Page 172 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Rugby Tour the Bicester Retail Village look like, well a Tom Wood,

village. A trip to the outlet on the morning
Los Angeles of their Military Appreciation Day also Greg Ehlen and
Ray Eagan
saw a few bargains secured by most of the
players and Tom Wood replacing his entire
civilian wardrobe. After the spending spree
it was all business again and we conducted
By Major Jaimie O’Mara some training on Malibu Beach and an
impromptu dip in the ocean.
It’s been 11 years since the Corps team last crossed the Atlantic to play rugby Hollywood Boulevard
and the expectations and excitement were high when the team met up at

Heathrow for the long flight to Los Angeles International Airport. The Griffith Observatory is one of Los
Angeles most iconic landmarks perched
1,000 feet above the city. Following the
morning training session the majority of
the team climbed the south side of Mount
Hollywood in the midday sun to take in
the dramatic views in every direction: to
the north the iconic Hollywood sign atop

Mount Lee, to the East the Pacific Coast,
and to the south Downtown Los Angeles
and city blocks stretching all the way to
the horizon. This was followed by a visit to
Hollywood Boulevard to spot the stars on Dodger Stadium. Rich Windley,
the walk of fame. Jimmy Alldread, Jez Cramoysan,
Michael Johnson and Joe Peters
Universal Studios
The City of Los Angeles doesn’t boast
nearly as many green spaces as our British
cities and the Department of Recreation
and Parks strictly licence all the park use.
Nevertheless, we’d come to regard a patch

of baseball outfield in the district of Lennox
as our own training venue. The fact that
it was in an area with a 1 in 24 chance of
visitors being victims of violent crime may

have put the park authorities off interfering
in what must of looked like two teams in
red and blue gang colours practicing a
strange and violent looking sport. After

training our last official excursion was

Squad Photo to Universal Studios. This was a great
opportunity to unwind and take in all the
Hollywood themed attractions and rides.
Opportunity A 100% kicking performance from Jez Cramoysan, the ever All that remained now was a final team

willing ball carrying of Sam Richardson, and some brave training run before we took on our last
Like many of the Corps representative sports teams, the tackling from centres Aseri Biutanaseva and Chad Ward opponents. Training in
rugby team don’t have as many opportunities to train kept the score line respectable. Lennox
together and develop team patterns as we would like Santa Monica Dolphins
and an overseas tour gives us a fantastic opportunity to Recovery Time
get some quality training time, to trial new players in a The most capped lock forward in Scottish
competitive environment and to develop team cohesion The squad needed a little time to recover after a bruising Rugby and former British and Irish Lion
amongst the established Corps players. rugby encounter and some very generous American Scott Murray has a further little known
hospitality. The Sunday saw a break from training and a claim to fame: he was once tour organiser,
Car City trip to see a genuine slice of Americana, the Los Angeles Tom Wood’s team mate at Bedford and
Dodgers versus the Cincinatti Reds at Dodger Stadium. current coach of Santa Monica Dolphins

London is eight hours ahead of Los Angeles which meant Following the rest day the squad returned to training in who were to be our final opponents.

our first travel day was 36 hours long. It was a tired team order to put into practice the lessons learned from our first The Dolphins were another Southern
that checked into our accommodations for the week. encounter with American Rugby and also to counteract California Division One team and we knew
the free nachos and Bud Light provided as part of Belmont that we would be in for a tough contest.
Belmont Shore Rugby Club Shore’s sponsorship by Panama Joe’s Grill and Cantina. A physical American team coached by a
This was followed by an afternoon excursion to the Santa former Lion would be a real challenge.
Our first match was against the reigning Southern Monica shore which was to establish itself as a firm However, a week of training together and

California Division One Champions, Belmont Shore. They favourite destination. a fierce determination to finish the tour

were a strong outfit with plenty of Pacific Island muscle with a win were to pay off. Tries from Sam

and some quick footed ex gridiron players. Whilst we Malibu Beach Rugby Richardson, Joe Peters, Luke Weatherstone
held our own, and at times dominated the set piece, the Steve Sawden and Jez Cramoysan saw us
power and athleticism of the American players in open The following day allowed for a little retail therapy at triumph 28-24.
play proved decisive with Belmont Shore triumphing 47-31. Camarillo Shopping Outlet on Ventura Boulevard. It makes
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