Beat: Cpl Gavin Whiteside at Ballymore Stadium Brisbane, during ASRU’s loss to Australian Universities.

Fast hands: Cpl Paul Yates evades the opposition during the match against Australian Universities Rugby Union at Ballymore Stadium. Photos by Jason Weeding

Crunch: An ASRU player feels the pain of the Fijian defence. Photo by Bill Cunneen

By Andrew Stackpool

THE Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) Warriors have ended the season with three consecutive losses.

The onslaught began when ASRU was defeated by NSW Suburban Rugby Union 29-12 on June 22, only three days before they were set to play a visiting team from the Republic of Fiji military forces.

But any thought that they’d saved their strength for the Fiji match was soon abandoned as the ASRU team were defeated in a had fought, but disappointing, 29-12.

With hopes the ASRU team had salvaged some form, they met the Australian Universities team on July 1, and to their credit, attacked with rare commitment, but again lost 22-15.

But the match that drew the most attention was undoubtedly against the Fijians, with now retired CDF and ASRU patron Gen Peter Cosgrove, and the newly appointed CDF and ASRU patron ACM Angus Houston, cheering them on.

ASRU coach Wg-Cmdr Graham King described the game as brutal and extremely fast, and said faulty ball handling cost the Warriors valuable points during the first half.

“It took us about 25 minutes to get into the game,” he said.

“We didn’t take our time and space, and that was certainly indicative of the half-time score (17-5).

“We should have done a lot better and been more competitive.”

The Warriors may have been down, but weren’t out as a determined team hit the field for the second half.

“We played very, very well,” Wg- Cmdr King said. “We muscled up, settled down and got our game patterns going. Our ball handling improved and we made gains.”

After the game Gen Cosgrove said the match had displayed “great spirit, courage, teamwork, stamina and skill”.

“The game calls for everything we could ever want out of our people in the ADF,” he said. “When it is played with the passion the way the Fijians play, it is a great thing to behold.”

To the Fijians he said, “You played a mighty game and your win today was well deserved. Your defence and counter-attack was marvellous. You are worthy if this great game that was put on today. We’ll get you next time.

He also praised the ASRU team and said they earned his respect in their unwavering determination to win.

“I was delighted to see you stick to an extremely tenacious attempt to win. If conditions had been a bit different, the score would have been a bit closer.”

Solid attacking was not enough to prevent the Warriors going down to Australian Universities in the Weary Dunlop Trophy at Ballymore, Queensland on July 1.

ASRU coach Wg-Cmdr Graham King said good intensity from the forwards in the first 10 minutes of the game had the team in a commanding position.

“It was a pleasing start,” he said. “Traditionally Universities have run in three or four tries in the first 10 minutes of the game, meaning ASRU has had to fight back for the rest of the match.”

Universities opened the scoring with a try at the 13-minute mark. However, the Warriors continued to dominate forward play until the 27 minute mark, when Universities made a break from the half-way line to run in a superb wingers try. With a combination of Universities’ infringements and successful conversions, ASRU went to the half time break trailling 12-9.

ASRU evened the score early in the second half with a fast drop-goal by team captain Cpl Paul Yates.

The ASRU forwards kept the pressure on hard as they continued to dominate the scrums.

Then Universities scored another try and went over again to take a 22-12 lead. More penalties against Universities and the Warriors came back to 22-15.

Two minutes to go and the ASRU forwards were held up over the line. A five-metre scrum followed along with another penalty but ASRU fell just short of the Universities line prior to the final whistle sounding. The teams walked from the fields 22-15.

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