Volume 11, No. 41, April 20, 2006


DESPITE a cold snap in Wagga, it was a hot weekend of sport when ADF players from around Australia took to the field and the court for the annual Kapooka combined carnival.

Australian rules, rugby and netball were all contested, with wins for Army being provided by ADFA in the men’s and women’s Australian rules, and SME who defeated 6RAR to take out the rugby 10s.

Unlike last year’s carnival, where temperatures reached the mid-30s, a cool stiff breeze created havoc with the kicking accuracy and scoring in the Australian Rules competition.

Played in a knock-out format, the first round of finals produced the top four teams of HMAS Melbourne Eastern Fleet, HMAS Cerberus, ADFA One and 6RAR.

The female competition came down to the ADFA Ewes and HMAS Melbourne Whites in the grand final, where the stiff breeze contributed to a low score, with Melbourne Whites not taking full advantage of an early three-goal advantage.

After the half-time break, the ADFA Ewes went on a goal kicking frenzy, with six goals in 15 minutes. The girls from ADFA were camped on their forward line for most of the second half, and goals were kicked from all over the field to ensure victory for them.

The men’s final saw ADFA One take on Eastern Fleet, resulting in a hard-fought match, even though both teams were fatigued from playing all day.

Fitness proved to be the difference, with the youthful legs of the ADFA One team running through the mid field and providing great delivery to their forward line, to score a 26-point win over Navy.

The Kapooka 7s netball competition was fought out between teams from 9FSB, HMAS Cerberus, RAAF Base Wagga Wagga, HMAS Albatross and a mixed team from the ACT and RAAF Base Wagga Wagga. The ACT combined team proved too good for HMAS Cerberus, taking the game 15-5.

It was neck-and-neck in the women’s clash, with the Navy triumphing over the home side from ARTC 13-12.
In the rugby, the SME rugby union team defeated the 6RAR (1) team at the Kapooka 10s, taking home the lion’s share of the $3000 prize money.

Eleven teams contested the event, with the Plate being won by 6RAR (2) team and the Bowl taken out by RAAF Williamtown’s 381 ECSS team.

In the finals, SME Steamrollers lived up to their name to win the Cup 41-0 over a never-say-die 6RAR (1). 6RAR (2) defeated Riverina Army 17-5, and 381 ECSS were too strong for Vikings Old Boys wining 31-14.

Pte Kieran Dan, 6RAR, was voted the tournament’s Best and Fairest.

The teams competing included: SME, 6RAR (two teams), A Field Battery, 9FSB, Oakey Aviation Rugby, Riverina Army (ARTC), Border Army (ALTC), Riverina Army Vikings Old Boys, HMAS Cerberus and RAAF side, 381 ECSS.

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