LS Brad Simmons heads towards the try line.

AB Michael Kavanagh runs up to his Air Force opponent.

LACW Brooke Fitzpatrick sizes up AB Scott Caldwell and AB Brad Eames.

Photos: Rachel Irving

By Rachel Irving

It was Navy’s day in the West defeating Air Force and Army to take out the first WA Interservice Touch title contested in five years.

In a round robin competition, the three Services descended on RAAF Base Pearce earlier this month to play for the title, last played and won by Air Force in 1999.

While Air Force had the numbers and the determination to win, it was Navy, the team almost entirely made from Clearance Diving Team Four, in the first game, that made the early grab at the shield with a 7-6 victory.

First half tries to LS Brad Simmons, LS Andrew Corbett and AB Michael Kavanagh saw Navy enter the half-time break with a narrow 1-point lead.

An early try to LS Corbett saw Navy go 2 points up within a minute of the second half.

The game stayed tight and tense with one player sinbinned for excessive force in the touch.

Air Force paid the price for several costly turnovers, giving Navy enough scoring opportunities to keep them a point ahead at the final whistle.

LS Corbett was Navy’s highest scorer with 3 tries. Other Navy scorers were LS Simmons, AB Kavanagh, LS Jason Hutchinson and AB Brad Eames.

Air Force bounced back to take an easy 6-2 win over their next opponent, Army, who played with a team assembled in just 24 hours.

Navy then took on Army in the final game and although Navy won 10-8, it would have been easy to think this was a different Army team from that which played Air Force. Stronger, more determined and with a feel for how the team could play, Army got a sniff of victory in the last and fought hard all the way.

A try to AB Eames in the first 10 minutes made up for some early messy work by both sides. A great pass out wide to LS Simmons on the wing saw him cross for Navy’s second, the score 2- nil.

A dropped sitter by CPL Grant Morris cost Army a sure try with LS Simmons making them pay by adding another to the Navy score.

A flurry of tries followed for both teams with CPL Greg Woodward crossing twice and LS Corbett and AB Kavanagh replying, the score 5- in Navy’s favour.

A quick try to AB Steven Decent and one more from LS Simmons widened the gap to 5 points but with quick crosses from CPL Matt McAulay and CPL Woodward, suddenly the gap was just three points, 7- 4 at half time. With the possibility of a win in their minds, Army played well in the last with the sides going try-for- try.

One try each from LS Corbett and CPL Woodward and two from PTE Damian Eden tightened the score to 8-7 with just 10 minutes to go.

AB Scott Caldwell and LS Corbett combined well in defence to deny Army a try, with LS Simmons crossing over for his fourth.

CPL McAulay replied to take Army within one point as the pressure began to show on Navy.

An ankle injury to Army star CPL Woodward and a last minute try to LS Hutchison saw Navy take the game by two points, 10-8.

Try scorers for Navy were LS Simmons (4), LS Corbett (2), AB Decent, LS Hutchison, AB Kavanagh and AB Eames and for Army CPL Woodward (4), CPL McAulay (2) and PTE Eden (2).

Referee for the day was Kevin Piper from Touch West.

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