The USA Military received the kickoff and a kick battle ensued early on. The British Army got the better of that back-and-forth and when they were able to force a scrum inside the USA half, a smart grubber from flyhalf Jack Johnson put through a try for British Army wing Connor O’Reilly.
The USA Military were on defense for a few minutes after that and were under pressure thanks to a series of penalties—penalties would haunt them throughout the match.
A maul collapse near the USA line was taken quickly and again they punished with the kick. Johnson lofted one wide for fullback Solodrau Radianirova. Johnson slotted both conversions brilliantly and it was 14-0.
Finally getting some go-forward ball, the USA Military came close to scoring. A grubber through from flyhalf Cody Melphy was chased by Colin Argue, Niko Spino, and Mattie Tago. The ball was toed ahead and Spino seemed close to scoring, but the ball rolled dead.
Still pinned back in their territory, the British Army got out of it thanks to a couple of needless penalties by the Americans. But just as they were pressing their advantage, a mistake on a quick-tap shut them down.
Still the British Army charged on. The USA Military received a warning for too many penalties in their 22 and after that it seemed inevitable that the Army would run a lineout-and-maul. That they did and hooker Sai Laudola touched it down. Johnson was good on the kick once more to make it 21-0.
And when the USA restart didn’t go 10 meters, offering the British Army a scrum-center, it seemed like the lead would expand. But the USA defense worked very hard to keep the Army in check. They turned the ball over and ran a long sequence of about eight phases, with good carries from Argue and Colin Grosse. Melphy slipped though a gap and set up fullback Logan legg, who fended off one tackler and was near the tryline when he was dragged down.
A little impatience from the USA Military led to a knock-on and a prime scoring chance gone. But moments late they got it. The USA got a penalty on a scrum and ran a tap move using No. 8 Wilisoni Vasukilakeba. The big man made some group, the forced recycled, and finally hooker KoiKoi Nelligan picked up and powered over. Melphy converted and it was 21-7.
As good teams do, the British Army responded immediately. They got were working a series of phases and had a penalty advantage. It seemed like the Army would pass it out but instead flanker Onisvoro Navagi caught the Americans a bit unawares with a pickup and charge ahead. He raced 40 meters to score. Try, conversion, and a 28-7 halftime lead.
As expected, USA Military Head Coach Clarke made some changes at the break, and each of those new players added a spark. The scrum remained a battle, but one in which the USA had their moments. A solid pack-down allowed good ball to Melphy in the middle of the field. He ran a switch move with center Niko Spino, who cut through the hole, unleashed a sidestep that made one defender fall over, and then angled brilliantly to the line for a long-range try.
The USA Military defense was a bit ragged at times but the players were filling in for each other and making tackles. The British Army, however, bolstered by the fact that the Americans were getting no love in their attempts to poach ruck ball, recycled very quickly and thus were able to find space on the edge. A mismatch of wing-vs-flanker allowed right wing Pita Ratukadreu to ran into the corner to make it 33-12.
The USA was on defense in their 22 for a long period after that. They were dogged in defense but couldn’t quite get out of trouble, and a ripped ball set up a chance for Adriu Muritoki on the outside and he scored. With the conversion it was 40-12.
The USA Military answered with a superb piece of brilliance. Some excellent carries from the Military forwards, as well as from Mattie Tago, set up some room for Melphy to grubber through. He then toed the ball ahead.
The ball bounced up just before the tryline but Melphy once again nudged it ahead with his boot
“I thought about picking it up but I saw the guy coming in from the corner of my eye and decided to just kick it again,” Melphy told GRR. “All I was thinking about was getting it in to score that try.”
It rolled in and Melphy touched down.
That made it 40-17. The game ended with the British Army on attack and when USA Military wing Mikey Melendez blocked a pass with his hand, a penalty try for an intentional knock-on ended the match 47-17.
With the win the British Army takes the Field Marshall Sir John Dill Trophy. Field Marshall Dill served in WWI and then during WWII was the representative for the combined British and American chiefs of staff in Washington, DC. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and is the only member of the British military buried at Arlington National Cemetary.
As far as the scoreline goes, most observers, American and British, felt the score flattered the British Army a bit. There were a couple of very good scoring chances that didn’t quite happen for the USA, and the British Army was a little fortunate.
“We won so many battles out there tonight,” Clarke told the players. “The jersey you’ve worn tonight you’ve worn with pride.”
USA Military 17
Tries: Nelligan, Spino, Melphy
Convs: Melphy
British Army 47
Tries: O’Reilly, Radianirova, Laudola, Navagi, Ratukadreu, Muritoki, Penalty Try
Convs: Johnson 5, Penalty Try
USA Military Lineup (all players played):
1. Mickey Bressler, Navy, Rocky Gorge
2. KoiKoi Nelligan, Army West Point, Old Glory DC
3. Dan Gabrielli, Temple & Shippensburg, BTS Bayreuth
4. John Cullen (C), Utah, Chicago Hounds
5. Jackson Bristol, Air Force, Koza Rugby Cllub
6. Collin Grosse, Army West Point, Old Glory DC
7. Dacoda Worth, Indiana, Old Glory DC
8. Wilisoni Vasukilakeba, Houston Sabercats
9. Shane Palmer, UConn, Colorado Springs
10. Cody Melphy (VC), Life U., USA 7s
11. Mikey Melendez, All-Army 7s
12. Mattie Toga, Denver Barbarians / Experts PR7s
13. Niko Spino, Auburn
14. Colin Argue, Navy, All-Navy 7s
15. Logan Legg, TCU, Austin Blacks
Reserves
16. Thomas Reyes, San Diego Legion / Lake County Coyotes
17. Larry Williams, Army West Point
18. Brian Bidder, U. Miami, Connecticut Old Grey
19. Drew Dawson, Okaloosa Islanders
20. George Smith, Letchworth Garden City
21. Sili Masina, Jr., All-Army / Alaska Misfits
22. Craig Ogden, Seattle RFC
23. J’son Townes, Oklahoma, NOVA
