RAF overcome strong Navy side as Greasley scores hat-trick at Inter Services opener
The Royal Air Force women's team have beaten a strong Royal Navy side in a wet and muddy opening game of the Rugby Union Inter Services.
With a stunning hat-trick by Chelcey Greasley, the light blues came away with a 10-17 win over the Navy despite being without their international stars, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bonar and Carys Williams-Morris, who are absent from the Inter Services after being called up for the Women's Six Nations.
The Navy counted a converted try by Rowann Sinclaire after the dark blues put up an impressive challenge to take a 10-5 lead at half-time.
The Navy got off to a disastrous start after the RAF got their first try within the first minute, with Chelcey Greasley promptly making it over the line to give the RAF an early 0-5 lead.
The Navy began doing damage control, fighting the RAF all the way to their try line, and they were awarded a penalty to which Chloe Sopp successfully converts to give the Navy 3 points on the scoreboard.
RAF captain Lucy Nye was shown the yellow card and sent off the pitch momentarily and the Navy could see an opportunity to capitalise on the RAF being temporarily a player down.
After several missed opportunities, the Navy got their first try in the nick of time, with Rowann Sinclaire getting the job done amidst strong RAF opposition.
The Navy try was successfully converted by Chloe Sopp to give the Navy a 10-5 lead at half-time.
In the second half the RAF began to take control of the game putting up strong defences against the Navy.
It didn't take long for the RAF to show their metal as Chelcey Greasley sprinted across to the try line to score her second try.
The Navy began to fight back, but as tricky weather conditions began to dictate the game, getting a hold of the wet and slippery ball proved to be a challenge and the dark blues will have rued some missed opportunities.
The RAF capitalised on some Navy struggles, and it was Charlie Murray who executed a perfect pass to Chelcey Greasley to send her sprinting to the try line, dotting down her third try of the day to complete her hat-trick.
At the full-time whistle, the RAF took the first win over the Navy 17-10 to put them in the lead of the women's Inter Services before they face the Army on 15 April.
A team that continues to improve, the Navy will be happy to have put up a strong challenge against the light blues and take the lead at half-time.
With Chelcey Greasley scoring a hat-trick, it was the RAF's Charlie Murray who took home the Elliot Brown Player of the Match award.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
