After a last minute postponement last week due to a frozen pitch, the 2025 Challenge Cup got underway at Queens Avenue in Aldershot for a round one game between the Royal Air Force and the Army.
The RAF left the competition at this stage in 2024 after losing out to the Royal Navy while the Army were also opening round victims as they fell to Fryston Warriors.
The Army were looking to make the second round for the first time in three years while the RAF were last in the second round in 2023, todays victors were rewarded with a round two away game at Wests Warriors and if they were to be victorious in round two then they would have the fantastic prospect of hosting the Leeds Rhinos in round three.
The RAF had first use of the football and handed over possession ten from the Army line.
Phil Makinson broke the deadlock on twelve with some nice footwork to jink his way in. The conversion was good from Ben Symon for a 6-0 lead.
Luke Broadbent, who had been denied a try in the opening seconds, rounded his tackler down the right wing to cross and improve the angle. Symon was unable to add the extras, but the RAF had a 10-0 lead.
The Army opened their account on thirty-one as Petero Canakaivata ran the angle to go through a gap in the RAF defence and dot down under the sticks to enable Michael McDonald to add the conversion and reduce the arrears to four points.
Where the Air Force had dominated the opening twenty, the Army had fared much better in the second twenty but still trailed by four at the interval.
On fifty minutes loose forward Sam Roberts went for the line and despite appearing to be held up, he managed to force the ball to the round for the four-pointer. Symon added the extras for a 16-6 scoreline.
A sensational break from Uluikavoro saw him avoid a tackle and go fifty metres before finding Joeli Varo in support inside to go in for the second Army try of the game. McDonald was on target again and the margin was back down to four points.
The Army were on level terms on sixty-two, Messi Tuicina on hand to take the pass and go in after a great break from Canakaivata, running forty metres down the right wing. McDonald was wide with his conversion attempt, the sides tied up at 16-16.
The Army hit the front for the first time with Tuicina shrugging off his tackler and going forty metres down the right side before coming inside to score under the sticks. Adam Hooper added the conversion for 22-16 with just under seven minutes remaining.
It was a great game of rugby with little to choose between the two sides, the Army just pinching the game in the dying stages after trailing for the majority of the game. The Army will now face Wests Warriors and they are just one win away from a game against the Leeds Rhinos.
Royal Air Force: Davies, Broadbent (T), Bojang, Crabb, Symon (G 2/3), Barker, Littler, Morris, Makinson (T), Mosey, Reay, Potter, Roberts (T). Subs: Caldwell, Hague, Irwin, Key. 18th Man: .
Army: Uluikavoro, Varo (T), Deveta, O’Brien, Canakaivata (T), Houghton, McDonald M (G 2/3), Hooper (G 1/1), McDonald C, Tuicina (2T), Toher, Swain, Lindsey. Subs: Todua, Salarosi, Vasutraga, Rokosake. 18th Man: Buchanan.
Half-Time: 10-6.
Full-Time: 16-22.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 10-4, 10-6 : HT: 14-6, 16-6, 16-10, 16-12, 16-16, 16-20, 16-22 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: RAF – Square - Army.
Referee: Carl Hughes.
