Rugby Union

Royal Navy team captain: We had to make a statement after last year

The captain of the Royal Navy Under-23s, Engineering Technician Dom Cleverley, said that the Royal Navy "had to make a statement" following their 24-7 win against the Royal Air Force.

The Navy, who lost to the RAF in last year's Inter Services run, conceded the first try to the RAF in the first half, but later came back with a try from Harry Wright to bring them within two points from the RAF at half-time.

In the second half, however, the Navy came roaring with three converted tries from Harrison Utton-Smith, Freddie Elliot and Charlie Davis in a dominant display to deny the RAF the Inter Services crown.

Dom Cleverley said: "I think we had to make a statement after last year, we knew it wasn't a good year for us and we had to make an absolute comeback and we bit back harder than them.

"We knew there would be a physical battle up front as we saw because we watched the game last week, but we have definitely come out on top and we are happy with the result that we've come away with.

"We were certainly were up against it at half-time but it is a battle of two halves sometimes, and we came out firing and we got the result in the end, so it's all about regrouping, taking each task by hand and then going from there."

The Navy now face the defending champions, the Army, in Aldershot on 30 November where they now have a chance to win the Inter Services, which they last won in 2019.

Cleverley added: "We have got to get back in, get our heads in the box and then training for next week against the Army.

"We are looking to try and take that back, back where it belongs."

Forces News will be showing next week's title decider LIVE on the Forces News YouTube channel.