Traditional champs fall out of touch

By WO2 Neville Bullock

TALENTED touch players were in abundance during brigade finals at Lavarack Barracks, where an undefeated 1RAR A’s lost to 5 Avn Regt 4-5.

Despite the usual brigade commitments to deployments and exercises, it was expected to be a big day for 1RAR with representation in both the A and B grade finals. But the challenging teams had other thoughts about 1RARs domination, and thirsted to end it.

The day started early when CMU defeated 1RAR in the B final, with CMU opening up the game in the first two minutes, scoring two quick touchdowns.

CMU outclassed the 1RAR side because of the experience in the team, and went on with their domination to score a 6-2 victory.

Player of the final went to CMU’s Cpl Rick Luhan, 13 MP Pl, and the player’s player award for CMU went to both Sgt Tony Marr and WO2 Steven Kersnovske.

The A grade kicked off at 8.30am, with 1RAR playing the underdogs, 5 Avn Regt. 1RAR had been the benchmark all year, as they have been for a number of years.

The scoring opened up when 1RAR scored through Cfn Pete Lovelock. The 1RAR team put on another point before 5 Avn Regt spectacularly replied.

With 1RAR taking the lead to half 4-3, the second half saw both sides going end-to-end, touchdown-for-touchdown.
With only seconds remaining, 5 Avn Regt scored an equaliser to see the game go into drop off.

5 Avn Regt started with the ball, but could only hold onto it for three touches as WO2 Greg Taylor dropped an easy “you and I”, which brought an almighty roar from the 1RAR crowd. But after a frustrating set of six, 1RAR couldn’t close the game, so the ball went back to 5 Avn Regt.

This gave 5 Avn Regt the chance to weigh up the situation and roll 1RAR back in the center of the field, sending the ball wide to Cpl Shane Lewis, who backed his pace and went around 1RAR’s defence to run 35m and score a victory for 5 Avn Regt.
Cpl Lewis also scored player of the final.