Joey Sugden latched on to a James Tilley pass to win the tie for his side in Golden Point extra time to secure a place in Tuesday’s 3rd Round Draw at the end of a thrilling encounter.
For the purists it may not have been the best match technically with both sides making unforced errors at crucial times but nonetheless a great match highlighting Services Rugby League to a huge TV audience both to AF Personnel overseas via BFBS and for the first time online via TheSportsman.com YouTube channel.

A strong breeze blowing down the field was the only real weather-related issue with the pitch being in excellent condition for the contest. The Army kicked off playing into the wind for the first half and battle commenced. Both sides had their opportunities in the first quarter but for 20 minutes or so it remained deadlocked at 0:0. This changed after 23 minutes, the visitors closed on the Army line and swung the ball out to their right however Army winger Sugvanua snatched the interception and won the 80 metre footrace to the line registering the first points of the match, fair play to the RN defence which although unable to prevent the try kept the winger out wide making the conversion a tough one, 4:0. Despite a lot of effort from the RN the last crucial play eluded them and it was the Army who scored next. Declan Baines took the ball in his own half weaving through the RN midfield before passing to Kev Brown who scurried over to the left of the posts doubling his sides lead as halftime approached, 8:0. It could have been worse for the Brothers had it not been for a try saving tackle from full back and Vice Captain Sean Houghton who judged his tackle on Sugvanua to perfection taking the winger into touch to prevent what looked odds on to be another score. Referee Lynn brought the half to a close with the Army 8 points to the good. The RN however still had a chance, the front row of Griffiths, Tilley and Parry outstanding ably supported by replacements Johnson and Butler as the half went on.

So, the second half began with the Army, wind at their backs looking to consolidate their lead and the RN determined to get back on terms. Those hopes seemed dashed after 8 minutes of play when the Army were awarded a penalty under the posts for an offside close to the line, this time Hoyle made no mistake to extend his sides lead to 10:00. Undeterred the Navy continued to press for the score, James Tilley seemingly at the heart of everything whilst the pack continued to go toe to toe with the big soldiers pack and coming off best on many occasions. The game rolled into the last quarter and the Navy had two chances to register points, the first a lost ball on the last pass after 58 minutes and the second a couple of minutes later when the ref judged the RN to have been held up over the line. Just rewards came though as the game went into the last 10 minutes, the Brothers forced a drop out under the posts and from the attacking play the ball went out to the left, 2nd Row Nathan Lee pushing for the line but held up, James Tilley at Dummy half took the play the ball and flicked a beauty to his left into the arms of Gav Duffy who beat the Army cover to record his sides first points. The conversion was missed but it was game on, could the visitors do the unthinkable and square the game with the clock running down, an emphatic yes was the answer. 3 minutes after the Duffy try a similar move found the Brothers close on the far left, Tilley once again with the last pass bringing Jonny Griffiths into the move and in a bit of space he was not going to stopped, crashing over to the left of the posts, 10:8! The crucial conversion attempt fell to newcomer Rhys Joel who looked to be the calmest man in the stadium, the replacement back took his time and slotted the kick over to tie things up 10:10. In all the excitement of the score a bit of a scuffle broke out resulting in a player from each side getting a yellow card which saw them off for the rest of normal time but what about Golden point extra time? We nearly did not get that far, Callum Cone tried to win the match with a one pointer but the ball, although heading between the sticks, held up in the wind and did not cross. So into golden point we went, this was thrilling stuff, the Navy contingent in the large crowd were now in full voice with the Army fans wondering how it got to this stage!

On balance the RN had the better of the first period of extra time and it was in the closing seconds of the half when the Brothers took the game from under the Army’s nose. Tilley again got the move going 15 metres out, handing on to Nathan Lee who made good yards to the line before being held up, the ball went out to the RN right finding 2nd Row James Teixeira who hit a great line diagonally towards the posts, somehow the Army scrambled to hold him up just short. 1st receiver, who else but Tilley, was given an opening when an Army defender shot out of the line anticipating the drop goal attempt, instead Tilley, with Army defenders around his legs calmly looked up and slipped the killer pass to Joey Sugden who crossed to score and give his side a remarkable victory after being behind for so much of the match.

The resulting scenes were as you would expect two massively opposing emotions, the Army totally despondent whilst the Royal Navy were exultant after winning what to all intents and purposes is a local derby albeit the first time in the challenge Cup.

It was a physically tough encounter as you would expect and all credit to the navy pitch side crew, Clare Bennett managing the injuries assisted by Luke Warrington, Silivenusi Buinamasi, Wata Robanakavadu and Mark Robinson on trainers’ duties and of course Jase Steele and Dave Garner in the dugout as well.
Congratulations to all involved especially Head Coach Steve Lockton masterminding the win. The Man of the match award went to RN Prop Jonny Griffiths, mighty performance throughout.

Royal Navy: Sean Houghton (V.Capt), Gavin Duffy, Joey Sugden, Jack Bartlett, Kini Dakuliga, Darren Bamford, Callum Cone, Jonny Griffith, James Tilley, James Parry, James Teixera, Nathan Lee, Ben Taylor (Capt) Rhys Joel, Danny Johnson, Brodie Lee Butler Matty Gaskell
Scorers: T: Duffy, Griffiths, Sugden
G: Joel (Conv)

Army: Jake Boardman, Kaji Suguvanua, Mickey Hoyle, Pete Holmes, Veresi Koroi, Kev Brown, Declan Baines, Ryan Watkin, Matty Scott, Dan Pickles, Olly Toms, Calvin Harling, Jordan Kerman (Capt), Ose Tamani, Liam Lindsey, Koto Balavu, Matt Welsh

Scorers: T: Suguvanua, Brown
G: Hoyle (Pen)

Full Match footage can be viewed on The Sportsman.com Rugby League YouTube channel
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAIqOTx9J2U&t=4785s

Highlights footage also available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UO4uXpXSgU&t=15s

The 3rd and 4th round draws will be made on Tuesday evening when we will find out our next opponents

So to paraphrase Julius Caesar ‘They Came, They Saw, They Conquered’