Army Shows Off Expansive Game In Cambridge University Rout

The Army's rugby union stars have kicked off their 2018 season with an 11-try, 73-10 rout over Cambridge University's students.

A visit to Grange Road has become the traditional start to the Army's season and for a group of players back together for their first match of the campaign, there was little to fault in a tremendous display.

It was the hosts, however, boasting no less than 11 blues in their starting line-up, who took the lead after a quarter of an hour.

A penalty from Cambridge's Jake Hennesey got them first on the scoreboard - but the lead didn't last long.

Within five minutes the Army's winger John Daventanivalu had scored twice, the first the result of sustained pressure on the Cambridge line. 

His second came after he got on the end of a precise, expansive pass from skipper James Dixon, in a move which suggested anything but a group of players in their first match for a while.

Lewis Bean added a third try for the Reds, with Dixon precise with the boot to put them 21-3 up, before Cambridge were rewarded for a sustained period of pressure with a try from Chris Bell, converted by Hennessy.

There was time for the Army to add two further tries. Their dominance in the forwards from a scrum led to hooker Pete Austin's first try.

There was then a brilliant fifth try on half-time, set up by the running of Chris Leatham. Stuart Cross eventually went over to give the Army a commanding 35-10 lead at the interval.

In the second half, the Army kept up the onslaught, scoring a further six tries without reply from the hosts.

First up was Edwards, who got on the end of a flowing cross-field move for the second of his hattrick of tries.

Pete Austin then dived over for his second, with Dixon converting to make it 47-10.

Up next was one of the best of the Army tries. The team showed incredible pace to go from defence to attack, with Austin and Owen Davies combining brilliantly.

Daventanivalu then provided the touch for Chris Leatham to score a beautiful try and take the Reds past the 50-point mark.

Edwards then completed his hat-trick before replacement scrum-half Sai Vunivesilevu scored, with a penalty try rounding things off on the final whistle.

There can be few better starts the Army have made to a season. LCpl Dixon said of his team's performance:

"The boys have worked hard over the last two days and from the word go they came out and showed what they can do."

With thanks to the Army Rugby Union for imagery.

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