British Army warm up for Inter Service rugby with thumping win over Irish Defence Force
The British Army warmed up for the Inter Services Championship with a thumping twelve-try win against the Irish Defence Force in Aldershot.
Imi Qorowale got things underway with a try after just a few minutes, setting the tone for the rampant Reds.
They doubled their account moments later. Fly half Jack Johnson and Solo Radianirova combined, and it was the fleet-footed fly half who dotted down for a second converted try.
The Army continued to impress during the opening stages of the match. The Irish could not cope with the pace of Qorowale and the former Newcastle Falcons man sprinted half the length of the pitch to claim his second converted try of the contest.
The one-way traffic was halted briefly as Luke Johnson put the Irishmen on the board with a penalty.
The respite from the rampaging Reds was only temporary. A surging Matt Dawson took his team within metres of the tryline. The ball was eventually recycled where eventually it was fed into the hands of Owain Davies to score.
The destructive Dawson who celebrated his 50th cap for Championship side Cambridge earlier in the campaign turned provider yet again, setting up Fijian sevens star Solo Radianirova for the Army's fifth try.
The free-scoring first half continued, this time at the other end,. Aaron James bundling his way over for the Irish from close range.
The Army backs meanwhile were back in the ascendency yet again as the opening 40 minutes came to a close. Levi Roper danced in for his first try of the match.
Hot on the heels of that effort was another long range run from Qorowale. The Army will hope he remains fit in the build-up to their showdown with the Royal Navy. The winger setting up another try for Welshman Davies.
The first half ended with another try that was launched deep in Army territory. It was a score that was all down to the flair and confidence of the hosts' back line with the ball passing through nine sets of hands.
Roper was hauled down yards short of the Irish line, but Mikey McDonald kept the ball alive and Radianirova darted in to help put the Army 54 points to 8 up at the break.
The points continued to flow in the second half. Roper claimed his second try, before the galloping Gareth Smith added his name to the scoresheet with a sprint to the line.
Plymouth Albion's Pita Ratukadreau was on hand to score the Army's 11th try – he caught the inch-perfect kick pass from Johnson to canter behind the posts for another five points.
Without question, the Army would have preferred a sterner test in their last pre-Inter Service encounter, but the plus points include players looking to attack from all parts of the park. Davies rounded off the try scoring with his hat-trick.
The Army can head to their Cyprus training camp in positive mood.
You can watch both the men's and women's Navy v RAF clashes LIVE with BFBS Sport – find out more here.
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