A floodlight failure just before kick-off at Burnaby Road in Portsmouth failed to prevent HMS Raleigh taking the spoils in the Navy Rugby Cup Final.

HMS Raleigh brought four bus-loads of supporters for the showdown with HMS Collingwood – the last step in a series of matches which began back in September.

But the Cornish supporters were quickly silenced when Collingwood took an early lead with a penalty goal.

A magnificent pass from man of the match Diver Caruana to CH Soro Ragede put the first points on the board for Raleigh, who added to their total with a penalty by Caruana from 20 metres out.

Despite their dominance of the first half, topped off by a Caruana penalty on 39 minutes, Raleigh only led 11-3 at the half-time whistle.

The Fareham establishment took to the field again after the break determined to get back into the game, but a penalty by WEA Smallbone was quickly cancelled out by Caruana at the other end.

Ragede then beat three opponents before passing to APP McDermott on the wing, who crossed the line and touched down under the posts for an easy conversion.

Another Smallbone penalty pegged the score back to 21-9, but with both sides tiring, plenty of mistakes were creeping into the game. However, neither team was able to take advantage, and the game ended 21-9 to the Cornish training establishment.