Struck out Struck out
Competition proves too tough for Navy soccer players

ABCIS Clare Hockings in the dark blue leads the charge towards the ball during the Navy’s 2-4 loss to Air Force.

Photo: ABPH Nina Nikolin

By PTE John Wellfare

Navy soccer players took to the field with determination last month in a tough competition that proved too strong. The NSW interservice soccer championships were held in Sydney from July 27-29.

Vigourous competition at the championships saw the Navy men’s team slip into second place after a promising start, while the women were pushed back to third in the hard-fought tournament.

POMT Tammy Sprot and MIDN Jennifer Parker both scored goals for Navy in the first game of the competition, but the team ultimately fell 2-4 to a hard-hitting Air Force side.

Player of the match was ABCSO Sally Douglas. The men had more success on day one as they too faced Air Force in what proved to be a bitter struggle for points.

AB James Cross scored the only goal of the match, with a nail-biting penalty shot in the 52nd minute, to steal victory from Air Force 1-0.

Player of the match was LEUT Diego Rossotti. While the men took a break on day two of the competition, the Navy women’s team went up against a hard-hitting Army side at the beginning of a championship run.

Navy worked hard to keep up, but in the end lost to Army 2-4.

Player of the match was ABCSO Holly Johnson.

On day three, the Navy men’s side went up against Army, confident in their chances of taking the soldiers and the championship after Army’s loss to Air Force on day two.

Army came onto the field with surprising strength and fought a hard and fast game, taking out the startled Navy side 6-0 and snatching the championships on goal average.

Final results of the competition were: Women - 1st Army, 2nd RAAF and 3rd Navy; Men - 1st Army, 2nd Navy and 3rd RAAF.

Teams were - Women: ABSTD Kim Thomson, ABCIS Clare Hockings, ABBM Mellissa Kennedy, POMT Tammy Sprot, ABCSO Holly Johnson, LSEWL Cristy Kelly, SBLT Angela Andrews, ABCSO Jaydee Lennon, MIDN Jennifer Parker and ABCSO Sally Douglas.

Men: AB James Cross, AB Joe Connelly, LS Matthew McDermott, AB Bradley Geoffrey, LS Sosa Charles, POSTD Shaun Taylor, LEUT Luke Andrews, LS Rob Mason, AB Lee Parker, LEUT Diego Rossotti, AB Dayne Tapping and AB Matt Dickson.

POMT Francis and WO2 Andrew Moisey (on exchange from the UK Army) officiated all games.

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