Air Force suffers as Army flexes

By Cpl Damian Shovell

ARMY obliterated Air Force 62-0 in the wooden spoon decider of the men’s competition of the Australian Services Rugby Championship at Randwick Oval on May 21.

After suffering a one-point defeat at the hands of in-form Navy only days earlier, Army extracted vengeance on Air Force, taking to the field determined not to come home winless.

Assistant Coach of the Army Rugby Union team Sgt Damien Cahill, 1RAR, said although Army’s second-place win was convincing, there was still lingering disappointment from the Navy loss.

“We’re runners up – it sticks in the throat a bit. But it was certainly an improvement on the rubbish that we displayed [playing Navy],” he said.

He said the Navy defeat served as a wakeup call for his team, as they stuck to the game plan and found form in the runners-up decider.

“Obviously the more favourable conditions, a dry day and a dry track, helped the team play the expansive style of rugby they want to play.

“But, I’m still far from happy, and I’m sure the boys are still far from happy in the execution of the way they played [against Navy].”

In the ensuing decider, he said Air Force unsurprisingly came out on the attack in the first half, which was met by an equally determined Army side.

“We were fortunate to get some structure and pattern to our play and there was a lot of moments of individual brilliance, that got us through in that first 20 minutes,” he said.

“We thought it would be a lot harder to roll them in the first half, but we picked up a couple of tries.”

With success evident, Sgt Cahill took the opportunity to trial some new players in the second half.

“We ran a lot of new fellas who have come into camp for the first time, and they earned their stripes in what was an unstructured, but free flowing and entertaining game.”

He said the game also served as a chance for players to impress selectors for the upcoming ASRU tour of Thailand.

“A number of these boys will be selected in the ASRU team to travel to Phuket, where they’ll compete in the Thailand 10s.”