Sports

Out of touch
By Barry Rollings

Edition 1165, May 03, 2007
 
Not so high: Pte Sandii Rixon and AB Sara Mooney during Army’s loss.
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey
THE Geoff Ledger Cup eluded Army women once again after a tight deciding match with defending champion Navy at the Australian Services Australian Football Association Championships in Canberra from April 16-20.

After downing Air Force 8.6 (54) to 5.2 (32) on the opening day at Ainslie Oval, Army had to beat Navy – conqueror of Air Force 8.9 (57) to 1.0 (6) on day two – in the decider.

After an even first quarter against Air Force, Army trailed 0.0 (0) to 1.1 (7) at quarter time but nosed ahead 3.1 (19) to 1.1 (7) at half-time through the efforts of Pte Allison Smith.

Pte Smith, OCdt Hanneka Geerligs, Pte Alexandra Shain and OCdt Alex Smith all chipped in the third term as Army kept Air Force largely in defence and forged to a 6.4 (40) to 1.2 (8) last-change advantage.

Air Force stuck to its guns and a solo star turn by WOFF Donna Puglisi produced four goals in the first eight minutes of the quarter before Army steadied with two match-clinching goals.

Against Navy, Army proved resolute in the first half and trailed 1.1 (7) to 1.3 (9) at quarter time as both sides tested each other and Navy failed to make the most of its chances.

The second quarter was equally tight but with AB Jennifer North leading the way, including a goal from a free on half-time, Navy led 3.4 (22) to 2.1 (13) at the long break.

Army applied late pressure in the third quarter, but was not rewarded until Pte Smith snapped truly at 19 minutes. Army kicked 1.3 to Navy’s 2.3 to trail 3.4 (22) to 5.7 (37) at the last change.

Army threw everything at Navy in a desperate last quarter to restrict it to two behinds while adding 1.1, but it was insufficient to reel in the winner.

Army was best served over the two games by Cfn Sandi Rixon, who had an outstanding carnival, Pte Smith, Pte Shain and Capt Jane Worme.

“We threw everything at them (Navy) in the last quarter but it did not quite come off for us,” Army coach WO2 Kim Beasland said.

“Our ability to stick to the game plan went a little awry but I can’t be harsh on their great endeavour.

“We knew it would be a game of attrition and our girls took it to them. Navy has improved over the past few years and have improved 100 per cent on last year, notwithstanding that operational deployments have hurt us a little with two exceedingly good players absent.

Many of our girls are fresh to the game and this level of footy so that is sustaining for the code.”