Army’s touch triumph in NT
Volume 11, No. 48, July 27, 2006

Got you! Gnr Samuel Bodycoat lunges for LAC Cameron Condon as Cfn Sandii Rixon also closes in on the ball carrier during the Robertson Barracks team’s clash with a side from RAAF Base Tindal.

ARMY has triumphed over Air Force 5-0 in the final of the inaugural inter-base touch football competition between all Top End Military bases at RAAF Base Darwin.

The decider was a high action, hotly-contested, and skilfully-played game.

Commander 1 Bde Brig Craig Orme was there to watch the match, in which the Robertson Barracks team scored in the first two minutes of play.

“These internal sporting rivalries provide the men and women of the three Services with a wonderful opportunity to both improve their fitness and get to know each other a little better,” Brig Orme said.

“And, of course, the competitions are always that little more enjoyable when your own team does well.”

In the play-off for third and fourth, both RAAF Tindal and Larrakeyah produced some great football before RAAF Tindal won 6-1.

Under perfect skies, RAAF Tindal was able to hold Army’s best from Robertson Barracks to 4-3 at half time but went down 8-3 under immense pressure in the preliminaries.

Meanwhile, RAAF Darwin took the honours with a 6-2 win against the combined Services team from Larrakeyah.

Both games were cut-throat, keeping the crowd on their feet and cheering, according to one of the competition organisers, Flg-Off Kylie Western.

“The day was a huge success with all teams having an injury-free high-spirited day,” Flg-Off Western said.

“Great team play, superb refereeing, cheering spectators, and outstanding Service camaraderie all made for a brilliant touch carnival.

“Brig Orme has offered to host the 2007 inter-base competition at Robertson Barracks, now making the activity an annual event for NT-based ADF members.”

Meanwhile, Army also was able to reverse Air Force’s dominance of the NT Inter-Services Touch competition at Robertson Barracks on July 6.

This competition has been running for more than 11 years with divisions for open men and women, men’s over-35s and mixed teams.

Army took the day’s honours convincingly, winning four of its five games. Army best and fairest awards went to: Men’s Open – Cfn Kirby, Gnr Farrell; Women’s Open – Pte Nicole Waterman, Cfn Sandii Rixon; Men over-35 – Sgt Andrew Page.

The NT Combined Services team will now go into training to prepare for the ADF Touch Association Championships in November.