With the Royal New Zealand Navy (the cup holders) not travelling to the UK, the 2018 edition of the Navies Commonwealth Cup pitted the Royal Australian Navy against their hosts, the Royal Navy. Having first met in 1986 the Australian Breakers had yet to secure a win against the RN and 2018 was to be no exception with the home side eventually running out comfortable winners 61-0, to regain the trophy they lost in 2014.
Lee Crabb, of Scrumpix Images, was at the match on behalf of Alligin Photography and the images in this blog attempt to capture some of the competition that perhaps the one sided scoreline did not reflect. Inter Navy rugby has always been fiercely fought and like most battles it starts up front. So our headline image features Navy prop Chris Warner who was at the cornerstone of the home team's pack. And it was the pack of forwards that set the foundation for the win. As a former member of the FRUC it is always great to be able to highlight members of the front row who do so much of the 'dog' and eschew the limelight.
The last two images feature RN captain, Ben Priddey with the cup and the two teams together have hostilities had ceased.
Click on any of the smaller images for a larger version.
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