RAF women kick off Inter Services with a dominant win over Royal Navy in Northampton

The Royal Air Force women have claimed the first victory of the Inter Service Championships with a commanding 7-36 victory over the Royal Navy at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. 

Having lost out on the Inter Service title to the British Army last year, the RAF arrived at Northampton looking to build themselves a comfortable position to challenge for the Inter Service title in 2026. 

The Royal Navy would have been seeking to prove that they have improved in the last year, but their opening minutes of the game saw the RAF handed a penalty kick, which Daisy Fahey made look easy to give the light blues an early 0-3 lead. 

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The Navy women put up valiant defensive work to hold off their RAF rivals in the first phases of the game, until Tyler Lewis went over the whitewash to score the first try for the light blues. 

That try was soon followed with another by Sinead Skillin, and with Fahey ticking off the conversions, the Navy were already being left behind as the RAF soared to a 0-17 lead after 20 minutes. 

RAF debutante Hannah McCabe collected Orla Proctor’s offload to finish off with a sprint to the try line, as the RAF continued to build a comfortable lead with 0-24 on the scoreboard at half time. 

As the players returned for the second half, the RAF looked motivated to continue their great run of form.

A great reaction from Kim Grundy to pick up a loose ball when the Navy least expected - running through an open defence to score the RAF’s fourth try of the game, with Fahey continuing to score the conversions. 

After a period of stalemate in the second half and with the clock closing down to full time, the Navy finally got on the scoreboard after a well-calculated try from substitute Philippa Griffiths.

With Holly Cole adding the extras, the Navy avoid walking away from this game with a clean sheet for the RAF. 

At the full-time whistle, the RAF celebrated a commanding 7-36 victory over the Royal Navy, positioning themselves well to potentially challenge for the overall Inter Service title when they face the British Army at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester. 

Vice-captain Daisy Fahey was named Player of the Match for her superb kicking game throughout.