Despite being shorthanded for a majority of the match, Navy pulled off a hard-nosed win over Life in Georgia in a crucial Rugby East matchup.
Navy held Life without a try until the final quarter of the game, and impressed with a bonus-point 27-10 victory on the road.
Life took an early lead thanks to a Jony Lee penalty goal. But Navy answered with a long period camped out in the Life 22. The forwards worked together to get the Midshipmen close, and then openside flanker Aidan Gerber picked up and snaked through for the try. Kade Williams converted and it was 7-3 Navy.
That score held until about 24 minutes in. Navy unleashed their most picturesque try of the day. Hooker Ian Bullock charged on through several tacklers. The Navy support was there to recycle, and after one more phase, scrumhalf Sean Donohue sniped back to the left. The halfback popped the ball to center Jake Cornelius, who charged on before being dragged down about five meters to the line. But the Navy midfield was able to make the pass as he fell, with his midfield partner Drew Baublitz taking the ball and finishing a very nicely-executed try.
Williams converted and it was 14-3.
Navy was in a good position, but a few moments later they got some bad news. Coming out of a tackle, flanker John Masino appeared to strike a Life player in the head with his boot. It wasn't a hard hit, but it was to the head. The officials saw, but ended up red-carding the wrong player, lock Tanner Call. Call, for his part, just quietly left the field, and Navy was down to 14 men, and seven in the pack, for the rest of the game.
Still they held on and in the second half they built on their lead. Life looked to box kick out of their territory and Gerber was explosive off the line to charge the ball down and then chase after the ball. He got it, recycled, and from there a nice, flat pass to front-rower Masimus Buono put the reserve over for the try and a 19-3 lead.
Navy's depth has been part of their story for the last few seasons and the reserves bench certainly had a hand in this victory.
Life answered with a long period inside the Navy 22, and they methodically worked their way close. Finally tighthead prop Shaun Matthysen powered over. Lee converted to make it 19-10, but time was not on their side.
Navy, instead, had the last word, getting the bonus-point try with reserve hooker Waylon Davis scoring from in close. Williams converted and then added a penalty to ice it.
This was another very strong team victory, but Gerber's play, with his try, setting up another one, and being active around the pitch, gets special mention.
"Gerber is a quality player and had a good game," agreed Navy DOR Gavin Hickie. "He was frustrated because he thought he could have charged down a couple more. He felt he had time to get there and that was a good play for us."
Overall, however, Hickie was very pleased with what his team was able to do. They got the four tries even if they didn't melt the scoreboard. But more than they, they were excellent on defense and handled being shorthanded in enemy territory well.
