Navy valiant in defeat

The final of the men’s rugby at the national interservice championships saw Navy defeated by Army 25-15. Photo by Bill Cunneen.

The Australian Service Rugby Union (ASRU) national interservice teams for 2003 are as follows: -Men Navy - LS Craig Shankland (HMAS Coonawarra), CPO Darryn Thompson (HMAS Melbourne), LS Jason Harrington (HMAS Cairns), PO Andrew Thorpe (723 SQN), PO Sean Guppy (Fleet Base West), LS Brad Simmons (HMAS Penguin), AB Sean Deigan (816 SQN), AB Jason Cook (816 SQN). Army - CPL Joe Rains, SPR Shaun Richardson, CPL Chris Waters, CPL Nathan Herbert, TPR Jacob Byrt, CPL Adam Monson, SGT Tomas Navusolo, CAPT Spencer Norris, LT Peter Burnhein, MUSN Ricky Dumigan, PTE Ben Jones, LCPL Paul Yates, PTE Scott McCormick, CPL Aaron Cimbaljevic. Air Force - FLGOFF Nick Leseberg, CPL Michael McCabe, AC Ted Wilson, LAC Brenden Christensen, SGT Jason Ryan. Management - coach WGCDR Graeme King, assistant coach WO2 K Williams, LS J Carroll (HMAS Waterhen), manager CAPT James Nicholas, WO2 Shane Niddrie, CPL Sam Rossato, CAPT Kevin Power, CPO J Oakes (NHQ). - Women Navy - MIDN Amanda Eddy (ADFA), ABBM Nicole Falkner (ADFWC), AB Heather Flannery (HMAS Cerberus), MIDN Tina Lobban (ADFA), SMN Rebecca Manners (HMAS Newcastle), LS Stacey Omeara (HMAS Watson), LEUT Nyree Osieck (HMAS Watson), SBLT Di Thomas (Nuship Parramatta), AB Rebecca Weaver (SBRS), LSMT Kristy Whiles (HMAS Waterhen). Army - Lt Bryony Barker, Maj Tanya Bennett, OCDT Sally Carter, Cpl Melissa Perrin, OCDT Dani Phelps, Sig Peta Rodgers, Capt Jodie Forlonge, Cpl Kelly Hammant, Pte Kelly Harding, Cpl Lynnette Houghton, Capt Vivian Law, Cpl Jorja Jones, Cpl Fiona Miles, Lt Renae Morris. Management - Head coach CAPT Chris Talbot, assistant coach WO1 (NZ) Ross Cullen, manager WO2 Barry Carr, assistant manager CPL Paul Bean, strapper POATC Ted Christensen (44 Wing).

Rugby
By Michael Weaver
The Navy men’s rugby union side played a perfect hour before being overrun in the final 20 minutes by Army for the national interservice championship at North Sydney Oval on June 14.

Coming off a successful tournament in New Zealand in May, Navy led 15-3 ten minutes into the second half and looked set to win its first Wing Commander John Caldwell Shield since 2000.

But the turning point arrived when Army unleashed 22 points in the final 20 minutes to win the game 25-15.

Naturally, much of the Navy side sat shattered as Army players accepted their winners’ medallions from CDF GEN Peter Cosgrove. It would have capped a perfect carnival for the host Service, led by carnival master WOET Simon Kelly.

The Navy women’s side had earlier defeated Army for the first time (see back page).

Navy fullback LSET Chris Bohan scored the first try shortly after Army posted the first points with a penalty goal, putting the score at 5-3 inside 10 minutes.

Navy enjoyed the better field position and pressured Army out of its game plan and after 25 minutes led 8-3 thanks to a penalty conversion from POATV Andrew Thorpe.

Navy withstood great pressure on its own line just before half-time and came out with renewed enthusiasm after the break with a converted try to hooker SBLT Tor Sorensen.

With the Army captain in the sin-bin, Navy may have relaxed, letting Army in for three unconverted tries in the same corner.

Down 18-15, respective coaches paced the sideline but never crossed paths; chins were pulled at and the air seemed too thick to even light a cigarette. But somehow, respective team managers managed at least a couple.

Many onlookers had wandered into the picturesque setting on a perfect Saturday afternoon, hoping for a glimpse of some casual Sydney grade rugby. They soon found themselves applauding as heartily as the Defence audience in appreciation of an end-to-end phase that saw Army win a lineout on its own line and make a 50m break downfield before Navy stoutly resisted the Army raiders.

The poetry of it all soon became motion when LCPL Paul Yates intercepted a pressured Navy pass to dash 70m and score under the posts, saluting the 25-15 Army victory as he ran.

Earlier, in the opening match of the carnival, Navy easily accounted for Air Force 45-10 after Air Force led 10-7 during the middle of the first half.

LSET Chris Bohan scored four tries, while winger ABET Damien Tanaka scored one.
The Sooty Hansen Trophy (presented by CN VADM Chris Ritchie) for Navy’s best and fairest was awarded to lock forward LSSN Jason Harrington.

 

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