Royal Navy under-23s fight back to edge out Army in second Inter Service clash
The Royal Navy under-23s have narrowly beaten the British Army by 16-14 in the second clash of the Inter Service Under-23s Championships in Portsmouth.
A try-less first half saw the Senior Service lead by only three points come half time after a penalty conversion by fly-half George Edson.
The tries came in the second half with the Navy scoring first after tighthead prop Jack Deveraux forced his way over the whitewash, with Edson adding the conversion for the full seven points.
The Army then staged a comeback with two tries apiece from Woody Facey and Rowynn Turner, with Mo Waqanidrola adding the conversions.
But it was the Navy's kicking game that made the difference, with two more penalty kicks in the second half, each taken by Edson, that edged the Senior Service ahead of the Army come full-time.
Following their difficult 42-14 defeat to the Royal Air Force in Stourbridge last week, the defending champions end their Inter Service campaign on a high note, although their hopes of retaining their title are slim thanks to the RAF's commanding victory in the opening match.
Senior player and Fijian international Sam Matavesi is assisting the Navy under-23s as the forwards coach alongside fellow senior players Edd Pascoe, Sam Benzie and Jay Toogood.
Speaking to BFBS Sport, he said: "I think the fightback they showed today after losing to the RAF last week, I thought the intensity of this game of absolutely outstanding, so I think they deserve everything that they got tonight and hopefully that can use this towards next year and build on it.
"The biggest thing for us is just getting players to train and getting them off work to train. Sometimes we've had nine players, twelve, and as the camp progresses you get a few more.
"But if we can get a core of players from week one, then we should be at this level every year."
The Army will take on the RAF in the final match of the Inter Service Championships at Cardiff Arms Park on 5 December.
Find out more on how you can follow the action live here.
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