UKAF Stages Second-Half Comeback to Edge Out Georgia in IDRC Thriller

In a tension-filled clash in Brest, France, the United Kingdom Armed Forces Rugby team narrowly edged out their Georgian counterparts 24-21 in the International Defence Rugby Competition. Despite trailing 14-3 at half-time, UKAF demonstrated both resilience and tactical acumen to engineer a second-half comeback.

The match got off to a bruising start, setting the tone for a fixture that would be anything but easy. UKAF’s Vice-Captain Owain Davies was the first to register points, converting a penalty in the 7th minute to make it 3-0 in favour of the UK. However, Georgia responded with two tries, both resulting from powerful driving mauls, to take a 14-3 lead. This was further exacerbated when a UKAF set piece went awry, leading to a Georgian score.

Struggling to break through the robust Georgian defence, UKAF worked tirelessly to create opportunities. A promising run from Cam McDonald and a subsequent move by Boladau hinted at a comeback, but the Georgian defence held strong. A glimmer of hope appeared when Georgia were reduced to 14 men, although UKAF couldn’t capitalise immediately. As Kye Beasley aptly described the scrum situation, it was “an absolute whirlpool.”

Returning from the half-time break with an 11-point deficit, UKAF had their work cut out for them. Undeterred, the team stepped up the pace, reducing the margin to 14-6 through another Davies penalty. The momentum definitively shifted when James Roberts scored a try, successfully converted by Davies, to make it 21-14 to the UK.

As the match neared its conclusion, Solodrau Radianirova of UKAF was sent to the sin bin, giving Georgia a brief numerical advantage. They almost scored but faltered at a critical moment by opting for individual glory instead of passing. Davies was on hand to extend the UKAF lead with another penalty, taking the score to 24-14.

In a heart-stopping finale, Georgia managed a last-gasp try and successful conversion, cutting the UK lead to just three points. Late-game scrum collapses led to yellow cards for both UKAF’s Watson and a Georgian prop, with Gaz Smith being reintroduced to maintain contested scrums.

Although not a flawless victory, the win was an important one for UKAF, keeping their unbeaten run in the competition intact and positioning them as a side to watch as the tournament unfolds. In the final moments of the match, “a lot of diesel was burned by some big men,” commented Kye Beasley, capturing the sheer physicality and effort that went into securing this nail-biting win.

Lt Cdr Jim Gallagher RN

UKAF Rugby Communications Manager