What a cracking event! The new Bristol RFC Ashton Gate Stadium played host to the annual UK Armed Forces Remembrance rugby match on the 8th Nov and what a great night it turned out to be. Notwithstanding the trials and tribulations of battling through the traffic to get there, it was a match that had all the ingredients: occasion; location; atmosphere and even the result which saw the UKAF team romp home to victory winning an exciting match 42-26 after a great second half comeback against the Bristol Select team.
Dell EMC, as the headline sponsor of both men’s and women’s UKAF rugby for this season joined well over 300 others to some wonderful hospitality both before and after the match that started with a tremendous and poignant on-pitch act of Remembrance. The Royal British Legion of course were much to the fore and it was so fitting that a really sizeable crowd made the occasion extra special and a night to remember in every respect. Well done the teams both in Bristol and also the ladies in the Cardiff stadium in Wales for producing some top class and entertaining rugby. Full match reports can be found on the UKAFR website.
Well done too for the sponsor’s support including Dell EMC, VMWare, Fujitsu, Juniper and many others in order to help Team Ethos and UKAF Rugby deliver a fantastic event both on and off the pitch.
We look forward to a repeat performance in 2018 which will be an extra special occasion as we mark the 100 years of the end of WW1.
News coverage from Forces TV
Images courtesy of www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk
Tries from Dwyer, Mann, Bell, Nathaneal-Titchard, Leathem and Bean, all converted by Dixon resulted in a 42-26 victory to UKAF after being 21-7 behind at half time.
UKAF team: UKAF team: Sgt Titchard-Jones, LSgt Dwyer, LCpl Budgen, Musn Pascoe, Cpl Lewis*, L(AS) Matavesi*, Fg Offr Bell (Capt), Cpl Fairbrother, NA (AH) Moore*, Cpl Dixon, Cpl Mann*, Sig Fatiaki*, LSgt Hiscock*, Sig Davetanivalu*, LCpl Leathem, Fg Offr Philpott, Cpl Smith*, LCpl Hamilton*, Cpl Parkins*, Cpl Dawson, Cpl Evans*, Mne Huntley*, Bdr Davies
* = new cap
Man of match: Sig John Davetanivalu