Army (46) v RAF (0)
25 April 2007 - Aldershot

Army Women sprint to victory

Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson

The Army took the Inter Service Championship by the scruff of the neck when they demolished a brave RAF side by 46pts-nil at Aldershot. The RAF having already beaten the Royal Navy were looking for their first Championship but had not counted on the power of a rampaging Army pack where the ball carriers were queuing up to have a crash at the Light Blue defences.

This was another sensational result for an Army side that, this season, remains unbeaten. And, as they say, despite the apparent difficulties.

The long serving coach Gareth Ivory had left the Service and there were eight new caps to savour the cut and thrust of the Inter Services. Also Spr Jane Leonard was on England 'A' duty in the European Championships in Madrid.

Up stepped the reinforcements led to the white touchline by coach WO2 Deano Lewis and a new skipper Capt Kat Woods.

The Reds attacked from the very start. England international hooker Ann OFlynn set the tone crashing over for an unconverted try followed by Sarah Wilkinson, a dynamic lock who was to make her mark on the Army as well as most of the RAF pack.
Fly half Sarah Hudson

The most welcome return to fitness and form of Maj Jules Parke-Robinson showed how she won thirteen caps for Wales. She thundered off the back of tight and loose play to set up forward bases from where the mercurial Cpl Kerry Fitzpatrick launched the backs. Working in harmony with Cpl Sarah Roper, 2Lt 'Sonic' Homer was again in dazzling form. She is such a gifted sprinter that, given a sniff of space on the outside, she is almost impossible to stop.

There is a ferocious quality about this Army side in both attack and defence. 'Clearing -out' is regarded as an 'art form', tackling to put the opposition down to stay down is universal and running in support is quite endemic. It was this non-stop battering from players committed to the Red shirt that finally broke a spirited RAF team that has advanced in leaps and bounds in the past six seasons.

Tries were scored by Ann O'Flynn, Sarah Wilkinson (2), Jojo Joubert, Sonic Homer (2) Alvi Beanie and the veteran but no less inspired Sam Shepherd.

There were a number of contenders for 'Player of the Match' which on a fine balance went to Sarah Wilkinson. She scored two exceptional tries and was, according to coach Deano Lewis, "on fire throughout the match".

This is a reborn and very effective Army side . Under the leadership of skipper Kat Woods and coach Deano Lewis it remains unbeaten this season but there is the weighty matter of the Royal Navy at Kneller Hall on Saturday 5 May if this combination is to produce the Army's first ever clean sweep. Kick Off 10:30 am

Jules Parke-Robinson, Kat Woods and Lisa Joseph get it together