Army rolls over rivals to take out league title

Jubilation: Army’s Vice Captain Cpl Nick Matthews (4RAR) proudly displays the winner’s trophy. Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram.

By Cpl Andrew Hetherington and Pte Greg Robertson
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

THE Army Rugby League team has crushed Air Force and Navy to convincingly win the Combined Australian Services Rugby League (CASRL) Carnival at Townsville.

After finishing with the wooden spoon last year, Army Thunder was determined to win the 2006 title.

They did not disappoint themselves or the crowd with two dominant performances – a 56-0 drubbing of Navy and then a 38-12 win over defending champions Air Force.

Army Assistant team manager Sgt Peter Rogasch said the scoreline in the final did not reflect the intensity of the match.

“I spoke to some of the team after the game and they said it was one of the toughest matches they have ever played. Air Force was a worthy and formidable opponent,” Sgt Rogasch said.

Army Thunder coach Capt Al Lynch praised the team for its tenacity.

“The ability to dig deep and absorb the pressure from RAAF and pressure from ourselves was a testament to the character of the team,” he said.

In the final, Air Force got the jump on Army to score within the first eight minutes to make it 4-0.

A dazzling try by Sgt Brian Jones, of 3CSSB, followed by a successful conversion by Pte Chey Bird, 31RQR, enabled Army to take a 6-4 lead.

Air Force came back and led 12-10 at half-time, but Army lifted after the break to pile on five tries.

This was set up by the Army forwards led by Cpl Nick Matthews, 4RAR (Cdo), and second rower Pte Brandon Leach, 10FSB, who laid the platform for the impressive Army back line, which scored the five tries and was complemented by the accurate kicking of Pte Bird with four conversions.

Although Air Force didn’t score in the second half, their forwards were making 50-60m every time they took the ball.
“Air Force could have scored, and they had a lot of opportunities, where they failed to take the ball up to the line,” Sgt Rogasch said.

Army were runaway winners of the match and the carnival with a final winning score of 38-12.

“Pte Chey Bird put in a great effort, so did Lt Jason Driscoll (10FSB), who won the Army players’ player award for the carnival and also won the best and fairest award,” Sgt Rogasch said.

“Cpl Shane Harden (44 MP Pl), who scored two tries and won the player of the match award, and Sgt Brian Jones won best back for the carnival.”

In Army’s first match of the carnival they had a less difficult time, disposing of Navy 56-0.

Sgt Rogasch said the first 20 minutes of the match was “gruesome”, with back-to-back ball play from one end of the ground to the other.

“There were plenty of forward tussles early on and after that the forwards took over and laid the platform for the backs to score most of the tries,” he said.

Pte Tim Johnson, 4RAR (Cdo), opened Army’s account the first try of the match after only four minutes. Cpl Adam McGreger, of ALTC, followed this up with a brilliant conversion.

From then on it was a try-fest with Army scoring 11 unanswered tries.

In the third quarter, when the Army ball play got a bit slippy, Navy picked up its game and tried to make a comeback but could not score.

Sgt Rogasch said Army fielded a very competitive side for the clash.

“We fielded the strongest side for the match as we possibly could and felt comfortable going into the match with the side we put in,” he said.

“Pte Bird was the top scorer for the side with two tries and two goals.”

Before the carnival the Army team spent two weeks in a training camp.

“The camp was primarily held at 1RAR, which involved basic ball skills, team-bonding exercises and the team visited the North Queensland Cowboys stadium,” he said.

“The team also completed the ADF Sports Council base skills program for rugby league, which ensures that the games are fairer and players are not injured. The players found this very useful.”