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Following on the heels of the 1997 Inter Services competition, the NZARL had a hit out against the RNZN for the long standing Waaka-Otene Challenge Trophy, which was lost to Navy on the Battalion's return to New Zealand. With that in mind, and Service pride on stake the team took to the field against the Navy at the ANZAC Test as the main curtainraiser. This was a first ever for this level of League for all players and both teams rose to the challenge. With the score at 2 all at the half, Army drew first blood and lead 8 - 2 with time ticking away. Navy then snuck in and pulled the score back to 6 - 8 with seconds to go and the trophy went back to Army for the next outing. Meeting up again, Navy lost to Army by 52 - 16 at Inter Services 98 and the Mad Butcher Inter Services Trophy is once again with the rightful owners.
The Army team will once again do battle on the land meeting with the Otago/Southland team at Burnham Military Camp on 19 June 1999 for their pre-Inter Services trial before naming the team to go to RNZAF Base Woodbourne to defend the Mad Butcher Inter Services Trophy.
The Navy and Army ANZAC Test teams at North Harbour Stadium
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