Page 46 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

THE TOM SEPHTON MEMORIAL TROPHY 2015
The Tom Sephton Trophy took place on 27 June at Crosfields AmateurRugby League Football Club (ARLFC) and commemorated the death of local soldier Tom Sephton.
Since he was killed in action, 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment and 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment have played a rugby league fixture every year in his memory. Private Sephton was killed during Operation HERRICK 12 whilst serving with C Company, 1 MERCIAN.
Ahead of the fixture, the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment had two weeks off to prepare a team and boasted a team which contained six army capped players and nine infantry capped. The 1 MERCIAN squad contained one army player in Lieutenant Stewart and three infantry players, Corporal Ross, Lance Corporal Lander and Private Gulliver. Eight of the team had never played rugby league before.
The final score on the day ended 12-42 in favour of 1 LANCS. The competition next year will take place on Saturday 25 June.
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1 MERCIAN WIN GHELUVELT CUP
The 1 MERCIAN Rugby Union side emphatically beat 104 Regiment Royal Artillery, 35 points to 12 in April to win the inaugural Gheluvelt Cup. It took place at Sixways Stadium, the home of professional Union side the Worcester Warriors.
The first half was particularly hard fought, with both sides capitalising on good build up play to trade scores. However, the 1 MERCIAN side showed its class in the second half, pulling away for a convincing win. It provided the perfect end to a brilliant first season for the side.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE