Navy v Army: Senior Service teams make strong start in Inter Services rugby league
Both the British Army and Royal Navy women came into this year's Inter Services with a lot of new players, but the scoreline was a familiar one
Six tries from the Army, five of them converted, put them in the driving seat against a much improved and spirited Navy team.
Lou Kunadua showed immense strength and fantastic ball carrying skills to score two tries - she was ably assisted by the boots of Jade Tonks and a solitary, but very successful kick from Zelah Yuill.
Tonks also crossed the line with Rach Littleboy, Beth Wadeson and Akisi Yaravoli adding to the Army's try tally.
There were also two brilliant tries from the Senior Service - the first saw Holly Cole pick up a loose ball and sprint the entire length of the pitch to score.
The second was an all-team effort - Elona Bythell put the ball in play with a somewhat fortuitous kick, which was picked up by Libby Fox.
The ball was then recycled to Ellie Brightwell, who made a brilliant pass as she was being bundled off the pitch, and it was taken over the line by Rachel Marley.
A solid eight points from the home team but they couldn’t keep up with the intensity that the ladies in red always bring.
After her team’s dominant win, Army rugby league captain Sergeant Kat Williams said: “It’s hard fought every year, it really is.
"It’s a battle, but it’s one we’re too hungry for and we’re going to win every year.”
So, that’s another win for the defending champions, the Army and they face the RAF in Hull on Sunday 28 September.
In the men’s fixture, it was the grudge match to end all grudge matches.
So tight was the contest that it took half an hour before the first points were scored, and those came from the Royal Navy, fiercely defending their title on home soil.
Having prevented an Army try fifteen minutes earlier, Kini Dakuliga gave the Navy the edge with one out wide on the right wing.
The Army retaliated just before the interval with some brilliant interplay in the middle putting Pita Tamani over.
Mikey McDonald added the extras which put the visitors narrowly ahead 4-6 at half time.
The men in red threw everything they could at their dark blue opposition, but it was an even more determined senior service that came out for the second forty minutes.
Danny Dainty scored two in very similar fashion to stamp the Band of Brothers authority on the game and Dakuliga also racked up a brace of tries - Rhys Joel added two successful conversion kicks.
On paper, the final score was 20-10 but in reality, it seemed much closer - the Army made a late push for a comeback but the Navy were too far ahead.
LET Brodie Lee Butler, captain of Royal Navy rugby league, credited the Army team for their power on the pitch.
He said: “They had some massive boys today, I’m not going to lie. But our boys grounded out fantastic work. Half the job done."
The Royal Navy senior men will now regroup to face the RAF on Thursday 18 September in Wakefield.
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