Royal Navy rugby league team beat GB Teachers to retain Ian Molyneux plate

The Royal Navy men's rugby league team have beaten the GB Teachers in Leeds to retain the Ian Molyneux trophy.

Darren Bamford's team came from behind to win 26-4 and make it four straight wins in this fixture for the Navy.

The silverware is named after Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, who tragically died onboard HMS Astute in 2011 when responding to a firearms incident.

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On a sun-filled afternoon in Leeds, it was the Teachers who took the lead when Jonny Storton finished off a sweeping move for an unconverted try.

The Navy had to find some grit and came from behind to win for the second time in 2025 starting with Bamford's well-taken try on the wing.

Harry Vorweg's score before half-time was key as he wriggled away from defensive challenges to dot the ball down and make it 8-4 to the Navy at the break.

They started the second half in the same manner that they ended the first as Regan Hargreaves was next to crash over the try line, and this time Bamford added the extras with the boot.

It was all Navy from there with the Band of Brothers taking advantage of the momentum to add two more converted tries.

Jack Ray scored before Rocky Barnett, who is a newcomer to the Navy team, celebrated his first try for his service after muscling through the line of defence and the Navy had reclaimed their trophy.

It's hoped that this fixture will reemerge as an annual clash after a break over the last few years, while the GB Teachers will face more military opponents in this summer's President's Cup which features the UK Armed Forces team.