By Sgt Sybelle Foxcroft
ON Melbourne Cup Day at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, the Combined 7 Bde Soccer Team faced off with the touring Royal Engineers Association Football Club (REAFC).

Although the result was not flattering for 7 Bde - the score 10-nil in favour of the visitors, 7 Bde team captain Cpl Neal Padgham said that it was a valuable opportunity to play against the visiting team.

"The Aussies were outplayed on the day by the professionalism of the Brits," he said.

"We were totally impressed and honoured to participate against a team with such experience and to witness how the game should be played."

The Royal Engineers Association Football Club, led by Capt Geordie Brown, said that the tour has been a fantastic reward for the players.

"The tour was a reward for the lads who have put in a lot of effort in their own time," he said.

Out of the 14,000 Royal British Engineers only one team is chosen and their sole job is to hone their soccer skills five days a week.

The tour results were:

• Army Soccer Team 0 - REAFC 2;
• New South Wales Police Team 0 - REAFC 3;
• Combined Brigade Team 0 - REAFC 10;
• ADF representative team 3 - REAFC 0.

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