ROYAL NAVY 22
YORK ACORN 8
Dave Parkinson, United Services Ground, Burnaby Road, Saturday 12th February

THE ROYAL NAVY are now in uncharted waters following a sparkling last twenty minutes that saw them sink the BetFred Challenge Cup hopes of York Acorn and send the National Conference League Premier side out of the competition.
Up until that point, Acorn had fought back to trail by just four points and had applied a heap of pressure, but with James Tilley once more stepping up, some fantastic defence, and two tries in the last nine minutes, Royal Navy won through to Round Four for the first time in their history.
Early on, Navy had the better of play and were rewarded when dual-code scrum-half Callum Cone dabbed a kick to the in-goal which bobbled up from a defenders boot straight to the arms of James Texiera, who dotted down under the posts. Former London Broncos Academy skipper Rhys Joel added the goal and the hosts were 6-0 to the good.
Things went from bad to worse for York Acorn when loose forward Thomas Holder was sinbinned for use of knees in the 14th minute, but good tackling held the Navy at bay.
Just as Holder returned, a flowing move left, involving the Acorn spine of Lewis Brown, Anthony Chilton, and Matt Chilton was finished well by Jordan Potter who claimed his 3rd try of the season. It proved too far out for Anthony Chilton to goal despite the advantage of the breeze, and it was 6-4.
UK Armed Forces representative Danny Johnson entered the game just before the half-hour and his forceful running paved the way for an excellent finish under the posts for Royal Navy, casting aside two defenders before beating fullback Chilton. Joel converted and it was 12-4 to the Services side at half-time.

It was a positive start to the new half with York Acorn asking questions and probing on the right, but when Matty Gaskell intercepted and ran over halfway, a try looked inevitable, particularly with Fijian Kini Dakuliga following up. Somehow the pass was fumbled and a chance lost.
This sparked Acorn to their best spell of the game, and the Navy were creaking under pressure. Veteran props Davey Burns and Adam Endersby tried all they knew for the visitors before more great wide play eventually led to Aaran Thompson diving over in the corner. Anthony Chilton couldn't goal and it was 12-8 with 53 minutes gone.

The York side continued to boss things but the telling try wouldn't come. Nathan Lee and Jonny Griffiths were excellent during this time for Royal Navy, who then flipped the game thanks to some excellent chase to kicks from Joel, Cone, and particularly Tilley.
After forcing a drop out from one such chase, Royal Navy went in range and fullback Sean Houghton somehow found a way through from dummy half despite there being five defenders in the frame. Joel added his third goal to move the score to 18-8.
The hosts had two more chances as first Mike Haldenby saw the ball just beat him following a kick through before Houghton split the defence only to be brought down near the line on the last tackle.

Then in the final minute, Gaskell collected another ricochet to a low kick from Joel to secure victory, and history for the Royal Navy who now face a trip to Batley in the next round.

GAMESTAR: James Tilley was brilliant in his second spell, defending stoutly and giving real direction.

GAMEBREAKER: The Royal Navy forced a drop out in the lead up to Houghton's telling try.

MATCHFACTS
ROYAL NAVY
1 Sean Houghton
2 Mike Haldenby
3 Josh Coupland
20 Jack Bartlett
5 Kini Dakuliga
6 Rhys Joel
7 Callum Cone
8 Jonny Griffiths
9 James Tilley
10 James Parry
11 James Texiera
12 Nathan Lee
13 Ben Taylor
Subs (all used)
14 Matty Gaskell
15 Danny Johnson
16 Brodie Lee Butler
17 Louis McKenna

Tries: Texiera (4), Johnson (32), Houghton (71), Gaskell (79).
Goals: Joel 3/4.
Field Goals:
Sinbinned:
Dismissed:

YORK ACORN
7 Matt Chilton
5 Aaran Thompson
15 Jordan Potter
4 Ryan Gallacher
2 Josh Parker
6 Antony Chilton
1 Lewis Brown
8 Davey Burns
14 Nick Speck
10 Adam Endersby
11 Eddie Prescott
12 George Hunt
13 Thomas Holder
Subs (all used)
9 Lewis Lord
20 Elliot Bulmer
16 Luke Swales
19 Chris Rushworth

Tries: Potter (24), Thompson (53).
Goals: A. Chilton 0/2.
Field Goals:
Sinbinned: Holder (14 - use of knees in tackle).

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match:
Royal Navy: James Tilley
York Acorn: Jordan Potter

Penalty count: 9-8
Half-time: 12-4
Referee: Matt Rossleigh
Attendance: 300
Scoring Sequence: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4; 12-8, 18-8, 22-8.

Royal Navy Rugby League

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