The luck of the toss didn’t favour the Navy’s Under 25 cricket side at the Inter-Services festival hosted by the RAF at Uxbridge this year.

Winning the toss was crucial for the sailors and Royal Marines – the team was fielding six new caps – but they lost out on both occasions.

The Army wisely elected to bat in the first encounter, and despite early breakthroughs from AEA K. Adams (Heron) and Mne R. Barker (FPG RM), Army captain L/Bdr P. Carlin hit a blistering 80 off 60 balls as his side ran up a total of 253 all out.

Adams bowled impressively, obliterating the late order, finishing with 5 for 34 off 9.5 overs.

The target was not beyond the Navy’s reach, and despite a shaky start, OM C. Penner (Exeter) and Mne A. Morris (Cdo Log Regt) notched up runs at a consistent rate.

But when their wickets fell, the Army sliced through the remaining batsmen, the Navy finishing 187 all out after 34 overs.

On day two, the RAF put the RN into bat after winning the toss.

The Navy never really got into full stride in a rain-affected match, despite a solid contribution of 31 by HMS Montrose’s MEM J. Richards.

The RN’s total of 154 never looked enough and under the Duckworth/Lewis method, the airmen swiftly reached the adjusted target of 135 off 40 overs, notching up the required total with 12 overs and eight wickets to spare.

The Army held on to the overall title with a comprehensive defeat of the RAF on the third and final day of the championships.