But a late converted try from the Army and Williams’ late miss saw the sides emerge, perhaps fittingly, with honours even.
The police had taken the lead through fullback Craig Deakin before a second half fight back produced excellent scores for wing Richard Johnson and centre Simon Price. Williams added a penalty and conversion.
The Army led at half time through the boot of fly half and captain Rob Sweeney and a try from right wing Kenasi Maritiro.
Second row Ralph Cooke crossed shortly before the final whistle while James Balfry kicked five points.
After the clash British Police head coach Neil Mitchell said: “I thought we were tactically naive. We really should have been getting it going through the forwards more.
“At the end of the day we had the chance to kick a goal and win it. However the way we were mauling I would have liked us to have kicked to the corner and go for it.
“At the end of the day it was only a 50/50 kick but we have some more games coming up and there were some positives out there that we can build on.”
The British Police had looked the more industrious and deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes when scrum-half Toby Handley took a quick tap penalty near the Army line and found Deakin out wide who crossed unopposed.
Fly-half Steve Williams missed the conversion.
Handley then went from hero to villain five minutes later.
His chip from the back of a maul was charged down by flanker Vee Veikune and after a comedy of errors winger Maritiro forced his way over the line for the Army.
Sweeney kicked the conversion and Army A led 7-5 against the run of play on 21 minutes.
The British Police continued to show some great industry especially through the excellent James Grimes.
If the flanker wasn’t busying himself turning ball over he was harassing his opposing scrum-half or appearing out wide to create the extra man.
But despite the pressure Sweeney added a penalty on half time to give the Army a 10-5 lead at the break.
That score worsened to 13-5 two minutes into the second half when replacement Army fullback James Balfry landed a penalty as the British Police went off their feet.
Steve Williams failed to close the gap with two efforts before namesake Rhys came on to the field and reduced the deficit to 13-8 on 55 minutes.
Seven minutes later the British Police were level. After sustained forward pressure the ball was worked wide and winger Johnson, who had already exploited the Army defence with his pace, raced round his man into the corner.
Rhys Williams missed the tricky conversion but the police were level at 13-13.
With momentum now with the British Police the pack again bulldozed forward and a lovely short ball from Steve Williams to centre Tim Green punched a hole in the Army’s wilting defence. Although collared Green did brilliantly to offload to his Simon Price and the centre raced in underneath the posts. Rhys Williams added the conversion to give the British Police a 20-13 lead on 69 minutes.
It was a game there for the taking but no one took responsibility for a high ball on 73 minutes and it bounced towards the Army’s onrushing forwards.
Replacement scrum-half Ross Turner made a fine last ditch tackle but after the ball was recycled second row Cooke was able to saunter over untroubled.
Balfry added the extras for 20-20 and five minutes later Rhys Williams was unable to stroke over his last ditch effort and the fat lady prepared to sing.
Army A coach Dai Davies said: “We knew the British police would have a very good side but it was a game that we could and perhaps should have won.
“However saying that I don’t think we could have had a lot of complaints if that kick had gone over.”
Army A: Tries: Maritiro, Cooke. Cons: Sweeney, Balfry Pens: Sweeney, Balfry.
British Police: Tries: Deakin, Johnson, Price. Con: Williams, Pen: Williams.
Army A: Tom Cummings, Kenasi Maritiro, Wilkie, Masi Masirena, Six Railoa, Rob Sweeney (Capt), Paul Osling, Ken Dowding, Tom Hughes, Joe Baker, Paul Llwellyn, Ralph Cooke, Ryan Davis, Vee Veikune, Gareth Wiliamson.
British Police: Craig Deakin (South Yorks), Richard Johnson (Thames Valley), Simon Price (Staffordshire), Tim Green (Met), Mike Parsons (Central Scotland), Steve Williams (Dyfed Powys), Toby Handley (West Mids), Brendan Fisher (Gwent), Dave Cunningham (Lothian and Borders), Kelvin Todd (Northants), Pete Kolakowski (Cambridge), Richard Stott (West Mids), James Grimes (City of London), Mark Howell (Met), Ben Cole (Captain and Devon and Cornwall). Reps: Rhys Williams (South Wales) for Deakin (50 mins), Kevin Allen ((Dyfed Powys) for Cunningham (50 mins), Ross Turner (Gwent) for Handley (60 mins), Jim McArthur (Strathclyde) for Fisher (60 mins) and Tony Davies (South Wales) for Kolakowski.
Referee: Marc Young (Army)
Man of the Match: James Grimes (British Police)
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