Touch of class

By CPL Coralee Goedart and Mick Eddleston

A player from HMAS Albatross (in the stripes) tries to outstep the RAAF defence at the ACT Interservice Touch Football championships last month. All photos this page by ABPH Kelvin Hockey.

Touch football is alive and well in the ACT after the fiercely contested inter-service championships last month.

Originally planned for HMAS Harman (CMDR Sue Smith), the ADFA touch grounds
provided a handy alternate venue after severe water damage to the Harman surface.

The day was conducted in almost balmy (for Canberra) conditions.

In the early games a few players were wary of sliding off the playing surface with the close proximity of the ‘extremely healthy’ local inhabitants grazing with impudence next to the fields. Tie-Me-Kangaroo Down, indeed.

Apart from the three Services contesting three age divisions, Men’s and Women’s Open and Men’s Over 35s, there were also invitational squads from HMAS Albatross in all divisions and a combined Services squad from Wagga competing in the Men’s Open.

The competition was of a high standard and the turnout proved that Touch in the ACT is back.

All games were conducted in typical inter-service fashion; hard, fast, and extremely competitive.

In the Men’s Open, all teams played strongly, and although a depleted Wagga side made a gutsy effort, they went down to the Navy.

RAAF and Army played the other game and as usual it was a fierce competition. In the end the experience of players such as Chris Goedhart, John Samin and Brad Squires overcame the youth of the Army and the RAAF got up.

RAAF were clearly the dominant Service, with an average winning score line of 8 - 1 in their 3 games. Navy was second, the team from Wagga were third and Army came in fourth.

The Women’s Open was a much tighter affair with the RAAF comfortably accounting for their ACT counterparts. They had to work overtime in the final game of the day to overcome a talented Albatross squad, 3-1, in the decider. Army finished third and Navy fourth.

The Men’s 35s was the standout division with some terrific matches. Navy retained the trophy after defeating Albatross 4-3. The RAAF team had a strong 7-2 win over Army. Final placings saw Navy first, RAAF runners-up, Army third and Albatross fourth.

CMDR Smith presented the trophies to the team captains at the conclusion of the last women’s game.

The outgoing ADFTA Patron, CDRE Rago, presented the Overall Champion Service trophy to FLTLT George
Washington.

Overall, it was a fantastic day, perfect weather, conducted in fine spirit, thanks in no small way to the small but professional band of referees who officiated on the day, ably organised by FSGT Brad McCauley.

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