Unstoppable
Volume 11, No. 45, June 15, 2006
By Cpl Keith Whalley

Hard hitter: Army’s Pte Kathy Faasee looks dangerous during Army’s ASRU win. Photo by AB Paul McCallum.

ARMY held off a last-ditch attempt by the Combined Navy/RAAF team to win the Australian Services Women’s Rugby Championship 12-10 at Vikings Park in Canberra on June 3.
Army seemed to have held out Combined but an Army player was sent off right on full-time, giving Combined a late chance to retain their 2005 title.

They made a concerted effort to snatch victory with a desperate attack in which the ball was kept alive for several minutes after the siren before finally being knocked into touch metres from the Army line.

Earlier, the signs looked ominous for Combined as Army’s Sgt Joanne Downes strolled over the tryline after three minutes.

However, the rest of the first half belonged to Combined due to Army’s mounting penalty count, hampered further by constant ball-handling errors.

Although Combined failed to capitalise on a penalty directly in front of goal, they finally scored through AB Tennielle Sullivan.
Five minutes later, LAC/W Rebekah Allen scored to leave Army trailing 10-5 at half time.

Army came out in the second half with a reformed forward pack and, with more disciplined ball control, started the stronger of the two teams.

Sgt Joanne Downes scored again and Pte Kathy Faasee’s conversion gave Army a 12-10 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Army coach WO2 Sean Emmett said “it was a nail-biting game played in very good spirit”.

“Our girls capitalised on a few opportunities and worked very hard for their win” he said.

Combined coach CPO Scott McNally said his players were devastated to lose by only two points, but he was very proud of them.

He said the game had done a lot for women’s rugby, with both sides playing very hard.

“Although Combined dominated up front, Army had a slightly stronger back line. Combined was let down by lapses in defence and in the end it came down to conversions,” he said. “Combined had four RAAF members in the Combined 22-women side who played very well, including the eight newcomers to the game of rugby.”

Maj-Gen Ian Gordon presented the Cdre Mick Dunne Cup to the championship winners.

In other news, Army players OCdt Kate Porter, Cpl Jorja Jones and Pte Kathy Faasee, along with Navy player Sub-Leut Amanda Eddie, have been selected in the Australian Women’s Rugby Wallaroos training side for the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in Canada later this year.

For more information on upcoming events see www.servicesrugby.asn.au or www.rugby.com.au/tournaments/womens_rugby_world_cup_2006/