They crashed out of the tournament at the hands of defending champions France.
Comfortable victories over Tonga and Ireland saw the personnel make the perfect start to the pool stages before Zambia provided a sterner test in their Aldershot clash.
Army prop SSgt Sarah Batley (AGC (RMP)) – a scorer against Tonga – crossed to give the hosts a 27-5 lead in the second half but the Zambians added three tries late on before eventually going on to lose 32-22.
The result saw UKAF set up a semi-final clash with their cross-Channel rivals and Batley continued her fine personal form with a converted try that saw them trail 19-7 at the break.
However, two further French scores followed after the interval before a late consolation reduced the arrears to 31-12 at full-time.
“It is tough, we showed a lot of heart and are a team that gives everything,” skipper SSgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) said.
“France always show up. It was a physical battle, and they play a similar structure to us. It is hard to swallow, but we couldn’t capitalise on the opportunities we had.”
France went on to lift the trophy following a 14-12 triumph over Fiji in the final, while UKAF ended their campaign on a high with a 76-5 win against Ireland in the third/fourth-place playoff.
“We can be really proud of what we have done – from the day we got together to the day we have finished,” head coach WO2 Sarah Mitchelson (RLC) said at the conclusion of the tournament.
“Hopefully everyone has seen what a great bunch of girls they are – both on the pitch and off.”
