Bell’s heroics get RAF’s centenary off to a flyer

ROB Bell’s never-say-die effort epitomised the hosts’ spirit as they pulled off a famous victory to get their centenary off to a winning start at RAF Halton.

The former England junior international flanker was at the forefront of a huge performance from the home pack to frustrate the reigning inter-service champions.

Bell said: “Our game plan was to contain so they would become frustrated but that didn’t work as they scored two quick tries but we still hung on in there.

“The referee had a quiet word early on about me pushing the gain line and by the end, I was really struggling as Matthew Dwyer’s head caught me in the ribs but we strangled the life out of them.”

Army certainly made a lightning start with good ball retention creating a try for Ross Parkins before their opponents had touched the ball.

It got worse for the RAF when Chris Leathem, who was switched to centre when Fijian international, Ravai Fatiaki was injured in the warm-up, made an excellent break before inter-passing with Owain Davies for the best try of the game.

With William Simpson and Leathem forming a potent partnership, the always dangerous Army backs looked set for a comfortable victory but slowly but surely the RAF pack assumed control on a gluepot of a pitch.

Bell, Stu Philpott and Matt Brougham became increasingly influential and, aided by a yellow card for Ken Dowding for repeated team infringements, the hosts scored two tries through Sam Randle and Ross Macdougall to draw level at half-time.

Andy Byrne’s penalty then put them in front before Philpott’s try appeared to be a decisive score, but the introduction of Fijian forwards, Senitiki Nayalo and Sonoma Velkune, galvanised Army.

From a line-out 22 metres out, they combined for Velkune to score and set up a tense finish, but despite a host of exhausted bodies, RAF deservedly held on.

Army’s head coach, Andrew Sanger, said: “It was very physical but they played the conditions better and you won’t win a game with a 15-3 penalty count against you.”

It was left to the Women to save Army’s day with centre Louise Dodd scoring two second half tries for a 10-0 win to complete a remarkable turnaround after the hosts had dominated the first half.

With all their possession, RAF should have been out of sight at the interval but a combination of dreadful handling and poor tactics proved disastrous.