Pattaya Panthers Rugby Club defeated Thai Navy’s 3rd team by 34 to 27 points (approximately) in a friendly match played on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Chumphon Navy School. The game was played in the truest sense of a friendly with many of the formalities discarded. Keeping track of scores and scorers, lines and pitch markings, flags (ironically) and other bits and pieces was deemed a hassle. The reporter for the game was too busy in the second row of the scrum and making forward tackles to take notes during the game.
An 11:00 a.m. kick-off ensured everyone was warmed up, and lunch would taste good. A sensible referee agreed to four 20-minute quarters. The Panthers had the better of the first quarter with captain AD leading by example with the first try and conversion of the game. Thai Navy tried using their youth (on average 10 years younger) and agility (on average 10kgs lighter) to move the ball around but experience paid off for the Pattaya outfit with another breathtaking try starting from a series of rucks then a nifty run by hooker Paddy to score below the posts. Another conversion signaled the Panthers presence.
Pattaya Panthers fire a broadside at the Thai Navy scrum.
In the second quarter the Thai Navy had the wind in their sails, scoring three quick unanswered tries and one conversion. The Panthers listed but were not sunk. The choppy quarter came to an end with Panthers making waves of their own with some hard tackling and controlled play and Coach Stout came down from the bridge to battle with the brethren. Winded but not down the Panthers’ players pulled into port.
Half time gave both teams time to repair the damage done by the initial encounter. Thai Navy had reinforcements, but the Panthers had only one crew.
Steering the Panthers back into an early third quarter lead via some solid anchoring, the forward pack had found the recuperative powers of cold water during the break. The Thai team, much more accustomed to warm water, could not handle the onslaught even when the ball was in open play and Panthers’ third and fourth tries came from the back courtesy of Spike and Scott. Thai Navy did show they were not completely in knots with another try of their own.
It takes a whole squadron of Navy players to pull down a rampaging Panther.
The fourth quarter was where the old sea dogs showed their command. With big Phil wheeling the scrum and steering the attack, Panthers kept the ball as booty and scored two unanswered tries. The jungle nature of the Panthers came to show with two opportunities being grounded over the dead ball line. Chris and Maxine got DOD (opposite of Man of the Match) for their wayward grounding. P’Mann of Thai Navy got MOM for his sterling play. The Thai Navy did make a rescue attempt with another try, but following the Panthers’ wake was not a good idea for they too grounded the ball beyond the boundary.
Overall it was a great game and family outing. The comradery shown was one of pure sportsmanship and socializing on the beach afterward was worth trading shots. The game was the first 15’s game played by the Panthers in more than a year. Thank you, Thai Navy. Who knows, Panthers may sail down again to tackle the Thai Navy 2nd team.
Panthers next confirmed 15’s game is on 1st November against a touring Tokyo team at Horseshoe Point. For more information about rugby in Pattaya, check out the Pattaya Panthers club Facebook page.
