BY
CPOPT Marty Karow
A combined team of rugged sailors from HMAS Penguin/Watson/Waterhen
have edged the Army School of Military Engineering to the
tune of 15-14 to win the 2006 Mons Cup Rugby Championship.
Seven rugby teams, four from Navy, and three from Army, competed
for the prestigious title of being the 2006 Mons Cup Champions.
The competition was held at Woollahra Fields in Rose Bay on
a sunny Sydney day on May 1.
The day was full of action packed rugby with some great teamwork,
and individual displays of rugby brilliance.
The teams to beat in the early rounds were the combined HMAS
Penguin/Watson/Waterhen team, who set the pace with some impressive
scores earlier in their pool games, and the team from Army
School of Military Engineering.
HMAS Darwin’s commitment to weeks of training proved
successful as they racked up some hard fought victories to
take them into a semifinal position. Darwin was the only fleet
unit to participate and they are to be commended for displaying
a great sense of camaraderie and team spirit.
The first semi-final was played between Army School of Military
Engineering and Army One, with Army School of Military Engineering
grinding out a 14-8 victory.
The second semi-final saw HMAS Penguin/Watson/Waterhen flog
HMAS Darwin to the tune of 32-6.
The Mons Cup final was a thrilling affair in which HMAS Penguin/Watson/Waterhen
pipped the Army School of Military Engineering 15-14 in an
extremely close and hard-fought encounter.
CDRE Bruce Kafer, Chief of Combat Support Group, MHQ, presented
the Army School of Military Engineering with the Wally Long
Plate runners-up trophy.
He was also full of praise for the outstanding rugby played
by HMAS Penguin/Watson/Waterhen when he presented them with
the Mons Cup Rugby trophy.
LSPT Matthew Hilyard (HMAS Penguin/Watson/Waterhen) was presented
with the best and fairest award.
Other notable mentions go to HMAS Cerberus who travelled from
Victoria to compete, and to the event organiser, LSPT Corinne
Williams, whose attention to detail, and sports administration
skills, deserved praise. As did the ground staff from Colleagues
Rugby Club for generously allowing the use of their club house
for the day. A big thank you also went to the referees from
ASRRA.
This year's Australian Services Rugby Union Championship
will be played in Canberra from May 28 to June 3.
