Cops cop third loss
Army scores impressive three-peat

Cheers: The Army Aviation Centre rugby league team celebrates its third victory over the Queensland Police.

QUEENSLAND Police copped their third consecutive defeat against Army at the Legends of League curtain-raiser clash at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghoffer Stadium on October 29.

The team from the Army Aviation Centre at Oakey took on the Queensland Police team from the South West region in the inaugural match played for the Services Challenge Trophy, raising money for Legacy and the Perry Irwin Fund (the police version of Legacy).

After enterprising play Army scored first through a converted try. The side then raced to a 12-0 lead after a successful set scrumbase move.’

However, a scrum loss against the feed close to the Army line enabled the police to score out wide and reduce the deficit to 12-4.

Army continued their dominance into the first half, overcoming a poor completion rate with the ball by their committed defence and a good kicking game by five-eighth Shane Harden, which frustrated the police attack. Another converted try before half-time put Army ahead 18-4 at the break.

In the second half, Army picked up where it left off and through both structured and enterprising play scored three more tries to surge to a 34-4 lead.

After a short break following the unfortunate injury of a police player with about 10 minutes to go, the police scored a consolation try to make the final scoreline 34-10.

Despite being heavily concussed early in the match, prop Tpr Chris Hiette toiled hard in both attack and defence to earn the Players’ Player award.

Tpr Adam McGregor scored two tries, with one apiece to Cpl Shane Harden, Cfn John Miller, Lt Jason Driscoll and Cpl Gavin Jacobs. WO2 Wayne Vonhoff kicked five from six.

Army coach Capt Al Lynch said the competition between Army and police began on the Darling Downs three years ago, with Army since winning all three clashes.

Capt Lynch said the match also provided an opportunity for those Oakey/Toowoomba based Army players to impress for selection into the Australian Army Rugby League team, and to compete when Army takes on RAAF and Navy in Townsville in February during the Combined Australian Services Rugby League Interservice Carnival.

“The match has provided the chance for incumbent and new players to demonstrate their skills and eagerness to vie for a spot in the Army team,” he said.

He expects as many as five players from the match to be considered for the Army team.

“I’ll have an opportunity to review the game once I’ve received the video and in that way I’ll be able to make a confirmatory opinion about certain players,” he said.

Players interested ibecoming involved in Darling Downs Army Rugby League can contact Mr Mick Martin on (07) 4691 9574 or Sgt Wes Ratcliffe on (07) 4691 7984.