|
| |
Kuttabul in win against the odds
Volume 50, No. 13, July 26, 2007 |
| |
 |
|
HIGH GUYS: HMAS Albatross (blue and white) contest a lineout against HMAS Stuart.
Photo: LS Nina Nikolin |
|
Without a decent training run and only one reserve, HMAS Kuttabul snatched a dramatic victory 21-19 from HMAS Albatross on the hooter at the Mons Cup rugby union tournament.
The event was held at Randwick Barracks in sheeting rain and chilling winds on July 9.
HMAS Kuttabul nearly forfeited because of a lack of numbers. “The effort and sheer determination from a group who had never played together was amazing,” HMAS Kuttabul coach AB Daniel Barwick said.
After a 10-10 draw with HMAS Parramatta, the team blew the cobwebs away against HMAS Success.
HMAS Success couldn’t find a way to the line.
The flawless hands of SIG Josh Munro made sure that the backs wreaked havoc in a 17-0 win that left HMAS Kuttabul with only one man on the bench after the injury to halfback AB Bobbie Ashman.
HMAS Kuttabul had a nervous wait to see if the draw and win would be enough to see the team through to the semi-finals.
It was and HMAS Kuttabul faced an unexpected opponent in HMAS Stuart, which had seen off HMAS Cerberus.
Fresh legs arrived in the form of MIDN Wade Lambeth whose impact was immediate, thanks to his outstanding hands and ability to find the line. The defence from the forwards was rock solid and HMAS Stuart lost 17-0.
The rag-tag bunch who came together at the last minute was now in the finals. HMAS Albatross, one of the favourites, entered the final with 20 players from which to choose.
HMAS Kuttabul began well to open the scoring before HMAS Albatross replied immediately. The fresher legs and depth of reserves began to tell for HMAS Albatross as it took a 19-7 lead.
Luck seemed to have deserted HMAS Kuttabul when captain CPO John East snapped his Achilles and came off. With only the one reserve, the game seemed all but over.
But an intercept try to MIDN Lambeth rejuvenated the side.
HMAS Kuttabul was back in the hunt when a big break down the blind by LEUT Ben Scott was offloaded to AB Jason Matthews who was awarded a penalty try after being taken high in a scoring position.
SIG Josh Munro steadied himself in the muddy conditions to convert for a 21-19 lead with full-time sounding soon after. |
| |
|
