Odiham Eagles well back on track

Following changes to the theatre entry standards to 7 Squadron’s deployment to Op SHADER, RAF Odiham’s Force Protection Training Flight (FPTF) created and planned an Op SHADER predeployment training package (PDT).

After not being able to field or host a team post-Covid during the 20/21 season, 21/22 wasn’t looking likely to happen. However, after some hard work by the committee and gaining two more qualified coaches (Stuart Dinsdale and Nathan Mason) the RAF Odiham Eagles managed to increase from five club members training to over twenty regularly attending training.

We started our season off against the Bucks Broncos in October with a solid squad of 31 players. Captain for the game was Cpl Ben Green, who was playing his final game for the Eagles. The game started off very slow and the lack of training as a team showed, but at the start of the second half the Eagles looked like a different squad. The game finished 48-17, getting the season off to a flying start.

We finished 2021 off with the first two of four consecutive away games at Brize and Marham before travelling to Cosford and Coningsby in the new year, with Cpl James Bristow taking the club captaincy. The team showed huge commitment during these games, despite sometimes travelling with a bare fifteen. This was our mark on the season, and no one took a step back from putting their body on the line for the team. During this period, we also had a lot of eager new players ready to make their impact on the team. This was a massive turning point in the season with the energy they brought and adding some competition for the players already in the side.

After struggling to get teams to travel to Odiham, we eventually finished 21/22 with these return fixtures, in which the Odiham Eagles showed real strength. We also hosted the Harlequins Rugby team for a training session, giving the squad an experience of training with professional rugby players and the Harlequins an inside look at what we do at RAF Odiham.

The Eagles got the fantastic opportunity to train alongside Harlequins.

Fortunately, after not having a team in 20/21 we managed to secure our place in the plate final held at RAF Halton, a tough game against a strong Coningsby squad. The game was head-to-head the whole way through with multiple tries being scored by both teams. Odiham went into the second half ahead, but after a few lapses in discipline Coningsby managed to seal the win by two points following some great moves.

Not to be perturbed by this, the Eagles finished the season travelling to Tring RFC to compete in the RAF Binbrook Bomb 7s tournament. Captain and coach for the tournament was Cpl Dougie Ireland. We started the tournament off well with three out of four wins taking us into the Plate final. With some very good performances from SAC(T) Jack Sibeko and SAC Nicholas Davies, 3rd place was awarded to Odiham, with Brize Norton coming 2nd and Marham taking the top spot.

We as a club would like to congratulate a number of our players; • Cpl James Bristow, Cpl Dougie Ireland, Cpl Steph Lowther, SAC(T) Frank Diggins, SAC(T) Nathan Mason, SAC(T) Danny Bournes and SAC(T) Harry Fulbrook for their selections into the RAFRU Academy during the season; • Cpl Dougie Ireland, SAC(T) Nathan Mason and Cpl Tom Hutchinson on their selection for RAF Scotland; • Cpl Alex Stanley, Cpl Phil Waite, and SAC(T) Harvey Keene on their selection for the RAF Men’s Senior XV.

We would also specifically like to congratulate our forward coach Cpl Alex Stanley for being given the captaincy during the RAF Men’s Senior XV Inter-Services campaign. Not only has the station had success in the men’s game but also in the women’s, with Flt Lt Emma Tadman, Flt Lt Nicola Burger and Cpl Kathryn Robinson and Fg Off Sarah Bonar for representing the RAFWRU. Fg Off Bonar was also selected for the Scotland Women’s national team.

Nathan had some final words to summarise the season. As you can see the journey the Eagles have taken over the last season has been remarkable. Having gone from seeing five players at training to a Plate final and 3rd place at Binbrook, myself and the committee could not be prouder. We’ve had a turbulent season, but I would just like to thank the coaches, Rhys Ford (Photographer,) Lisa Lamberton and Dulcibel Atkinson (medics) and the players for the continuing effort to help push Odiham back where they belong, at the top!

Head coach Cpl Stuart Dinsdale remarked, “Overall, a fantastic season for an RAF Odiham team who have seen a flourish of new players, who my coaching team and I are looking forward to developing to push our upcoming season further than last and hopefully get a spot in the RAF Cup Final. I would like to thank both Stanners and Nath for their dedication and hard work this season and I am looking forward to working with them again next season. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome Fg Off Dave Manning to the coaching staff who will bring a vast amount of experience and knowledge to the coaching staff and development of the players.”

OIC of the Eagles Fg Off Ross Downs also had his say, “After a very turbulent season, which resulted in an effective closure of the Rugby Club, I am delighted to have been in a position to battle it out for some silverware this season. My thanks and appreciation go out to all the committee members, coaches, and players as well as all members of the CoC that have helped this season with the release of players. The hard work had clearly paid off with such a large representation at higher levels from the Odiham player base. This has been a strong springboard for us to launch into the upcoming season and come home with the RAF Cup once again”.