With both sides securing good wins against the RAF the opening match of the day was effectively winner takes all as the RN Academy faced off against their Army counterparts. Although nothing on the scoreboard for the first 15 minutes there was no lack of commitment from the two teams. The deadlock was broken by the RN as left centre Stan Spence rounded of a great RN move out on the left, no conversion so it remained 4:0. A couple of minutes after the restart the Army levelled things up scoring an unconverted try on their right wing. A short break in the scoring with some more physical rugby before the RN regained the lead. The Fijian right-wing combo of Roko Kurusasa and Jerry Fifita took on the Army defence on the fringes, Roko making the break before flicking the pass out to Fifita who was strong enough to get past the defence for the score. An excellent conversion by Callum Cone increased the RN’s lead to 10:4. As the clock ran down toward half time another score by for the RN rounded off an excellent first 40 for the Academy Brothers. 2nd Row Josh Morrison touched down and with another conversion the RNRL were now 16:4 ahead going to the sheds.

The RN lead was increased early into the second half, a great attack in midfield built by the Brothers pack, Prop Stoppard held up the Army defence before slipping the crucial pass to Ben Conner who was not to be stopped going over to the right of the posts, a straight forward conversion for Cone put his side comfortably ahead 22:4. Never going to be written off the Army enjoyed their best spell of the game going into the final quarter. A great finish by winger Loti sparked the comeback and with two further tries and one conversion either side of a 2nd for Jerry Fifita and it was game on into the closing stages at 26:18. This was as good as it got for the Army though, after being provider earlier Jonny Stoppard got his own score in typical fashion crashing over by the posts, another Cone conversion and it was 32:18. The final score rounding off a fantastic series for the Academy went to full back Carl Greaves who crossed the line to make the final score 36:18.
This result gave the Academy Brothers their 4th IS title in the five years since Covid and a first for Head Coach B Buinimasi and skipper Alfie Mitchell. Man Of The Match was RN No 6 Ben Conner with Alfie Michell being presented with the RN v Army Academy Trophy by RNRL President Cdre Ban Haskins CBE. Matt Holland accepted the overall Academy IS Winners Trophy on behalf of his teammates in what was his last RNRL match!

Academy RN: Carl Greaves, Harry Vorweg, Tu Roko Kurusasa, Stan Spence, Jerry Fifita, Ben Conner, Callum Cone, Alfie Hutchinson, Alfie Mitchell (C), Jonny Stoppard, Josh Morrison, Pete McMahon, Ollie Bale. Subs (all used) Matt Holland, Charlie Newcombe, Alex Asherton, Callum Crozier, Paul Ritch, Fuata Marcus, Mason Chandler