Rough First Half Dooms US Military Side in Opening Match

11.08.2025Men Senior Rugby

Both team, US Military v Army Masters, pose post-match November 7, 2025. Photo Alex Goff.

With a strong preparation and the right attitude, the US Military team found themselves staring down the business end of a 35-3 halftime deficit against the British Army Masters Friday night.

In a match played in light drizzle but also under a large harvest moon, the two teams of 35-and-over players excited a nice crowd at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst rugby pitch. Both teams had chances to score early, but the Americans would find finishing off tries difficult early. A couple of miscues, and a couple of harsh penalties, didn't help.

The Army Masters kicked off, pressured the US Military team, earned a penalty, and promptly led 3-0. The Americans did pretty much the game thing, with J'son Townes slotting the goal to lock it up 3-3.

US Military v Army Masters, Jack Bristol US Military team captain. Photo Alex Goff

But the Army Masters side was more cohesive, did a better job at keeping the ball, and put the Americans on the defensive side for the next 25 minutes almost without interruption. Using their kicking game and with a desire to attack on every turnover they scored on a variety of ways—punishing a long throw on the lineout and spin it wide, taking a lineout-and-drive on a penalty, chasing a kick deep and pressuring. The finishing was fairly much the same, however, as penalties crept into the US Military team's game, so ultimately it was the lineout and maul that produced tries for the hosts.

For the US Military team, they had some impressive sequences, with flyhalf Cliff Davidson finding some space and prop Freddy Tafuna thundering in as a carrier or as a tackler—he laid in some massive hits on the day. With Mattie Toga finding his stride the Americans caused the Army Masters to work.

But it was still 35-3 at halftime. The US Military coaching staff urged their players to shorten up their passes and get back to the basics. But a couple of turnovers and an interception taken to the house soon made it 49-3. Still there were signs of life for the USA as they came close to scoring before being hit with a not-straight call.

Scrum time US Military vs Army Masters. Photo Alex Goff

Yet another sequence close to the Army Masters line ended with a penalty around a loose ball that was certainly 50-50. Still, in the closing quarter the US Military got some points. A nice kick-counter and hands wide to the left put wing Alex Vinkavich (US Coast Guard) through for a snappy try in the corner.

As time wound down the USA had another shot at a try in the corner but the Masters were able to get the ball into touch in-goal. Finally, Vinkavich nabbed a pass of his boot tops and was in for his second.

Final score 56-15.

The US Military players said they would have liked to have played that first half a few days before and then played a full game. It did take them a while to really get their feet under them.

"We were defending almost the entire first half," said captain Jack Bristol. "We know we could do something when we got the ball."

Davidson was named player of the game for the US Military by the Army Masters. He joked that his award should be cut in half so he could share it with Vinkavich. As it was, Vinkavich was named back of the match by his own team, while Tafuna, who displayed great mobility and ferocity, was named forward of the match.

After the game the teams gathered together to sing, and pray, and take a photo.

"This," said US Military Head Coach Allen Clarke, "is what it's all about."