BRITISH ARMY 36 ROYAL NAVY 26
AL BOYLE, Elmpark Way, Saturday

THE RAF are the 2026 champions – despite not playing in the final game of the Tri-Series. 

The Blue Bombers, who had beaten the Navy 30-18 at Portsmouth and drawn 22-22 with the British Army at Stanningley, could only watch as the Army, who needed to account for the Navy by more than twelve points to head the final table, came agonisingly close to achieving just that.

That hadn’t, however, looked possible for most of the contest. In fact the Royal Navy – the reigning champions – controlled the early exchanges and raced into a 22-0 lead on 26 minutes to seemingly shatter the Army’s hopes. 

Jack Bartlett, Rhys Bartlett, Sean McKervail and Kini Dakuliga had crossed by that stage, with Ben Chambers adding three goals, only for the Army to reduce the arrears to 22-14 at the break, courtesy of tries by John Davtanivalu, Aborosio Sovatabua and Freddy Work, one of which Dylan Jackson converted.

By the hour, the Army were 30-22 ahead – just a converted try away from fulfilling their title hopes – thanks to touchdowns for Mitieli Vulikijapani, Davtanivalu and Petero Canakaivata, two of which Sekove Sereki converted.

But the sin-binning of Sovatabua on 70 minutes, followed by a try five minutes from time by the Navy’s Adam Watts, effectively ended the Army’s bid, despite Davtanivalu’s hat-trick score and Sereki’s third goal.

BRITISH ARMY: Ben Wara, Petero Canakaivata, Aporosa Bainikoro, Numia Corivuka, Aborosio Sovatabua, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Aaron Houghton, Vilive Kenatale, Dylan Jackson, Ben Ward, Freddie Work, John Davtanivalu, Kajii Sugavanua. Subs: Sekove Sereki, Jake Toher, Rasegadi Qorio, Adrea Vasutoga. 

ROYAL NAVY: Ben Chambers, Adam Watts, Brodie Lee Butler, Sean McKervail, Kini Dakuliga, Jack Bartlett, Luke Bains, Elliot Richardson, James Tilley, Louis Fraser, Eden Quantock, Pat O’Donovan, Charlie Gay. Subs: Tyler Leighton, Rhys Bartlett, Jack Broxton, Cai Ellis.

The RAF had beaten the Royal Navy in the Series’ opener through a Kieron Prescott brace and tries by Liam Bradley, Finn O’Brien, Ollie Park and Will Lamont; Elliot Kerry landed three goals. The Navy’s Ben Conner converted tries by Brodie Lee Butler, Luke Baird and Chambers.

The Royal Navy, meanwhile, had toppled the RAF 32-16 in that night’s Academy clash 32-16, thanks to two tries apiece for Roko Kurusasa and Josh Morrison, with Watts, Alfie Hutchinson and Harry Vorweg also crossing. Jack Cone (3) and Watts, with one success, added the goals while Josh Davies, Jordan Robbins and Sean Rodden replied for the RAF and Robbins improved a couple of efforts.