Looking to extend their 3 match winning streak post covid the Brothers had trained well and looked sharp throughout the weeks training camp. The first 10 minutes were predictably very physical as the sides got the measure of each other, it was the home side who had the first real opportunity, winger Kini Dakuliga took a loose ball a full 70 m but could not give an accurate pass to Gav Duffy in support and the opportunity was lost. The first score of the game was on the opposite wing 7 minutes later Tu Roko Kurusasa taking a great pass in the air from Jack Bartlett to give his side a 4 point lead. A speculative kick through by the Brothers was gathered in goal by the RAF but the receiving players was adjudged to have been hit late by the RNA attack resulting a yellow card. As a result, the RN lost some of their shape allowing the RAF to break the defensive line and score, Kieran Prescott scoring the try with Baird adding the extras, 4:6 at the 30minute mark. As the game closed in on half time RNRL looked to have another score but the try was chalked off the player judged not to have grounded the ball and that was it, a tough 40 minutes with the RAF doing a good job of slowing the game down making it hard for the RN to play their usual fast expansive game, 4:6 at the break. It was 20 minutes into the second half before the next score and it was the visitors who broke the 2nd half deadlock. RAF skipper Bradley followed up his own grubber to score with no opposition, a conversion from Lees doubled the RAF tally as the game moved into the last quarter. A succession of penalties conceded by the RAF gave RNRL some territory and from one such penalty the free scoring James Teixeira got his side the score, moving up from 2nd row to prop he burst through a tired looking RAF midfield to claim the score, with the conversion missed it was 8:12. Despite a last push the Brothers could not get another score and Ref James Jones blew for full time and the RAF took the Dog watch Trophy by a narrow 4 point margin 8:12.
Highlights footage at
https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/rugby-league/royal-air-force-stuns-navy-major-upset-inter-services-opener

Full Match footage at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wH4FNiNQWw