HELP FOR HEROES CHARITY MATCH

COMBINED SERVICES XXXV RUGBY V JOHN BENTLEYS YORKSHIRE LEGENDS

Written by

Colonel Andy Allen

Playing Baa Baa style rugby union, ex British Lion star John Bentley and his ‘Yorkshire Legends’ took on the first ever Combined Services Veterans rugby union team at Mooretown Rugby Club on Saturday 6 June.

Raising £1,400 in a Help for Heroes charity match sponsored by Serco and played on the 65^th D Day Landings anniversary, the occasion was just right for CS XXXV.  “This has been a long time ambition of the Army, Navy and RAF Veterans teams” said Colonel Andy Allen (Late REME) Chairman of CS XXXV – “when I received agreement to pull together a CS XXXV side to support this worthy cause and play against the Legends, I was absolutely delighted.”

The CS XXXV are selected from the best players of the Inter-Services Veterans competition which culminates at Kneller Hall on Army v Navy Day.  This season the Army XXXV won both games and were crowned Inter-Service Champions – a grand slam for the Senior, Women and XXXV Army teams.

On an overcast Saturday afternoon in Leeds, a squad 22 CSXXV players lined up against – how many!?!?! of John Bentleys Legends – but where was John himself?  Late again? Watched by a large crowd, the Legends, an invitation team organised by John Dudley (Yorkshire and North England) delivered in the first 20 minutes what was expected – salvo after salvo of end to end rugby, fast, furious and entertaining.  The ‘shock and awe’ took some CS XXXV players by surprise and after 30 minutes the Legends were up 0:31 with some top class lines of running, thumping tackles and crafty ‘international’ off the ball play.  Then from a good kick off, and the resulting line out, Cpl Dom O’Connor (Royal Marine) was fed quick ball by winger SSgt Errol Jones (25 Engr Regt) and ran in their first try – finally the CS XXXV were taking shape.  Skipper for the day and No 8 WO2 Chris Richards (Royal Marine), steadied the ship and scored a memorable forwards try but by half time the score sheet was 10:31. 

The half time talk by Head Coach WO1 ASM ‘Mitch’ Mitchell (REME) was not for the feint hearted and worked and by this John had finally turned up – with a good excuse – he had just flown in from Dubai and came straight to the game!  And in good Yorkshire style, he got dressed and was on the pitch.  CS XXXV kicked off and spent the next ten minutes in the Legends half but the Legends made a well worked overlap count and charged up field for 5 points in the corner thanks to a superb looping pass by Dave Skully (England 7’s) and clever shuffling by Tim Fourier (South Africa).  The intensity of the game had started to take its toll and despite forced positional changes due to injury, the CS XXXV showed their metal as CPO Rick Astley (RN) scored a diving try to make it 15:36.  At last, the CS XXXV fitness was starting to show with some good strong rugby epitomised by flanker Capt Leigh Woodhouse (AAC) and prop WO2 Trevor Howard (REME).  A very professional performance from the Legends but first-class pressure from CS XXXV saw the exhibition stuff stutter - after 65 minutes the Legends were now kicking out of defence.   With minutes on the clock, the Legends finally re-entered the CS XXXV half looking for a spirited finale for the entranced crowd.  However, from a scrum the ball was zipped along the CS XXXV back line and taken deep into the Yorkshire men’s 22 and from a resulting line out, Sgt Simon Hill (RAF) crashed over the line with a deserved try in the corner.  When the final whistle blew, both sides had given their all – score 20:36. But for some the best was yet to come. 

Thanking the Sponsors Serco and Mooretown with his renowned Yorkshire wit, John Bentley went on to make an emotional speech expressing his support for the Armed Forces “On behalf of everyone here and the nation we take our hats off to you Servicemen and families.  We cannot thank you enough for what you do for Queen and Country” – a round of applause followed.  “There were no losers today – only winners – especially Help for Heroes.”

Worthy opponents to John Bentleys Yorkshire Legends, this was a real first test for CX XXXV who gave a spirited performance and have been invited back next year by the Legends and Mooretown RFC.  Shaking hands on the deal, Mooretown club manager Debbie Sowrey and Serco representative Wayne Sharp, expressed their sincere thanks to both teams for a breathtaking spectacle and their support for Help for Heroes.  “This Charity match will now be an annual fixture for us” said Col Andy “the opportunity for CS XXXV players to raise their game against such quality opposition must not be denied”.  Adding to Col Andy’s sentiments, Chairman of CS and ARU Rugby Maj Gen Lamont Kirkland explains “CS rugby at all levels is a great advert for our Armed Forces – it exemplifies the fact that our servicemen and women can play representative rugby throughout their career.”

So Rugby for the Girls - see you next year at Moortown and then a night out in Leeds?

Sounds good Andy - see you there.