Army wins big in annual rugby match with Navy

Army brings home trophy after defeating rival Navy

Fort Lewis Rugby

BREMERTON, Wash. — Army traveled to Bremerton Naval Station Nov. 12 to take on Navy’s finest for the 13th annual Army vs. Navy Commanders Cup Rugby Championship. Within two minutes of the opening kickoff Army scored on its first try of the match and never looked back, winning 70-7.

There were a total of 11 tries by Army (five by the forwards and six by the backline) with eight successful conversion kicks. Navy never really challenged Army on third and four phases throughout the match.

Army’s first 15 for the match included very experienced and seasoned players, many of them veterans of the rivalry with All-Army and civilian club experience. From the kickoff, Army displayed its ability to move the ball at will against an outgunned Navy scrum as well as an inexperienced back line.

Navy showed glimpses of collected efforts to move the ball, however Army’s defensive experience and continuity proved too much for the overmatched Navy side. Army’s mid-field tackling and mauling by both forwards and backs created consistent frustration for the Navy team.

Navy never really challenged Army on third and fourth phases of the game throughout the match. However Navy was able to score mid-way through the second half on an intercepted pass in the Army backline, scoring from 50 meters out. Navy converted the kick for its only points of the match.

The experienced Army forwards aggressively moved the ball against a Navy team that had little to counter Army’s powerful pack led by Albert Harmon (at No. 8) and Brit Cleveland (tighthead loose forward). The backs for Army were led by Cliff Richardson, who traveled from Fort Hood, Texas, to play in the annual match.

Richardson’s speed was unparalleled in slicing through the Navy defense on numerous occasions to set up his fellow backs and forwards for break-away runs and scores. Richardson scored three tries and had a hand in two other Army scores.

This year’s game marks the 12th win for Army in the competition. Navy’s lone win came in 2009.

The Army team looks forward to hosting a 2012 spring match against Navy.

Nick Punimata, 1st Special Forces Group, contributed to this report.