Page 81 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Football
3 RIFLES began the season with Ex MAPLE BUGLE, an overseas football tour to Toronto and Niagara, Canada. An overseas tour at the beginning of a season provides a fantastic foundation from which to build the con dence and ability of a team and therefore set them up for sporting success.
The team hit the ground running determined to match or even better the successes of the previous season. Expectation were high even though within pockets of the army there are still dedicated sports teams who are ring-fenced from military activity – this is not the case for the Ri emen in the football team but their commitment and passion matches the best.
The run to the semi- nal stage of the Army Challenge Cup witnessed the team travel far and wide around the country, taking some notable scalps on the way. Revenge against our old foes, 1 SCOTS who had defeated us in the competition the previous season only served to show how much the side had improved. Strong Corps teams also came and fell with victories over fancied RLC and Engineer units. We nally faced our nemesis, 1 YORKS for a place in the Army Final. Unfortu- nately it was not to be as 1 YORKS, a talented, dedicated and experienced side, once again proved too strong.
At Infantry level we have built up a strong footballing reputation and our biggest test this season was the face off against 2 RIFLES in Lisburn. After a nail biting and ercely contested game it nally fell to a penalty shoot-out with 3 RIFLES eventually winning. Both teams gave their all and should be congratulated for their efforts.
An Infantry Cup Final place now beckoned and we were the favourites to reach the nals however the Fusiliers did not follow the script. The semi- nal was played at the Tidworth oval in miserable conditions resulting in a see-saw game that again ended in another penalty shoot-out. Sadly our luck ran out and we were beaten. The Fusiliers gave a good account; however this was a game that was ours for the taking. Having recognised this, the team were rightly devastated but took heart in reaching two semi- nals – this is no mean feat.
The 2017/18 season now beckons and the team are poised for a tough competition. There are now some talented footballers in the battalion who have arrived from across the regiment as a result of the army re-orbat; they will add real value to the team. The aspiration is to conduct another overseas pre-season training camp in Malta in September 2017. Following the tour we are more determined than ever to take that step closer to reaching and winning a major nal. The 2016 / 2017 football season cemented 3 RIFLES as the Regimental Football Team.
Capt Paul Kelly, OIC Football
AFTER A NAIL BITING AND FIERCELY CONTESTED GAME IT FINALLY FELL TO A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT WITH 3 RIFLES EVENTUALLY WINNING
3 Ri es football team
THE RIFLES
THIRD BATTALION 79