After the early exchanges the game settled down with a couple of errors on both sides it was the RN who struck first after 9 minutes. On the back of a couple of repeat sets and some good hands on the RN left Jack Bartlett took the ball from Tilley 10 m out and brushing of the tacklers touched down for the four pointer. Ben Chambers kicked a straight forward conversion 6:0 after 10 minutes. More end to end stuff with the RN perhaps looking the more dangerous and indeed did touch down again but Charlie Gay was adjudged a double movement so no change to the score after 19minutes. However barely three minutes later and on the back of an Army knock on the ball was moved out to the RN right before coming back into midfield, Tilley was held up but managed to release the ball to Rhys Bartlett who took three Army defenders with him as he spun and touched down, great effort. Chambers knocks the conversion over to move his team 12:00 ahead. Another break from midfield down the right by McKervail and Dakuliga gave the RN the field position, good defence by the Army held them up but on the last Tilley at Dummy half switched play left to right allowing Sean McKervail a shot at the line, no mistake and that was the RN 3rd try, 16:00. From the kick off the RN made their way down field, at the end of the set Bartlett put in a huge kick which drifted across the field and was allowed to bounce by the Army wingman only to see Kinin Dakuliga storm past taking the ball and touching down under the posts, Chambers duly converted and the brothers were now 22points to the good. The tide then began to turn as the game moved into the last 10 of the half, a strong Army attack aided by the RN conceding a penalty saw the men in red get on the score sheet, 2nd Row Davetanivalu forced his way over right of the posts, and with Jacksons simple conversion it was 22:6.barely 5 minutes later the Army were in again, another penalty gave them territorial advantage , despite being held up by some stern RN defence right wing Canacaviata got under the defence to score out on right, no conversion but it was looking ominous for the RN, 22:10. Almost on the stroke of half a fumbled kick return gave the Army field position deep in the RN half and from the restart they scored again and although a simple conversion was missed it was 22:14.

The Army took control of the second half from the get go, again a fumble and penalty conceded scrum half Vulikinapani skipped through the defence touching down just left of the posts, Sugavanu converting, 22:20. The Brother got themselves back into the game over the next 10 minutes with Adam Watts tackled just ahead of touching down. The turning point of the early stages was another fumble, after a great ball steal by Tilley, gave the Army possession 15 m out and almost inevitably they made the most of the opportunity to score a try, Rasusosuso converting. The Army were now ahead for the first time and were hunting the necessary points to take the IS Title from the RAF. 22:26. From the restart aided by another RN fumble the ball went to Vasutoga who crossed out wide and with Rasusosuso converts 22:32. Well into the last quarter a big decision went against the RN, some great work by all involved shipped the ball left to right and Sean McKervail beat the defence for a touchdown which was initially given by the Ref however after chatting with the TJ a penalty instead of the try was awarded for an off the ball incident before the score. The RN pushed again but the Army held out but in doing so conceded three consecutive penalty’s with the Ref then showing the yellow card to Sovatubua, the last offender. The attack however was halted by a forward pass so the Army cleared their lines. The game was now down to little things; a dropped ball halted the Army attack only for the RN knocking on at the scrum. The Army then looked to have scored from the restart only for the Ref to chalk it off for a forward pass! It was all action including a loose carry by the Army which full back Wara was not happy with and responded to Eden Quantocks advice needing the Ref to step in. From the scrum a wonderful 20m pass from Elliott Richardson found Adam Watts who touched down well out wide for a try on his debut for the Senior side, no conversion so it was 32:26 with a minute or so to go. From the restart a great break by Chambers put Dakuliga away on the wing but this time the defence was up to it and stopped the move. The final action was a breakaway try for skipper Suguvanua and with the conversion it was 38:26. With all the numbers crunched the Army were awarded the IS Title on points scored over their two matches, much to the disappointment of the RAF Huge disappointment for the Brothers unable to get a win at this year’s competition but, albeit little consolation, this was a fantastic spectacle and a fantastic advert for Services Rugby League.

The Brothers: Ben Chambers, Adam Watts, Brodie Butler (C), Sean McKervail, Kini Dakuliga, Jack Bartlett, Luke Baird, Elliott Richardson, James Tilley, Louis Fraser, Eden Quantock, Pat O’Donovan, Cai Ellis. Subs (all used) Tyler Leighton, Rhys Bartlett, Jack Broxton, Cai Ellis.

If you wish to watch this most compelling of games go to the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8y6Fx8kQwQ&t=583s