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Army unstoppable |
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Service chiefs CA Lt-Gen Leahy and CAF Air Marshall Shepherd joined patron of Defence rugby league Lt-Gen David Hurley to cheer on their services. The match began at a frenetic pace, with hard hitting forwards on both sides forcing turnovers in possession. Playing at fullback, but wearing the number four, Pte Neil Feather opened Army’s account when he threw a dummy out wide and then cut infield to score the first try under the posts. Pte Feather then converted for a six nil lead. RAAF counterpunched with a converted try on the right wing. Air Force second rower LAC Grant Reibel, a former NRL player with the North Queensland Cowboys, led the charge up the middle for the team in blue, but Army’s gutsy defence withheld the onslaught. Army’s scrambling defence in the centres halted a RAAF backline movement that looked certain to result in a try on the left. Moments later they attacked the right wing but were held out again, being tackled over the corner post by winger Pte Josh Fuller. Army responded, reaching the opposition‘s ten, but a dropped ball late in the count ended the charge. After another change in possession Army received a penalty from an infringement in the play the ball, and on the last tackle of the ensuing set, winger Lcpl Tim Johnson darted into the corner for a four pointer. The kick by Pte Feather curved in into toward the posts, then bounced up off the crossbar and then over, which brought the growing crowd to its feet. In the next set Army had a try disallowed from a forward pass, and went to the sheds leading 12-6. The second half did not see a drop in intensity, with both sides trading blows and employing a short kicking game. In the 26th minute, Army centre Cpl Joel Foster and RAAF fullback Cpl Jay Brookfield went toe to toe, each earning ten minutes in the bin. Army got the penalty but could not convert the tap into points. After a RAAF downfield raid and then penalty, the Blues captain gave what appeared to be a forward pass to replacement Cpl Jeremy Barnes, who crossed the line near the posts. The scores were levelled by their captain, Cpl Michael Green, who played Queensland Cup for the Bronco’s feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales. Army struck back through Fowler who converted his own try. From the re-start, RAAF backrower Cpl Anthony Hopkin conceded consecutive penalties. This gave the Reds the field position that allowed Army pivot Cpl Mick Green the opportunity to toe through the ball and claim a four pointer. Pte Neil Fowler converted for a 24-12 lead. With five and a half minutes to go, that should have been the game but Army dropped their guard. Defending their red zone an attempted intercept went astray, giving RAAF’s Barnes his second with an outstretched hand over the line. The conversion attempt hit the right hand upright, missing, giving Army the buffer that ultimately retained the trophy. In the remaining three minutes RAAF scored and converted. Army coach, Capt Al Lynch paid tribute to his charges after the match, particularly his hard working front rowers. Capt Lynch said “the game was there for the taking, and both sides had opportunities to capitalise” He added “we took ours earlier which created the opportunity to maintain the lead, and in the end it was just the missed conversion that got us over the line.” |
