Lt Jeremy Schieb, 4 Fd Regt with ball escapes a tackle attempt during a recent curtain raiser match in Townsville. Photo by Pte Jamie Osborne, 1RAR.

League raiser

DEFENCE and Army Rugby League took a momentous step forward, when two Lavarack-based units played a curtain raiser game to the NQ Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs match in Townsville recently.

Originally scheduled as a NQ ADF team to play a NSW ADF team, operational circumstances precluded a number of players from both teams taking part. Not wanting to lose the opportunity being afforded by the NQ Cowboys, Australian Services and Army Rugby League Coach WO2 Al Lynch, canvassed local units within Lavarack Barracks in order to select two teams that could take the field.

3CSR and 4 Fd Regt stepped up to the plate, in what is only the second time ADF Rugby League has played before an NRL game.

WO2 Al Lynch said the Combined Australian Services Rugby League National team played against a Victorian state side prior to a Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm game at Colonial Stadium in 2001.

“This game, however, is a first in itself, in so far as, it was two Army units playing against each other,” he said.

This game was facilitated through the NQ Cowboys Community Advisory Commission ADF representative Maj Stephen Ogg.

“This advisory commission has been set up to gain community input as to how the NQ Cowboys are conducting business, both good and bad, and the commission provides this feedback directly to the CEO,” he said.

Maj Ogg said that with Defence being such an integral part of the north Queensland community and ADF Rugby League increasing in popularity, it looked like an ideal situation where ADF Rugby League could play a significant part in a NQ Cowboys game day setting.

The game itself was a close encounter with 3CSR gaining the ascendancy early in the match by scoring not long after an uncharacteristic mistake from the gunners’ half- back Cpl Dave Rudder.

From that point both sides settled into their game plans and tussled for the remaining part of the first half with 3CSR leading on the score board 8-4.

The second half proved just as thrilling, with both teams equally gaining and losing advantages through the ambitious and enterprising style of play both teams had adopted.

The game was moving to it’s conclusion when 4 Fd finally edged in front and, despite a late charge from 3 CSR, the gunners held on to secure the game, with the score board reading 14-8.

WO2 Lynch said the night was a success.

“Both teams, given the limited preparation, played magnificently and everybody involved agreed.

“This has been a significant step for Army Rugby League and all indications from the NQ Cowboys suggest it can happen again next year.”

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