Rugby team hard pressed

PACK DOWN: The ASRU women’s rugby side defend stoutly in the match against NSW Country.

Photo: PTE Andrew Hetherington

By PTE Andrew Hetherington

Despite two losses, solid teamwork and a never-say-die attitude didn’t desert the women’s ASRU side during its recent games in Canberra.

The team played NSW Country and the ACT at Vikings Park on June 12 and lost both hard-fought contests.

ASRU coach CPO Glen Morrissey said the team had been formed the Monday before the competition, with members selected after the recent interservice women’s titles.

The first match was played in the morning against NSW Country in cold and wet conditions.

CPO Morrissey said although the side trailed 5-nil at half-time, it came back with a vengeance after the break.

“Early in the second they levelled the score with a try scored by OFFCDT Kate Porter, after some very impressive slick backline hands,” he said.

“The match was then in the balance for quite a long while, with the opposition kicking a penalty goal to take the score to 8-5.”

ASRU valiantly tried to hold on to its defence and make a breakthrough, but to no avail.

NSW Country won 22-5 but CPO Morrissey said the final score was not indicative of the game. “NSW were the better team on the day, but we were in the match all the time,” he said.

Team captain LACW Rebekah Allen also said the team played well.

“NSW has been playing together for years and are well drilled,” she said.

“But I think we certainly gave them a run for their money.” The game against ACT was held in the afternoon. CPO Morrissey said he was worried about the team suffering from second-game blues by playing two matches in one day.

“I thought they would come out feeling a little bit down after their first match,” he said. The ACT raced to a 14-0 lead before tries to OFFCDT Kate Pringle and ABMT Lisa Palmer, pegged it back.

However, the ASRU women’s side failed to convert some scoring opportunities and were beaten 14-10.

LACW Allen received the team players’ choice award, CPL Kerry Telford the best and fairest award and ABMT Renae Woodward the team encouragement award.

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