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DEFENDERS
UNDEFEATED
North Qld surges ahead in rugby league resurgence
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Experiencing
the ups and downs of rugby league is NSW Country winger
LS Dave Goodwin, holding on for the ride while tackling
his North Queensland opponent during the final of the Combined
Australian Services Rugby League Championships in Sydney.
Also pictured Defence civilian Dene Davis (left) assisting
the tackle.
Photo by Michael Weaver.
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Results
at a glance
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• Day one — North Queensland def NSW Metro 32-10
• Day two — NSW Country def NSW Metro 36-4
• Day two — North Queensland def South Queensland
18-6
• Day three — NSW Country def South Queensland
36-16
• Final: day four — North Queensland def NSW Country
16-6
• Exhibition game — South Queensland def British
Army Medical Service 32-4
• Player of the series — Pte Adam Wallace, North
Queensland
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The
North Queensland Defenders maintained an unbeaten effort to take
victory at a rough and tumble Combined Australian Services Rugby
League (CASRL) Championships in Sydney from October 3-7.
Featuring combined Service teams from NSW Country, NSW Metro, South
Queensland and victors North Queensland, the championship saw a
return of rugby league to the ADF after an absence of three years.
A touring British side from the Army Medical Service also played
an exhibition game against South Queensland to round off the event.
Most teams gave themselves a week of preparation while accommodated
at Randwick Barracks in the lead-up, however unseasonably hot weather
and three one-hour games in four days still took its toll.
The event was also held at the end of a standard rugby league season,
with next year’s championship being held in Canberra in March,
taking a Service against Service format.
The preliminary action saw North Queensland and NSW Country finish
with two wins each, while South Queensland and NSW Metro were both
on the receiving end with two losses apiece.
Highlights included a bruising encounter between NSW Country and
South Queensland, featuring plenty of big hits in the 36-16 scoreline.
The final on October 6 between NSW Country and North Queensland
was played in near 30-degree C temperature, taking a four by 15-minute
quarter format to give players an extra break.
In a tough encounter, the Queenslanders took a 10-6 lead into half-time
after scoring a converted try just before the break.
The third quarter became a typical arm wrestle in the midday sun,
before North Queensland second-rower and eventual player of the
series Adam Wallace posted the winner in the last quarter for a
16-6 championship victory.
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