Rugby’s winning Invasion
Army team proves it can mix it with the best in Asia

Determination: Army players attempt to charge down a clearing kick from a Hong Kong Barbarian.

Big hit: Lt Matt Bunker launches into a tackle.

Crunch: Cpl Ricky Dumigan feeds the scrum in Singapore.

Try: Army takes the upper hand during the game against China in Beijing.

THE Australian Army Rugby Team has defeated two world-ranked teams and given a third a run for its money in a successful tour of Asia.

In the first time an ADF or service team has contested national representative teams, Army defeated Singapore 40-5 and China 47-16, before falling just short of defeating the world’s 29th ranked Hong Kong Barbarians, losing 36-26, in their final match.

Army coach Capt Angus Baker said the tour was a great success.

“The team was acknowledged for its spirited and high-quality play and for the ambassadorial behaviour during the conduct of the tour,” he said.

The tour schedule saw Army play five games in 14 days in four countries and in front of crowds of several thousand, including expatriate Australians and, while in China, Governor-General Michael Jeffery.

GAME ONE

AFTER only three days in country and still struggling to acclimatise to Singapore’s humidity, the Army team took its first scalp at Yio Chu Kang Stadium, the Singapore National side, 40-5.

Army applied the pressure early, taking a quick 6-0 lead before Cfn Matt Fraser posted Army’s first try of the game, which was converted to make it 13-0.

Tries to Cpl Ricky Dumigan and Pte Kieran Dan secured a 25-0 lead for Army at half-time.

In the second half, a more determined Singapore slowed the scoring and it took 15 minutes before Army posted its next try – a bustling effort from Capt Scott Davidson.

This was followed 10 minutes later with another try before the home side posted a late try to make the final scoreline 40-5.

Cfn Matt Fraser was judged player of the match.

Capt Baker said he was pleased with the efforts of the team.

“This is a national team ranked 50 in the world, and to put a score like this on them was a real credit to the team,” he said.

GAME TWO

A CROWD of more than 2000 attended the game in Beijing to watch Army play the Chinese national side (ranked 38 in the world), including the Chinese Foreign Minister, a number of Chinese dignitaries and Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery, who was visiting China at the time.

The match started with neither team giving an inch, and the Chinese side looked determined to get off to a good start against the visitors.

Constant pressure on the Army line saw China take a penalty goal and an early 3-0 lead, but Cpl Paul Yates’ quick response of a penalty goal levelled the scores.

A penalty goal to China restored its three-point lead at 6-3, before scores again levelled at 6-6.

The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the half and just when it seemed the scores would be deadlocked at the break, Army posted the first try of the match when Pte Kieran Dan scored on the stroke of half-time. A successful conversion by Cpl Paul Yates took Army to a 13-6 lead.

In a stunning 10-minute period at the start of the second half, Army put the game beyond the reach of the Chinese side with three tries in quick succession to Cpl Ricky Dumigan, LCpl Tyrone Scott and Cfn Matt Fraser.

With two of the three tries converted by Cpl Yates, the score blew out to 32-6.

To the Chinese players’ credit, they never gave in and they came back at Army, posting a try of their own midway through the second half. The try was unconverted, leaving the score at 32-11.

Army went on to win 47-16. Both teams received a standing ovation from the crowd after the match.

GAME THREE

THE match against the Hong Kong Barbarians was credited as the most physically tough of the series.

Army struck first when Pte Zane Mitchell scored in the 10th minute after some excellent lead up work from the forwards, and Cpl Yates converted to give Army a 7-0 advantage.

But it wasn’t long before the Barbarians reduced the deficit with a penalty goal, which was shortly followed by a try after an attempted clearing kick from inside the Army 22 was charged down and Army found themselves down 10-7.

The Barbarians extended the lead to 13-7 with a penalty goal before Army hit back with a try to Sgt Nathan Herbert.

Army were awarded a penalty 5m out from the Hong Kong line and, rather than taking the points, opted for a line out, which produced the try, and the successful conversion took Army to a 14-13 lead.

But Hong Kong soon fought back and at half-time had a 23-14 lead.

Army needed to score first in the second half and a mistake by Hong Kong on their halfway line was pounced upon by Cpl Gavin Whiteside, who raced away to score. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 23-19.

The Barbarians were then awarded another penalty and took full advantage with a goal in the 55th minute to increase their lead to seven points.

Army were then awarded a penalty on the Hong Kong 22m line, and once again chose to run the ball rather than take the points from a penalty goal.

Again they were rewarded with another try to Sgt Herbert.

The successful conversion tied the game at 26-all with just on 20 minutes to play. However, the Barbarians closed out a tiring Army in the final stages to win 36-26.

Best player for Army was Cfn Matt Fraser, who was also awarded the player of the tour.