Numero uno
Navy women’s rugby side proves too strong for Army

Navy’s LEUT Nyree Osieck spears into the ground in a crunching tackle by the Army defenders, in the final of the women’s rugby. Photos by Bill Cunneen and CPOPH Cameron Martin

By Michael Weaver
The Navy women’s rugby union side cut themselves a slice of history defeating Army for the first time at the 2003 ADF Interservice Rugby Union Carnival at North Sydney Oval on June 14.

Army has dominated the Commodore Michael Dunn Cup since the inception of women’s rugby into interservice ranks in 1997, with the Navy women this year holding on for an emphatic 14-7 victory.

Australian Wallaroos representative LEUT Nyree Osieck scored all Navy’s points, with fellow former Wallaroo and Navy team captain LEUT Paige Butcher leading by example.

The team also featured five Air Force personnel and giving the team a tri-service flavour was Navy coach WO1 Ross Cullen, a member of the New Zealand Army.

However, his Service allegiance was put aside as he gave his team ‘Kaha’, a Maori term for inner strength, which proved a deciding factor when the contest was up for grabs in the second half.

“The Navy drew with Army two years ago, so this win is their first which is great to see,” said WO1 Cullen.

“Our tackling was significant against their bigger forwards and the girls knew what they were in for and were well prepared for it.

“The win was simply all heart.”

Navy’s plan of playing out of their half went by the wayside in the first half, with Army camped in Navy territory thanks largely to their strong scrummaging and bigger forwards.

Navy ventured out of their half just once in the opening 25 minutes and finally cracked when Army’s SIG Peta Rogers scored beside the uprights. CPL Jorga Jones added the extras and Army led 7-0.

Navy responded almost immediately when LEUT Nyree Osieck found a gap in the ruck and brilliantly side-stepped the defence to score a converted try to level proceedings at 7-all.

The score remained level at half-time when respective coaches realised the game was there for the taking, with Army coach WO2 Anthony Rogers not taking a backward step in getting his players to go forward.

Ten minutes into the half and LEUT Nyree Osieck left a trail in her wake as she slipped through some ordinary defence from 20m out to score a brilliant solo try under the posts.

LEUT Osieck added the extras and suddenly Navy had one hand on the trophy with a 14-7 lead.

Navy held the better field position, with Army failing to get a roll on from the play that centred mostly around the ruck.

Army finished with an attack on the Navy line, but Navy’s defence held true as the full-time siren sounded with Army just five metres from crossing for a try.

LEUT Nyree Osieck was suitably named player of the series at the post-match presentation.

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