First blood in the annual rugby show of strength between the Army and Navy went to the Senior Service when its youth side ran out narrow winners in the Under 21s championship.

The soldiers were strongly fancied for the clash, despite home advantage for the Navy at Burnaby Road, but a slice of genius by CH Josh Dranouiou in the closing minutes clinched a 24-20 victory for the Dark Blues.

The game opened at a frantic pace which never let up, aided by referee Flt Lt David Sinclair (RAF) who allowed the game to flow.

Sloppy defending on their own 22-metre line by the Army gave the Navy the chance to put the first points on the board with a penalty.

It was quickly followed by a Dranouiou try and a difficult conversion by MEM Scott Partis – who also played a starring role in the RNRL side this month – helped the home team to a 10-3 lead at the break.

A Partis penalty after the restart bumped the Navy’s lead up to 13-3 before the Army fight-back began with some excellent attacking forays and flowing passing.

Two converted tries put the Army right back in the picture, giving them a 17-13 lead.

But the Navy rallied again, with some excellent last-gasp tackling by Dranouiou thwarting an Army try and a penalty nudging the home side in front with the clock ticking away.

With just two minutes left the Army thought they had snatched victory with a penalty to take a 20-19 lead, but as the seconds ran out, a jinking run from Dranouiou over 30 metres put the matter beyond doubt.

WEA Smallbone’s conversion bounced off the posts, but it was too late for the soldiers to reply, and the result was a 24-20 victory to the RN.

Lady Band, wife of Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, who is also president of RNRU, presented the Buchanan Bowl to S/Lt Will Blackett, the U21s’ captain – who was following in his father’s footsteps.

Commodore Jeff Blackett is the RNRU Rugby Football Union council member, and he had only recently returned from Australia where he watched England’s World Cup triumph – he was on duties with the International Rugby Board.

He and his family turned out in force to cheer on the Navy U21s, and watched as Will lifted the trophy.