The Navy were rewarded for their second-round victory over the Army with a third-round tie against York Acorn at Burnaby Road in Portsmouth as one of these two sides looked to progress to a fourth-round tie away Mount Pleasant, the home of the Batley Bulldogs and a shot at the fifth round and potentially a Super League side.
York Acorn have beaten the Edinburgh Eagles and Wests Warriors on their way to this third-round game while the Navy disposed of the Bridgend Blue Bulls before that famous golden point win over the Army last time out at the Aldershot Military Stadium.
James Parry went close on seven minutes and on the next play James Teixeira picked up a short grubber kick to ground by the right upright. Rhys Joel added the simple conversion for a 6-0 Navy lead.
Thomas Holder was sin-binned on fourteen for use of the knees making the next ten minutes much tougher for York Acorn.
York got their opener on twenty-four minutes after a Navy knock-on. Moving down the left-hand side the ball ended up with Jordan Potter in an acre of space to dive over ten in from the touchline. The kick was missed by Anthony Chilton, Acord still two points adrift.
A barnstorming ten metre run from Danny Johnson saw the second rower over by the posts giving Joel a second easy conversion for 12-4. The Royal Navy had absorbed the York pressure and hit back when it mattered.
York drew first blood at the start of the second with Lewis Brown and Ryan Gallagher combining to put Aaron Thompson over in the corner. The conversion attempt was missed but the visitors were back within four points, and it was anyone’s game.
With eight minutes remaining Sean Houghton went from dummy half on the York line to go under the York tacklers and get the ball on the ground to seal the win for the Navy. Joel added the conversion for 18-8 and a deserved win for the home side.
Inside the last two minutes a Anthony Chilton low grubber undid the York defence with Matty Gaskell picking up the bouncing ball and grounding. Joel was unable to add the conversion but the final score was 22-8.
The Royal Navy progress to the fourth round for the first time in their history and set up a fourth-round game at the Batley Bulldogs. York Acorn couldn´t get into the game after their long journey south and the determination from the Navy was enough to grind out the win.
Navy: Houghton (T), Haldenby, Coupland, Bartlett, Dakuliga, Joel (3G), Cone, Griffith, Tilley, Parry, Teixeira (T), Lee, Taylor. Subs: Gaskell (T), Johnson (T), Lee-Butler, McKenna.
York Acorn: Chilton M, Thompson (T), Potter (T), Gallagher, Parker, Chilton A, Brown, Burns, Speck, Endersby, Hunt, Prescott, Holder (SB on 14). Subs: Lord, Bulmer, Swales, Rushworth.
Half-Time: 12-4.
Full-Time: 22-8.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, (SB), 6-4 , 10-4, 12-4 : HT : 12-8, 16-8, 18-8, 22-8 : FT .
Referee: Matt Rosslyn.
