The Navy Divers team.

A Rattlers player kicks the ball towards touch.

LSCD Phil Maihi makes a play with the ball. Behind him, front to back, are SMNCD Max Gunn, ABMW Liam Mather and ABCD Simon Cole.

Photos: ABPH Brenton Freind

By LCDR Sion Griffiths

The Divers, members of the RAN’s Sydney diving fraternity and the Rattlers, the NSW Transit Police, battled it out in the Ferris Ashton Rugby League Challenge in Sydney late last month.

It appeared that the divers were set for thrashing by the police when at half time the score was Divers zero...Rattlers 26.

It was not to be. The late arrival of a second substitute and some stern words by coach LCDR Sion Griffiths (Waterhen) and captains LSCD Jason Harp (Penguin) and ABCD Kevin Grinham (Huon), saw a dramatic second half change.

The match was conducted on Friday, August 27 at Sydney’s St Marys Western Weekender Stadium as a curtain raiser to the NSW Police Rugby League Grand Final.

Advertised as a gala event a large crowd attended.

Unfortunately, due to operational and personal commitments the full Divers team was depleted and had to be supplemented by other RAN supporters and a “first time” coach.

After an encouraging start by the Divers, turnover deep in their own half led to the first try to the Rattlers.

This pattern continued throughout the first half with the Rattlers scoring three more tries and a penalty as a result of turnovers deep in Diver territory.

The Rattlers forwards used their size to dominate and offload in tackles providing the platform for their 26-0 lead at the break.

The half-time siren could not have come soon enough as the tackle count stood at Divers 124 to Rattlers 27.

The dressing sheds then echoed with some firm words for the Divers and a totally “different” team ran out for the second half.

The RAN players started to complete full sets of six and dominated the Rattlers in the tackles.

The Divers’ halves ABCD Gordon and LSCD Maihi (HMAS Parramatta) started to find some combinations following on from the good defensive platform and “go forward” in the forwards.

The Divers began to score points.

Their defence tightened driving the Transit Police backwards forcing them to kick early in the tackle count.

Fullback PTE Timothy Johnson (CD Designate) had a field day returning the kicks on average 50 metres. Only last ditch tackles prevented him scoring length-of-the-field tries on three occasions.

Tries in the second half to ABCD’s Gordon, Grinham and Arnold (AUSCDTONE) brought the score to 26-18 with just four minutes to play.

Unfortunately a costly turnover from the kick handed the ball to the Rattlers who ran the clock down before kicking a field goal to seal the victory. Final score...27-18.

The Rattlers were deserved winners of the Ferris Ashton Trophy and SMNCD Kyle Arnold was selected as best on the ground.

The match provided the Divers with an excellent hitout in preparation for this year’s Patrons Cup at Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday October 5 as part of Sportex 2 (see separate story, page 31).

If ships or establishments are unable to field a full side , but have eager players, they are invited to join a Barbarian side.

Contacts are POPTI Brad Walsh (Penguin) on 02 99600275 or POPTI Anthony Wilson (Waterhen) on
02 9926 2296.

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