Australia take home silverware following IDRC Challenge Cup victory over Zambia

The Australian Defence Force have won the Challenge Cup of the International Defence Rugby Competition with a commanding 39-15 victory over Zambia in Newbury. 

The Challenge Cup is contested between the teams who did not make it out of the pool stages and into the semi-finals of the IDRC. 

The Australians held the lead the whole way through the match, with a 19-10 advantage at the interval, and a hat-trick from captain Caitlyn Costello as one of the highlights. 

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Australia's other try-scorers included Esther Harm, Madeline Matthews, Sarah Riordan and Daisy Pickering. 

It was a disappointment for them to miss out on the semi-finals of the main competition, but success in the Challenge Cup means that they go home with silverware.

Zambia's try scorers included Natasha Musonda, Lushomo Liwena and Mariana Kasonka. 

In the Challenge Play Offs, Tonga came out ahead of the Vodafone LooseHeadz with a 19-10 victory. 

Tonga scored three tries in the first half, but the Vodafone LooseHeadz came back strong to score two in the second half. 

A win for Tonga, a team which has experienced many highs and lows in this year's IDRC, means that they get to finish their tournament on a high note.