Army rugby union development team defeat British Police in convincing victory

The Army Rugby Union's men's development squad beat the British Police in a friendly fixture in Aldershot, scoring a total of seven tries to win 43-7.

The friendly fixture was an opportunity for up-and-coming talent within the Army squad to step up and impress team selectors ahead of this year's Inter Services.

Despite the British Police putting up a strong defence, it didn't take the Army long to assert their authority on their home turf.  

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Sitiveni Vereti was the first to get the ball over the line, sliding over for an unconverted score, which was soon followed up by Dan Lewis for a converted try to extend the Army's early lead. 

Growing in confidence the Army scored a third try just before half-time, with scrum half Sandy Wheatley to give the Army a 19-0 lead. 

In the second half, Army fly half Matt Smart had a penalty kick to touch and was searching for the corner, but instead Police fallback Grant Hancox, by palming the ball down, created an opportunity for Army winger Jack Fitzgerald to score an easy try for the reds. 

The Police were looking to put a stop to the Army's dominant run, but Cameron McDonald broke through the Army's defence to claim the Army's fifth try of the night, putting the Army at a clear 31-0 advantage. 

Joe Brown and Junior Vunivosa would go and claim the Army's sixth and seventh tries of the evening, but the Police were finally rewarded for their efforts after a quick tap penalty gave centre Mike Anderson the chance to get the Police's first try of the evening.

But, in the end, it was the Army's night, with their development team winning 43-7 over the British Police. 

The Army's dominant display bodes well for a team that is currently going through transition, as they set their sights on going head-to-head with the Navy and the RAF at the Inter Services later this year.