Tom – Well Done!

I must also pass on the thanks of Brig Sharpe who has asked me to thank you all on his behalf; to para phrase from Brig Sharpe’s email to me this morning:

“In short, I know that you and the guys had to make a major effort to get yourselves together and up to Warrington for Saturday, please pass on my profound thanks to them all. I know that the Sephton family were deeply moved by the gesture and the commitment, and the people of Warrington (MPs, mayors and all) got a taste of what Army commitment to each other is all about. I am very, very grateful”.

Army RL Select v Crosfields ARLFC Select (Army won 32 – 30):

1. LCpl Stu Butters RE

2. Cfn Kuki Tamani REME

3. Cpl Rob Smart RAMC

4. Cpl Tim Tamani REME

5. Cfn Karl O’Doherty REME

6. SSgt Paul Riley (C) RA

7. Cpl Dancer Kenway RLC

8. Sgt Ginge Windle RE

9. LCpl Matt Pritchard RE

10. Cpl Rushi Naisau REME

11. Cfn Casey Shaw REME

12. LCpl Mags Marangon REME

13. LCpl Dale Burnley RE

14. Sgt Frenchie Debaughan KRH

15. Cfn Jordan Kerman REME

16. SSgt Ryan Swindale PARA

17. Pte Tom Snooks MERCIAN

18. Brig Andrew Sharpe (Late CHESHIRE)

19. Sgt Rob Muir MERCIAN

Manager: Maj Rich Naivalurua REME

Coach: WO2 Pud Cowburn RE

Sp Mgr: Sgt Nobby Pocock RE

Match Sp: Pte Gareth Lodge PARA

Physio: Mr John Hulatt

Sp: Mrs Julie Hulatt

Res Ref: Sgt Baz Graham

Yours in rugby,

Rich Nav'

RK NAIVALURUA

Maj

Director Army Community Rugby League