Two ADF team members haul a Royal New Zealand Air Force player to the ground in a hard-fought game that ended in a draw. Photo by AB Yuri Ramsey, NIU-E

HOWLING winds, helicopters and disallowed tries – the fiery match between the NSW Combined Services Rugby League (CASRL) team and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) had it all.

On September 28, the CASRL team hosted the Eric H. Cox “The Bosun” Challenge at Randwick Barracks.

Touring Australia and playing in the three-way competition were the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (UK Army) and players from the RNZAF Rugby League team.

Though both teams were looking for victory, NSW proved strong competition, defeating RLC and drawing with the Kiwis.

Having suffered two defeats so far on their tour – to the NSW Police and Malta – RLC came out firing in the first game against NSW and scored a quick converted try.

In return, NSW posted two tries (Pte Benjamin Bryant and Smn Joshua Seaman) out wide to lead 8-6.

Then RLC slipped ahead to 12-8 just before half time.

A quick brief from the NSW coach, AB Kev Grinham, and NSW returned to the field a better team, immmediately posting a quick unconverted try to level the scores.

Deep in the second half, RLC surrendered a penalty in front and the coach sent out directions for a shot at goal.

NSW’s fourth goalkicker stepped up and converted the penalty, taking NSW two points clear. In the ensuing set of six from the kick off, NSW ran the clock down to record a narrow victory of 14-12.

Unfortunately Pte Tim Johnson received a knee injury, preventing his return to the field for the remainder of the carnival, giving coach AB Grinham further complications in establishing a halves combination.

In game two, an exhausted RLC faced a tough opponent in RNZAF. Having expended all their energy in their first game, the RLC players were no match for the classy Kiwi players, who had stepped off the plane just three hours before kick off.

The Kiwis ran away with the match 40-0 scoring nine tries, although the tricky gusts of wind played havoc with their kickers.

The last game of the day, NSW versus RNZAF, was then set up for the winner to take all, but neither team would walk away with the win.

The Kiwis entertained the locals with the longest Haka ever witnessed, which riled the NSW boys, who had cut short their warm up to kick off early, so the Kiwi’s would not cool down.

The first half was marked by strong defence. The new half combination of AB Peter Coates and Smn Seaman kept the Kiwis deep in their half throughout, with a superb kicking game. Scores were locked at nil-all at half time.

After the break, the Kiwi’s returned to the field with the wind advantage. In the third minute of the second half, two helicopters landed at the base causing a diversion, and a quick back-line move from the Kiwis saw them score under the posts, 6-0.

From the ensuing kick off NSW returned a length of the field try (Smn Seaman) but the elation soon turned sour as the linesman recalled the players for a forward pass early in the movement.

The ensuing scrum saw the Kiwis again score out wide to lead 10-0.

In the 30th minute of the second half, persistent attack and a neat inside ball let Smn Kyle Arnold crash over the line to bring the scores to 10-6.

Controversy struck again seven minutes later as the Kiwis, having scored again to seal the match, were undone by the tournament officials, Cpl Craig Robinson and Leut-Cmdr Sion Griffiths, who had been informed by the crowd that the Kiwi’s had 14 players on the field.

The referee and linesman quickly conferred and disallowed the try as the 14th man scurried from the field.

From the penalty, the NSW team scored out wide to tie up the match.

LS Adam Thomson then set himself up for a difficult left foot kick to win the match.

The ball soared high and straight but the wind howled, holding the ball up. The ball then fell onto the crossbar, returning to the field of play and leaving the final score at 10-10.

The tournament was the first of its kind and was the initiative of Tas Baiteiri (NSWRL), Cpl Robinson and Leut-Cmdr Griffiths, as the ADF gears up to host the Defence World Cup in 2008, if approved.

.