The Royal Navy’s Under 25s cricketers blew their chance of taking the Inter-Services crown with a dismal batting performance in the deciding match against the Army.

The Navy team featured seven new caps, and had a less than sparkling build-up to the festival with just one win from their previous six matches.

But with a full-strength squad to choose from, confidence was high as the three teams converged on Burnaby Road in Portsmouth.

Variable cloud cover, a slightly humid atmosphere and a green wicket suggested that the bowlers would have the upper hand, and that winning the toss would be a major advantage.

And so it proved. On Day One the RAF, having lost the toss, were put into bat, and scrambled to 173-9 off their 50 overs, a total which the Army passed in just 39 overs for the loss of six wickets.

That brought the RAF back on Day Two to face the hosts, and again, having lost the toss, the airmen were invited to bat.

S/Lt Parker (HMS Collingwood), bowling at pace, got the Navy of to the best possible start with a wicket from the first ball of the day, and with strong support from CH G. Chandler (HMS Raleigh), POAEA A. Troughton (HMS Heron) and POWEA P. Firth (HMS Drake), the home attack dismissed the RAF for 128 in 41 overs.

That target looked within easy reach in the early stages of the Navy innings, and though a middle-order wobble tested the nerves, STD K. Bute (HMS Invincible) smashed a carefree and rapid 38 runs to take his side within sight of victory, and the result was wrapped up in 33.5 overs for the loss of seven wickets.

CH G. Chandler was chosen as man of the match for his bowling return of 4-38 in ten overs.

On the final day the new track looked a little less green than its predecessor, but still looked lively enough for the Navy to elect to field first.

Early breakthroughs by Troughton, Parker and Bute reduced the Army to 66-5, and an upset looked very much on the cards.

But two Army middle-order batsmen put together a stand of 90 for the sixth wicket, and provided a sound platform for the visitors to accelerate to 207 all out with just one over spare.

Concerned at the Navy’s slow over rate during the morning, the umpires docked four overs from the Navy innings – but that penalty was never going to be a decisive factor as the RN batsmen failed to come to terms with the Army attack.

Apart from OM C. Penner (HMS Exeter), who reached a creditable 51, none of the Navy batsmen crept into double figures, and a dismal 87 all out in less than 32 overs was a poor response to the Army challenge and a great disappointment for the team and their supporters.

With a victory margin of 120 runs, the Army took the result and the Under 25s trophy for the third year in succession.

On completion of the match, Air Vice Marshal Clive Loader RAF, Chairman of the Combined Services Cricket Association, thanked the NAAFI for their generous sponsorship of the festival, Portsmouth Naval Base Commander Commodore Amjad Hussain for the use of his facilities, and the RN Cricket Club for organising the event.

Signalman M. Cull, the Army captain, collected the trophy and the Man of the Series award, and his colleague Signalman D. Rees wrapped up a good day for the soldiers by taking the Man of the Match award.