By
CAPT Sarah Hawke
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Navy
took on a combined GBR side in a game of Aussie Rules in
the Solomon Islands. Despite a valiant effort, the Army-dominated
GBR side was too strong for the Navy, overcoming them 28-12-174
to 3-0-18.
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Photo:
WO2 Gary Ramage
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Less
than 24 hours after the Brisbane Lions won their third Australian
Football League Grand in Melbourne, personnel serving in the Solomon
Islands took to Honiara’s, King George VI oval to show the locals
Australia’s favourite game.
In the end, the only thing in common between the two games was
the massive score line.
The two teams were made up of personnel serving with the Regional
Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) with GBR (Police
and Military Headquarters) taking on the Navy. The GBR team included
4 players from Papua New Guinea and at least half dozen RAMSI
police.
About 80 players and spectators came across from HMAS Manoora
(CMDR Martin Brooker) on an LMC8, and while the support for the
Navy was strong they could not quite match the GBR team dominated
by Army. Game organiser and coach, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2)
Stephen Doyle said they set the ground up as best as they could,
“I’ve got to say it was a bit like a paddock and was a bit narrow,
we made up posts using star pickets covered with PVC”.
Looking at the grazes and bruises on some of the players at the
end of the match, there was no doubt the ground was a bit hard.
WO2 Doyle said the GBR team had some training. “We had two training
sessions concentrating on balls skills plus a high intensity circuit
finished off with a swim - must be straight from the Kevin Sheedy
book!”
PTE Jeremy Monteath, 26, from Charlie Company 2RAR captained the
GBR side. A life long Collingwood supporter, PTE Monteath was
more than pleased that the GBR defeated the Navy after Collingwood
received such a hiding the day before.
“It was a better score line. It was a hard fought game. The
Navy came out running although we were more skillful,” he said.
Final Score: GBR 28 - 12 - 174 to Navy 3 - 0 - 18.
