Army and Navy players contest the ball during the NSW Interservice Australian Football grand final. Photo by Bill Cunneen

SOLDIERS pounded the Navy in the NSW Interservice Australian Football grand final at Randwick Barracks in Sydney, taking the victory 13-14-92 to 3-12-30.

The Army team had fought its way through the RAAF in the semi-final, winning 19-8-122 to 8-4-52, to meet the Navy in the state final.

Coach Cpl Wayne Heath said it was a rewarding win for the work the boys put in.

"Navy had a good win over RAAF in the lead-up and we knew they'd come out hard today," he said.

"The preparation was great and the boys felt a lot of pride when they put on the Army guernseys - they didn't want to let each other down.

"Nerves were there, which was good to see, but the boys were quietly confident in their ability and their team-mates' ability."

Cpl Heath said there was intensity in the game right from the start, with only one point separating the teams at quarter-time.

"The boys kicked straight and really put the pressure on the Navy, but they came right back at us and we didn't get quite the start we wanted."

"In the second quarter the guys really hit their straps and started working as a team, so that really made a difference."

The Army team kept the sailors from scoring in the third quarter and worked hard to maintain their stranglehold through the fourth quarter.

"Navy had a few good runners but we had some good young officer cadets from ADFA that really cut them down."

"It was our skill level and fitness that gave it to us - and all the boys just wanted to do it for their mates."