Page 55 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017

The Lerwill Cup – 4th May 2017 Lt Col Stephen Bennett
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SINCE 1998, THERE HAS been an annual inter-collegiate rugby union match between ACSC and its equivalent course at the Ecole De
Guerre. The victors of the match, played alternately at Shrivenham and Paris, become custodians of the trophy, named after its donor,
Lt Col Tim Lerwill. This year, the French team were invited to Shrivenham to play ACSC who were defending the trophy.
Pre-match, an impressive performance by the Royal Engineers Band and the Defence Academy Military Wives Choir roused the crowd and players with the National Anthems. The match ball was delivered in style by a Puma helicopter, marking the start of a hard fought match. The French were keen to impose physically, making excellent early use of their US, British and Australian exchange of cers. However, after a very brief hiatus, the ACSC team quickly got into their stride and following several particularly
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impressive moves from the agile and swift Cdr Jez Ussher, ACSC were 20-0 up at half-time.
At the start of the second half, French pressure was incessant. Despite another ne try and conversion by the ACSC team, the French matched this effort with an impressive drive across the line in the 65th minute that saw the last points added to the board. In a tight nal 15 minutes, France threatened recovery but resolute defence by the ACSC team, helped by many fresh legs, held the attack at bay. The nal score of 27-7 re ected a hard fought game and the ACSC’s careful preparation over the season paid dividends on the day.
The trophy was presented by the Director General
Joint Force Development, Vice Admiral Duncan Potts, accompanied by Mr Rick Evans of Airbus, the event sponsors without whom the game would not have been possible. Well deserved man of the match awards were later presented to Lt Col Dave Glendenning (ACSC) and Lt Col Olivier Bauer (France) at the Lerwill Cup dinner for their sterling efforts for each side. All in all a terri c effort by all concerned resulted in ACSC retaining the Lerwill Cup for another year.
The match ball
was delivered in style by a Puma
helicopter...
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