The Army Women overcame a valiant RAF Women’s side, and scored five tries in their 2023 inter-services match. Winger Courtney Pursglove led the Army from the front, with two outstanding tries. Pursglove also kicked enough daylight between the two services sides, for a memorable 36-8 win at Kingsholm Stadium.
Army Head Coach Sarah Mitchelson was delighted with Pursglove’s performance, and to see her side run out victorious over the Royal Air Force. Mitchelson discussed her initial reaction to the win, and how her side played to their strengths throughout the contest.
“Relief I think. There was quite a lot of pressure, we didn’t know what to expect, so it was a relief to see that our structure worked.
“The reaction was that we trusted our processes, we knew that they were going to score tries, and it’s what we were going to do about it that made the difference, and that definitely was. We fixed it, and once we knew that we could do that, we were absolutely flying with confidence.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from her. (Courtney Pursglove) That’s what I expected, that’s why she’s on the pitch, and she’s done her job.”
The RAF took an 8-0 lead within the first quarter of an hour, through Sarah Graham’s early penalty and Carys Williams-Morris’ try. This lead was short-lived, as momentum swayed in favour of the Army Women for the remainder of the contest.
Courtney Pursglove started the Army’s comeback, with an amazing run in from 30m out. This was followed up by RAF flanker Annie Forbes being sent to the sin bin for illegally halting a try-scoring effort. The Army immediately then capitalising on the extra player advantage, with hooker Rae Metters scoring after from close range.
Pursglove then grabbed her second try, which was a magnificent solo effort. Regathering a well-placed grubber kick, Pursglove exploded away at pace with the RAF trailing her run in to score, all the way out from the half way line. Another conversion from Pursglove built her tally, and the Army had doubled the RAF’s earlier lead, at 19-8.
The final action of the first half saw the Army score their fourth try. Short picks and drives were the order of operation, and once again provided success for the Army Women. Prop Sarah Batley dived over from close range, with the added flair of offloads in the build-up. Pursglove slotted the following kick, and the sides departed Kingsholm with the score-line at 26-8 to the Army.
Pursglove got the points scoring re-started for the second half, as she added a well taken penalty shortly after the re-start. This was the only points for the majority of the second 40 minutes, as the match broke down into a sparring contest, with neither side able to make a decisive breakthrough. That was until the 74th minute, when the Army made an unexpected breakaway against the run of play.
Replacement Prop India King ran onto a popped-up pass, and she spotted a gap in the back-peddling RAF defence. Langton could not be stopped on her way through to the line, and Pursglove extended the Army’s lead to 36-8, with another well-taken conversion.
The Army Women then held firm for the remainder of the contest, and now move forward to Twickenham Stadium with the showdown against the Royal Navy Women.
The RAF’s Inter-Services campaign is now over, after their victory over the Royal Navy at Plymouth Albion’s Brickfields Stadium. RAF Winger and Wales International Carys Williams-Morris discussed her side’s performance in a difficult match against the Army.
“It was frustrating at times, I think we started the game really well and put them under pressure, and then the momentum kind of swung, and we weren’t able to get that back. There’s a lesson for us to learn from that really, when we’ve got momentum and when we’re in their 22m, we need to be coming away with points.
“Playing on the wing outside of Orla (Proctor) and we call her ‘Flippy’, Rebecca De Filippo, I’m always going to get good ball, and ball in space. They beat defenders and they’re really exciting to play with, I enjoyed how much time I had on the ball, and as a back-line we can keep building together, and I hope in years to come we can keep building on that, and really build our cohesion as a back-line.
The Loughborough Lightning star recognised the importance of the fixture, and how it reflects the positive growth of women’s rugby within the services.
“I know that a lot of people have worked hard over years and years, it has built towards this. It’s not always been this occasion especially for the women’s teams. So the fact that, we’re getting people into the stadium before the men’s game, and there’s lots of people here to support us.”
“It’s a really good quality game, and both sides have got really good quality players. That is testament to all the hard work that has gone in over the past, and it’s only going to attract more players to join the service, and playing service rugby. So it’s really exciting, and it’s going to attract new faces as well.”
Elliot Brown Watches Player of the Match: Sally Bellhouse (Army)
ARMY WOMEN: 36
TRIES: 5 (Pursglove 17’, 28’, Metters 23’, Batley 40’, King 74’)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Pursglove 23’ 28’, 40’, 74’)
PENALTIES: 1 (Pursglove 45’)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
ARMY WOMEN’S LINE-UP
15. Louise Dodd 14. Courney Pursglove 13. Jade Mullen (C) 12. Amy Carr (McAuley 73’) 11. Charlotte Tweedle (Gilmour 63’) 10. Millie Williams (Komaitai 70’) 9. Charlie Morgan 1. Sarah Batley 2. Rae Metters (King 73’) 3. Natalie Lewis (Beacom 44’) 4. Colette Broome (Claassens 64’) 5. Heidi Silcox 6. Chantelle Miller (Brooks 44’) 7. Bethan Dainton (Willis 65’) 8. Sally Bellhouse
16. India King 17. Holly Beacom 18. Marriette Claassens 19. Lauren Brooks 20. Anneka Willis 21. Manuqalo Komaitai 22. Hannah Gilmour 23. Jess McAuley
RAF WOMEN: 8
TRIES: 1 (Williams-Morris 12’)
CONVERSIONS: 0
PENALTIES: 1 (Graham 5’)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Forbes 22’)
RED CARDS: 0
ROYAL AIR FORCE WOMENS LINE-UP:
15. Nicole Burger 14. Chelcey Greasley (Grundy 54’) 13. Orla Proctor (Lang 65’) 12. Rebecca DeFilippo 11. Carys Williams-Morris 10. Sarah Graham 9. Lucy Nye (C) 1. Elise Fletcher (Knott 44’) 2 (17). Amy Cokayne (Langton 60’) 3. Yasmin Suer (Willmore 44’) 4. Emma Tadman (Faulds 50’) 5. Dani Scarr 6. Annie Forbes 7. Charlie Murray (Piddlesden 35’) 8. Kat Robinson
16. Lou Langton 17. (24). Natalie Knott 18 (25). Daniker Willmore 19. Beckie Faulds 20. Rebecca Piddlesden 21. Jenna-Lea Hughes 22. Georgia Lang 23. Kim Grundy