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Leading
Aircraftman Nathan Leyton looks for a team mate during the
men’s final between RAAF Richmond and ARTC.
Photo by LS Rachel Irving
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By LS
Rachel Irving
AIR
Force’s men’s and women’s sides came close to netting
a clean sweep at the inaugural Kapooka 7s Netball competition
at Wagga on Saturday, March 15.
The
girls from RAAF Richmond walked away with the women’s title,
but their male counterparts couldn’t repeat the dose, going
down in the men’s decider.
Eighteen
teams travelled from as far away as Townsville to compete in the
knockout competition.
In
temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, mixed teams, as well as
men and women’s teams, took their battles to the court.
In
the women’s final, RAAF Richmond took on School of Sigs in
what was the last game of the day.
On
paper, the teams bore a close resemblance to the NSW (Richmond)
and Victorian (School of Sigs) sides, which competed at last year’s
nationals.
Both
teams went into the final with injuries to their substitutes,
which resulted in the School of Sigs fielding just six players
on the court when Captain Tash Ludwig injured her ankle.
Regardless,
the game was a tense and tight contest.
Although
School of Sigs led by four at half time, their lack of numbers
would prove costly as the Air Force team clawed their way back
to win by two points.
Meanwhile,
RAAF Richmond took on the home side Army Recruit Training Centre
(ARTC) in the men’s final.
The
first half was a close contest with just five goals separating
the teams at the main break. ARTC pulled away in the second half,
however, to easily overcome the boys from the Air Force 28-12.
Standout
player for the game was Kapooka’s centre Sergeant Steve Gibbs,
who played an excellent support role throughout the four quarters.
Their
prize money of $250 was donated to next year’s Kapooka 7’s
competition.
In
the mixed final, HMAS Kuttabul took on a mixed defence team from
Canberra. Excellent shooting from Canberra’s Leading Aircraftwoman
Keira Black and Flight Lieutenant Paul Fournier, and good support
from Flying Officer Kate Dixon, was not enough to keep the Kuttabul
side at bay.
Kuttabul
won the game through their strong attacking tactics and accurate
shooting and finished ahead 24-16.
Unfortunately
for Kuttabul, their joy was short-lived when they were disqualified
from the competition for an entry infringement and the title went
to Canberra.
The
Canberra team did not accept the prize money however, instead
donating the $250 to the ADF Netball Association.
Kapooka
7s coordinator SGT Gibbs said he was very happy with the number
of teams that participated in the event.
“The
plan is now to hold the 7s each year,” he said.
“What
I’ve seen here today is an excellent display of sportsmanship
throughout.”
