NO ESCAPE : There was no way out of this tough tackle applied by a Republic of Fiji military player.

CHARGE: LS Chris Bohan (far left) provides some close support to Craftsman Tor Killman (headband) and No 21 SGT Adam Monson of the ASRU Warriors.

Photos: Bill Cunneen & Ashley Roach

The Australian Services Rugby Union Warriors have ended the season with three close losses.

They encountered the visiting Republic of Fiji Military Forces team in a hard-fought battle on June 25 and were beaten 29-12.

The match followed ASRU’s loss to NSW Suburban Rugby Union 29-12 on June 22. Then, on July 1 the Australian Universities team beat them 22-15 in a game marked by the Warriors’ hard, spirited play and solid attacking strategy.

The match against the Fijians was notable for the presence of two CDFs. General Peter Cosgrove, the retiring CDF, and Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the new CDF both watched the match.

ASRU coach Wing Commander Graham King described the game as brutal and extremely fast.

“It took us about 25 minutes to get into the game. We didn’t take our time and space and that was certainly indicative of the half-time score [17-5],” WGCDR King said.

“We should have done a lot better and been more competitive.” The Warriors may have been down, but weren’t out as the revitalised team hit the field for the second half.

“We played very, very well,” WGCDR King said. “We muscled up, settled down and got our game patterns going. Our ball handling improved and we made the gains.”

GEN Cosgrove said the game had been one of “great spirit, courage, teamwork, stamina and skill”.

“The game calls for everything we could ever want out of our people in the ADF,” he said. “When it is played with the passion the way the Fijians play, it is a great thing to behold. “The ASRU played extremely well. You are a very good team.

I was delighted to see you stick to an extremely tenacious attempt to win.

If conditions had been a bit different, the score would have been a bit closer.” Hard, play and a solid attacking were not enough to prevent the Warriors from going down 22-15 to Australian Universities in the Weary Dunlop Trophy.

The trophy, played in honour of Sir Edward “Weary’”Dunlop was played at Ballymore, Queensland. WGCDR King said good intensity from the forwards in the first 10 minutes of the game had the team in a commanding position.

“It was a pleasing start,” he said. “Traditionally Universities have run in three or four tries in the first 10 minutes of the game, meaning ASRU has had to fight back for the rest of the match.” Universities opened the scoring with a try at the 13-minute mark.

However, the Warriors continued to dominate forward play until the 27-minute mark, when Universities made a break from the half way line to run in a superb winger’s try.

ASRU went into half time trailing Universities 12-9 and couldn’t make much headway after the break despite dominating the scrum and making several attacking forays. With two minutes to go, the ASRU forwards were held up over the line and were desperately unlucky not to score. By Andrew Stackpool & Dan Wheelahan close SGT tackle Roach

Rugby representatives

ASRU vs Fiji military
CPL Paul Yates (C)
LCPL Rick Dumigan (VC)
LS Chris Bohan
CPL Ben Jones
CFN Zane Mitchell
PO Andrew Thorpe
MAJ Spencer Norris
CFN Matthew Fraser
SGT Tom Navusolo
SGT Adrian Ross
LS Jason Harrington
SPR Sean Richardson
SGT Nathan Herbert
CFN Tor Killman
PTE Kieran Dan Reserves
CPL Joe Rains
SGT Jason Ryan RAAF Williamtown
AB Max Gunn
CPL Dean King
LS Matt Hilyard
AB Brad Sharman
CPL Tyrone Scott
AB Nicholas Clancy
CPL Ron Marchant RAAF Richmond
CPL Gavin Whiteside
PTE Scott McCormick
ASRU vs Universities
CPL Paul Yates (C)
LCPL Rick Dumigan (VC)
LS Chris Bohan
CPL Ben Jones
CFN Zane Mitchell
PO Andrew Thorpe
MAJ Spencer Norris
LS Matt Hilyard
SGT Tom Navusolo
SGT Adrian Ross
LS Jason Harrington
SPR Sean Richardson
SGT Nathan Herbert
CFN Tor Killman Reserves
CPL Joe Raws
SGT Jason Ryan
AB Max Gunn
CPL Dean King
CFN Matthew Fraser
AB Brad Sharman
SGT Adam Monson

.