Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Ruler’s volunteer football team tried hard to win against Anguilla’s National Team on Tuesday 17 June, but it was a doomed dream. The average age of the British team was considerably more than that of the Anguillian players and the final score, twelve to one to the home team, reflected the age difference.

The two teams side by side

Despite the crushing defeat both teams remained friendly and were happy to pose for a group photograph for The Anguillian.
“It was a good game,” Ellen Davis, Lines Lady for the match, said afterwards.

“I haven’t sprinted like that for a long time and trying to keep up with Number 11 was hard!” laughed Seaman Grade 1A, David Knight.

Francois, ‘Frank,’ Sornlouer, Laundryman on the RFA, who has been on the ship just three weeks, having joined in Grenada, had enjoyed a taxi ride around the island during his visit and pronounced it ‘lovely.’ Of the game he joked, “The match was good; they would have thrashed us if they’d played properly!”

Allan Carty, the Referee, commented, “It was a practice session for the Anguilla team.”

The teams battle

Guy St Hilaire, playing Left Back for the Anguillian team, said of the match, ‘It’s a fun thing. The guys enjoyed it and although it was not much competition, it was an exhibition match.”

Mali Allen was rightfully pleased with his performance, having scored four of the home team’s twelve goals.
Seaman Grade 1, (Deck Seaman) Frank Porter, one month into a four month deployment on RFA Wave Ruler and last in Anguilla on Wave Ruler’s sister ship, RFA Wave Knight, two years ago, said, “I enjoyed the game. It’s our first game so hopefully we’ll improve as the tour [of the Caribbean] goes on. Twenty years ago we would have given them a run for their money! It’s fun and it’s participating, getting out and meeting people and that’s what it’s all about.”

Tony Walker, Petty Officer (Deck) who runs the Seamen Grade 1 section on the flight deck of the ship, on his first visit to Anguilla, said of playing the Anguillian National Team, “It’s been different!” Commenting during the game he said, “A lot of us haven’t played together for a long time and I think the average age we have out there at the moment is in the mid forties, so I don’t think we are doing so badly really.”

Rollins Richardson, Sports Department Programme Officer, set up the game in response to a request from the Governor’s Office. “The Governor’s secretary called to arrange matches in cricket and football for the visitors from the ship, Wave Ruler. This is good practice for the National Team. “

The cricket, on Sunday 15 June, saw the RFA Wave Ruler team defeated by the Anguillian players. The score was 93 runs from 20 overs to the visitors and 93 runs from 8 overs to the local side, which then continued batting and eventually made 240 runs. “It was a party atmosphere!” said Rollins Richardson.

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