USA Military Tour Diary: Game Day #2
USA Military Tour Diary: Game Day #2
Game 2 on the USA Military tour is about upon us.
The team had the most intense trainings in their first two days of the tour before a captain's run on Thursday, Nov. 7 and the game against the British Army on Nov. 8. That game was much, much more even than the 47-17 score indicates. Almost everyone agrees that KoiKoi Nelligan actually scored two tries in that game—one was called held up but the referee was unsighted when the try was scored. Everyone else at the Esher Rugby Club stadium was sighted.
One of the British Army's first-half tries probably should have been called back, and so a 40-24 score might have been fairer. Whatever the score, the USA Military players came out of it somewhat frustrated because they muffed some good possession and committed too many penalties.
At the same time, the takeaway was that this USA team brought the wood against the British Inter-Services champions.
Saturday was a recovery day capped by a trip to see what turned out to be a wildly entertaining England vs Australia test match. These tickets were profived as a gift from the Army Rugby Union and the players thoroughly enjoyed the day, staying in town for several hours.
Here's some members of the team walking back through RMA Sandhurst after a late night snack.
Sunday saw the Remembrance Day service at the RMA Sandhurst Chapel and then, finally, on Sunday afternoon, a good run-through. Head Coach Allen Clarke changed the lineup, making sure everyone would get a chance to play. However, that meant that some players who played on Friday would not dress for the game. That's a tough pill to swallow, and while illness (the cold has been running through the team) or injury softens the blow, a healthy scratch is never easy to accept.
Still, these players all paid their own way, are all good rugby players, and deserve some game time.
Monday was a captain's run at Aldershot, which is an Army sports center, but they let the RAF play with their toys and the RAF will be treating it as their home ground. We're told their new lighting system is pretty snazzy.
Confidence is high. Some like to spend time alone on game day to get their head right. Some are cracking jokes. Dacoda Worth and Cliff Davidson are goofballs. J'son Townes is the Sheriff doling out punishments (mostly, you have to carry the mascot) for various infractions—getting locked out of your room, mentioning your rank (very taboo in military rugby circles), having your phone go off during meetings.
It's been fun to see Collin Grosse, KoiKoi Nelligan, and Larry Williams back as teammates; they won the 2022 D1A for West Point, and the three are clearly good friends. We have found out that there are players with big-time resumes, but often it's the player who just nomads his way around the military who brings something special. The recruiting Mark Drown and his staff did was outstanding and they hit a home run on the tight five. No one knew on paper that Mickey Bressler was as strong as he was, or than Dan Gabrielli was so good. Brian "Butters" Bidder is easily the oldest player there. He retired as a Special Ops Boat operator, which is a crazy tough job, and also from rugby and felt a gap in his life.
Widely considered the nicest guy on the team, Butters also showed up in terrific shape for his 47 years, a solid block of granite. He earned a place on the bench against the British Army, brought huge hits, terrifying clearouts, and a good scrumming mindset only to dislocate his hip during the game.
The next day Butters was seen walking around (the bone had popped back in) on his own. "I don't think this is it," he told GRR. "But if it is, it was a pretty great way to go out."
We've hardly scratched the surface of these men. They are all examples of why we play, coach, officiate, watch, and love this sport. And they have one more game to play.
