DOWN TO SIZE: The ADF team took the New Zealanders down a notch keeping them scoreless in the first ever Anzac test.

By Andrew Stackpool

Seven Navy players and three officials were part of the victorious Combined Australian Services Rugby League (CASRL), which defeated the visiting New Zealand Defence Force team 30-0 at the SUNCORP stadium in Brisbane on April 22. The match, which was noted for its strong attacks by the ADF forwards and strong play control by the ADF hooker and halfs, was the curtain raiser for the Australia versus New Zealand Anzac Day test match.

It was the first time the combined ADF team has played a curtain raiser to a high profile test match and against a foreign visiting team on Australian soil.

The team was selected after the ADF’s national carnival, which was hosted by Brisbane’s Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club from April 12-17.

 

Kiwi fruits run out of juice

CASRL went into camp the next morning and commenced training for the first ever Anzac Test between the two Defence Forces.

Both sides were extremely confident of coming away with the silverware.

The winning team the

LAC Jay Brookfield – RAAF Base Amberley LAC Nathan Dugdell – RAAF Base Tindal CPL Michael Green – RAAF Base Williams-Laverton LAC Luke Kirk – RAAF Base Pearce CPL Chris Kluft – RAAF Base Williamtown CPL Aaron Power – RAAF Base Tindal LAC Matthew Proberts – RAAF Base Amberley CPL Bradley Woodward – RAAF Base Amberley WO1 Grahame Cavanough - Robertson Barracks CFN Adam Danby - Banksmeadow CFN Timothy Johnstone - Moorebank Mr Leon Rahman - Victoria Barracks SMN Kyle Arnold – HMAS Waterhen LS Shane Bullock – HMAS Penguin AB Michael Cross – HMAS Waterhen AB Ray Hoffman – HMAS Cairns SMN Josh Seaman – HMAS Waterhen SMN Daniel Struber – HMAS Albatross LEUT David Wallis – HMAS Albatross

Officials

CPL Craig Foggo – RAAF Base Williamtown LS Adam Thomson (Assistant Manager) – HMAS Watson FSGT AJ Smith (Coach) – Russell Offices, LCDR Kate Manderson – HMAS Albatross FLGOFF Erica Smith (Strapper) – RAAF Base Amberley FSGT Tracy Woolley (Strapper) – RAAF Base Amberley SGT Darren Lacey (Runner) – RAAF Base Amberley LCPL Craig Nichols (Runner) - Lavarack SMN Chris White (Runner) – HMAS Adelaide (FBW)

The game started at a frantic pace with both sides determined to assert their dominance. Both sides defended strongly but the pace was wearing on stamina. Just 10 minutes into the half and play took its toll as LS Mick Cross found the gap and crossed for the first ADF try. The conversion was unsuccessful.

The no holds barred play continued from the kick off, until a beautiful inside ball from CPL Mick Green from RAAF Base Williams-Laverton gave LAC Jay Brookfield from RAAF Base Amberley the opportunity he was looking for. He slid home untouched under the black dot.

A successful conversion and CASRL led 10-0.

Undaunted by the scores, the Kiwis launched a series of all-out assaults on the CASRL defence. CASRL was well up to the task of repelling them with a series of bone jarring defences, which forced many errors from the Kiwis.

Then, just before half time Leading Aircraftman Nathan Dugdell from RAAF Base Tindal seized an opportunity. He collected a loose pass and ran nearly 50 metres to score out wide. The conversion was unsuccessful and CASRL walked at half time 14-0.

The coaches put the break to good purpose and the second half exploded with just as much intensity as the first. Both sides were putting in some big hits and the game could have gone either way.

ADF ball security was the telling factor as the team completed most sets of six and gained valuable yardage.

The Kiwi defence was becoming frail and CPL Green was quick to capitalise and turn the second half into his own point fest. He sliced through and then converted, taking the score 20-0.

The Kiwis now started throwing the ball around in their determination to cross the ADF line. All they exceeded in doing was coughing up the ball on the first or second tackle, giving the ADF a huge possession rate. CPL Green seized the opportunity this play presented and slammed in for the second of his tries, followed by his second conversion.

Only seconds remained and he went over again, out wide. This time his conversion was unsuccessful but the final siren confirmed the story. CASRL walked from the paddock 30-0.

The score did not reflect the quality of the game. Even though the score blew out, the game was played at a frantic pace and could have quite easily have been reversed had the Kiwis maintained better control and made fewer errors.

Brigadier Dave Chalmers, the CO 7 Bde, attended the post match presentations and presented the Trans Tasman Challenge to CASRL. LS Shane Bullock from HMAS Penguin was voted Players’ Player.

The whole CASRL side played well, particularly the forwards who kept the attack going forward. Some outstanding play made the difference.

The halfs CPL Green and Corporal Chris Kluft from RAAF Base Williamtown and hooker LS Shane Bullock from HMAS Penguin controlled play and made many breaks up the middle and one out. LS Cross and AB Kyle Arnold from HMAS Waterhen also had strong games.

CASRL is now planning to compete in the Affiliated states carnival in Adelaide over the June long weekend and is investigating playing in New Zealand in October. Meanwhile, the 2006 ISS will be played in Townsville in February or March and the committee is investigating the possibility of playing a second curtain raiser in Sydney.

 

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