38
NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1993
Sport
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THE SPIRIT IS WILLING - SO LET BATTLE COMMENCE
WE HATE defeats — particularly at Twickenham — and have to put all our efforts into learning from those losses against the Army and RAF at the end of last season, writes the Leprechaun.
Compliments to the Sheff
A VERY successful season has been enjoyed by HMS Sheffield's 1st XI, culminating in a 2-1 victory over HMS Newcastle in the final of the Midi Ships Cup. Another h i g h l i g h t for the squad was playing host to the Sheffield United team in the Petty Officers Mess. The Blades were down in Plymouth for pre-scason training at HMS Raleigh. For their visit to HMS Sheffield, they were hosted by POMEM(M) Mason, 1st XI coach and PO's Mess President.
The ship and the city work had to maintain their strong links. Pictured are PO Mason, RO Needham and LPT Williams with Sheffield striker Brian Deane — who has since signed for Leeds United for £2.7m — and Blades m a n a g e r Dave Bassett.
CRICKET SEASON CAPPED FOUR newly capped members of the Royal Navy Under 25 cricket team stand with their captain (centre), LCpl John Baker. From left they are Mne Sean Needham, Mne Andy Croft, AEM John Mann and Ck Mark Toogood. Picture Lieut.-Ctlr. Jim Dmks
Navy rugby therefore sets put with enthusiasm and optimism for the long haul to a run of success t h i s season, a n d although the Navy may be the smallest in numbers, its heart and skills are the biggest — the support at Twickenham for the A r m y / N a v y match (12.000 spectators) was in a ratio of 4:1 in our favour. Thank you to all who attended for the tremendous loyalty. In retrospect, however, the 92/93 season was disappointing for the RN representative side, with only two wins and a draw in 11 outings after Christmas. Capt. Leigh Merrick, the immediate past Selector, would obviously have hoped for better results in his final season. Now Russia-bound, he has handed over to Cdr. Jeff Blackett, who gathered potential Navy players at Yeovil last month to begin the selection process for the new season. Jeff has promised to give the Leprechaun his early thoughts, views and aims for the season in the next Navy News. Leprechaun feels some mention should be made of the back room boys at the start of the season. All, need it be said, give up bags of spare time, usually at considerable personal financial cost, and are tireless in continuously striving for success off the field in rais-
ing both funds and the profile of Navy rugby inside and outside the RN. None more so than the chairman of the RNRU, Capt. Tony Hallett, whom most involved with rugby will be aware is a tour de force not only in Navy rugby, but also at club and national level. (He is only in charge of b u i l d i n g the new stands at Twickenham!)
Formidable Under his three years' tenure at the helm he has gathered around him a formidable team of executives, who run the playing, coaching, rcfereeing and marketing — and the Leprechaun! They command the strongest management team in the Services and rival many of their Constituent Body counterparts on the RFU for their organisation throughout the game, the prize of a Youth Development Officer and the great advantage of being supported by secure finance and sponsorship. Greater mention of sponsorship is appropriate as few sports today manage total success without it and we, in Navy rugby, are no different. Co-ordination of this important task is deftly handled and monitored by Cdre. Doug Lewis. Throughout the 92/93 season our playing kit sponsor re-
mained Admiral Sports, and it was heartening — during a recession — to be able to continue to rely on our commercial friends in Lambs Navy Rum (Navy Knock Out Cup), Courage International (Inter Ship competitions), Ginsters Pasties (Devonport f i x t u r e s ) , I B M Merlin Project (Portsmouth fixtures) and Willis Corroon AFFAS (Army/Navy match). Cdre. Lewis recently phoned Leprechaun to pass on the excellent news that all our backers have already signed up for 93/ 94 with the bonus that Willis Corroon AFFAS will also sponsor the Navy/RAF match. Perennial financial support is also very important and for the RNRU this comes from the Sports Control Board and the Navy Sports Lottery, where disbursements to Navy rugby are channelled through DNPTS. In rounding off this start of the season column it would be very remiss not to pay tribute to our outgoing President, Admiral Sir Michael Livesay, who has retired from the RN to settle in Scotland. There, his passion for golf, hunting, shooting and fishing — fine tuned d u r i n g his a p p o i n t m e n t as FOSNI (89-91) — will undoubtedly be rekindled on a more permanent basis. Throughout his eight years' very active stewardship of the RNRU he remained a man of the people — the players. His attendance in the dressing room at just the right moment to provide some words in kindred spirit and his Australian tour will live in the memories of all those lucky enough to know him as Boss. All players past and present with whom he worked and, indeed, all who love Navy rugby, wish him and Lady Livesay a long, healthy and very happy retirement north of the border, where we hope their enthusiasm does not completely infiltrate the Scots Blood.
Encapsulate
ROBISON AIMS FOR C'WEALTH GAMES
LIEUT.-Cdr. Chris Robison landed his second national athletics title by winning the Scottish 5,000m event at Grangemouth. (Just a fortnight earlier he had run to victory in the national 10k road race championship at Alexandria). In an exciting tactical race, Chris pulled away from some of Scotland's top distance runners with a decisive final burst. His winning time of 14 minutes 14.1 seconds was more than r e s p e c t a b l e given the b l u s t e r y conditions. Currently serving with 819 Naval Air Squad-
ron at Prestwick, Chris has now set his sights on selection for next summer's Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. His outstanding athletic achievements for the Royal Navy have already brought him both Combined Services and International recognition. Picture: LA(Phot) Karl Webb
The affection for Sally Livesay was best summed up by the Chairman when he said: "We all love her and no voice could ever encapsulate the spirit of the Navy at Twickenham more than hers." The new President of the RNRU is Rear-Admiral Mike Gretton, who, the Leprechaun hears, played a little with Hallett, Tuffley and Milnes; he therefore knows when to pass and is already all about on the game plan. He is a winner — which is what we intend to be in the forthcoming campaign. Finally, the new season beckons but there is one vital ingredient that can make all the difference at any match and that is SUPPORT. So be there when any of the dark blue teams play at their many venues during the season. 0 Dates for the diary up to Christmas: October 6 RN v Havant at Burnaby Road (kickoff 1800); November 24 RN v Hampshire at Burnaby Road (ko 1800).