The kicking contest dominated the early stages of the second half, with Life maintaining pressure inside the Navy 22 for most of the initial seven minutes. Despite their efforts, Life once again faced a formidable Navy goalline defense that thwarted their advances.
Throughout both halves, crucial runs by center Jake Cornelius provided the Midshipmen with the necessary space to execute effective kicks. Life’s struggles to secure clean lineouts posed challenges even during kicks to touch, as the outcome of taking a lineout after a penalty remained uncertain due to Navy’s strategic positioning of flanker Vaughn Schmitz.
Navy also missed out on scoring opportunities, notably when Life’s center Darius Law intercepted a pass and set up Philani Simamane for a potential try. However, the bounce of the ball did not favor Life, leading to a missed opportunity. Subsequent plays saw Navy’s flanker Aidan Gerber’s quick reactions and hooker Ian Bullock’s impressive 90-meter sprint culminating in a try, shifting the momentum in Navy’s favor.
Despite Life’s efforts to stay in the game, highlighted by a penalty try following a high tackle, Navy’s resilient defense and effective clearance tactics secured their 27-17 victory. Navy’s strong tackling, successful lineout steals, and strategic kicking played pivotal roles in maintaining their lead and ultimately securing a spot in the final.
While Life may lament missed scoring chances and skill breakdowns, their commendable season, marked by only two losses to Navy in closely contested matches, underscores their overall performance. Reflecting on their season, Life will acknowledge the areas for improvement while recognizing the competitive season they have had.