Faster than a camera's shutter (almost)... VCDF XV winger Dene Davis is hard to catch in the match against the ACSC XV. Photo by Cpl Wade Laube.

A VCDF rugby union team made Lt-Gen Des Mueller a happy man after it whitewashed a team from the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) 42-0 at ADFA in an entertaining evening on October 31 at ADFA.

In extending his congratulations to the ACSC team for the players' spirited resistance, Lt-Gen Mueller said it was indicative of the fact they were working "far too hard and there's not enough time being dedicated to recreational pursuits", to which a hearty "here-here" was the response.

With that, it is hoped the match will become an annual event, spawning the players' and supporters' love of a good game of rugby in a social atmosphere, featuring the so-called Weston Creek 'wannabees' and the 'elite' from the Russell/Campbell Park precinct. An international flavour also prevailed with two New Zealanders, an Englishman and an American also taking part.

But all was not so convivial on the field, with the only 'gentlemen's rules' being amongst the interchange players who were able to replace their counterparts at a moment's notice - a necessity in what is now the rugby off-season.

And yes, blood was spilt in the ensuing battle.

The VCDF lads made their intentions clear from the start, with the first try coming in the blink of an eye in the opening two minutes - the first of many unconverted tries for the evening.

ACSC went on the attack from the restart and threatened the VCDF line, but was thwarted by VCDF players kicking and running their way out of trouble to eventually find good field position, resulting in another try and a 10-0 lead.

ACSC's greatest inroads from then were from the kickoff, with another of Mueller's men ducking and weaving his way through traffic to find his winger who scored in the corner - 15-0 after just over 20 minutes.

A further try before half-time took the score to 20-0, although the Collegians did hold some command in the lead-up to the break.

The opening 15 minutes of the second stanza made it clear that words of wisdom were spoken by the ACSC coach at half-time, with the team repelling sustained pressure before finally cracking when a VCDF player returned the momentum to the play-makers who now held a 25-0 lead.

Another two tries, the second of which being a superb solo effort from 20m out by Matt Barnett, saw the floodgates unlocked, with the kicker even piloting over his first (and only) conversion of the match for a 37-0 lead.

Another try put the icing on the cake before the match ended with more players on the ground than standing in a well-piled ruck (and no they weren't ACSC players looking for a hole to crawl into).

At the presentation, Lt-Gen Mueller congratulated both teams on the spirit in which they played the game and for the celebration of fun they produced.

"To my motley lot, let me say that I'm not surprised by the result - frankly I'm astonished," he said.

Best for the victorious VCDF team were forward Paul Williams, centre Al Armstrong and winger Dene Davis (though not for goal-kicking), while best for ACSC were team captain and hooker Andrew Carr, five-eighth Mick Ashleigh and prop Scott Clingan.

By Michael Weaver