The Red Shirts made a dream start and hit the front in the sixth minute as the ball came loose on their opponents’ 22, Senitiki Nayalo hoovering up to dot down under the posts before Jack Johnson added the extras.
Their rivals replied at the back end of the first quarter however, replacement Ben Mallett – on for hooker Rhys Williams – finding space to dart over from close range.
Jake Hanley was off target from the tee, and soon after Nayalo doubled his tally following a searing 30-metre break from back row colleague Matt Dawson.
Twists and turns at Twickers
Johnson slotted for 14-5, but the ebb-and-flow nature of the contest continued as Jamin Hoffman cut a glorious diagonal line to dive over, Hanley’s kick making it a two-point game just before the half-hour mark.
There were no more scores before the break, but Navy grabbed the lead seven minutes into the second period, a powerful rolling maul setting the platform for Ratu Vakalutukali powering over following a series of phases.
Hanley made no mistake, yet the Red Shirts went back in front shortly after, Solo scooping up a Frank Kelly off-load before showing some mesmerising footwork to dance his way across the whitewash.
Johnson’s conversion made it 21-19 midway through the third quarter, Hanley’s 40-metre penalty attempt from the restart then just falling short.
The fly-half made amends soon after, however, Navy’s pack power earning another shot from just inside the 22.
Magnificent Matavesi proves decisive
The Blues pulled further clear on 62 minutes as the outstanding Sam Matavesi was only illegally stopped at the back of another maul, a penalty try awarded as replacement Army prop Gareth Smith was sent to the sin-bin.
Matavesi produced a brilliant interception to sprint over in the left-hand corner from 30 metres out for a deserved score, Hanley’s attempt drifting left to leave his side 34-21 to the good.
Yet Army refused to yield and gave themselves hope with an immediate reply, Nathaniel Titchard-Jones blasting over for a converted score.
However, another scrum penalty for Navy was landed by Hanley, the thrill-a-minute denouement then seeing Cameron McDonald collect Johnson’s cross-kick to pull his side within four heading into the final play.
But they were unable to repeat last year’s incredible comeback as a breakdown penalty sealed the deal for Navy, title winners having previously overcome a Royal Air Force side including Rams’ scrum-half Sam Boxhall.
*Pictures by Army Rugby Union
