Touching victory
Personnel on top of the world after win

The Defence personnel involved in the win at the World Cup of Touch in Japan are (L-R) Dennis Coffey, John Samin, Robin Kildare, Chris Bradley, Steve McIntyre and Michelle Breen.

ADF personnel in the World Cup of Touch included: Major Dennis Coffey (rtd) coached the Australian men’s over-30s team. Dennis is also the director of coaching on the ADF Touch Association Management Committee. Major Michelle Breen was team manager for the Australian men’s over-30s. She is also XO at HQ Engineer Support Regiment (ESR) at Gallipoli Barracks. Mr John Samin is an ex Air Force member who was co vice-captain of the Australian men’s over-30s. John is still involved with Defence touch and plays in the local Defence competition in Canberra. The following three personnel played in the Australian men’s over-35s team: Sergeant Chris Bradley (ARes) is an ex full-time Air Force member who still remains involved with Defence touch by representing the Defence Warriors at the annual National Touch League event (where teams for the 2003 World Cup were selected). Corporal Steve McIntyre (ARA) from 7 CSSB at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane is strongly involved in the local Brisbane Army competition. Steve regularly plays and coaches Defence teams within the South Queensland area and is the assistant players representative on the current ADFTA Management Committee. Corporal ‘Doc’ Robin Kildare (ARes) is an ex Air Force member.

By Maj Michelle Breen
A NUMBER of past and present Air Force and ADF personnel are able to call themselves world champions after Australian teams won all five divisions at the World Cup of Touch held at Kumagaya in Japan from May 24-28.

Twenty-seven teams from nine nations (Australia, New Zealand, USA, Wales, Scotland, France, Singapore, Thailand and the Republic of South Africa) competed in five playing divisions (men’s open, women’s open, mixed open, men’s over-30s, and men’s over-35s).

Australia went into the tournament as the reigning World Cup champion, having never lost a division in previous World Cups, held once every four years.

As to the tournament results, Australia and New Zealand fought out all five of the finals came away victorious in all five divisions (men’s 30s and men’s open decided in drop-off).

The final results were: men’s over-35s Australia won 7-2, men’s over-30s Australia won 4-3 (in drop-off), mixed Australia won 6-5, women’s open Australian won 4-2, men’s open Australia won 5-4 (in drop-off).

In the men’s over-30s division, we had eight round games before going into the semis. We had easy wins against Japan (17 and 16 to nil), the USA (12-3 and 14-0) and an easy win in our first game against South Africa (9-2).

We lost to the Kiwis by one in our first game and then came back with a blinder in our second round game to beat them 8-5.

We followed up the next morning with our worst game of the tournament with all the boys being tired, flat and off their game. We were lucky to walk away with a draw against the South African’s 4-all.

The boys took a long hard look at themselves and followed up with a convincing win over the USA and then had to face South Africa again that same day for our semi (2nd v 3rd, as the Kiwis had finished top after our draw earlier that day).

Again, the boys came out firing and were 8-2 at half time, finishing 12-4.

After nine games over the preceding four days all players were tired, a few had injuries, but all were able to take the field for the final.

We were 2-1 down just before half time and one of the boys broke through the Kiwi line and ran most of the park with a couple of chasers.

He managed to get a nice pass away to the winger who scored just on the half-time hooter to even up the score at 2-all.

Both teams scored again in the second half, but neither could get ahead during the last couple of minutes.

In the drop-off, both teams drove the ball from one end of the park to the other, without looking like breaking through.

At four-a-side, we finally got the ball up near our line and one of our blokes put on a bit of pace and got outside of his defender to slide over the line to score — a memorable moment as the ref awarded the try!

The men’s over-35s lost both of their round games against NZ, though had their chances. With limited training pre-tournament, they improved throughout and saved their best to last with a convincing win in the final.

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