29 April 2024
The Royal Navy defeated the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Tridents 52-6 in a rugby league game at 4 Pines Park in Sydney’s northern beaches, as the curtain raiser to a Manly versus Parramatta NRL match on April 26.
Although many of the RAN’s best were playing for the ADF that weekend, Aussie captain Able Seaman Manuel Grundy-Quay said Royal Navy were a dominant team.
“They're probably the strongest team I've played in my career in Defence rugby league,” he said.
“For me it was about leadership and just trying to guide the boys.”
The Tridents lost a strong player to injury within the first five minutes, which forced them to rearrange the team.
Despite the line-up change, they couldn’t contain the Royal Navy’s aggressive plays.
The Brits dominated early, scoring the first try and leading 32-0 at half time.
In the second half, the Tridents struggled to recover, but rallied to score when the halfback kicked towards the left side, where the winger caught the ball on the full.
The winger made contact but maintained possession and passed to the centre who went on to score.
The brief moment of success was overshadowed as the Tridents ultimately conceded 20 additional points by the end of the match.
Most valuable player Leading Seaman Benjamin Stewart said the Royal Navy brought their A-game and were more structured.
“I think that was the reason they came out on top,” he said.
“The Australian Navy boys definitely gave their best and put it all on the line. But at the end of the day they came better prepared than us.”
