ASRU warriors swing into action

Flying Officer Nick Leseberg about to be grounded against Australian Unis.

Leading Aircraftman Brenden Christensen bustles his way through the Australian Universities defence during the battle for the annual Weary Dunlop Trophy at Ballymore Oval in Brisbane. Photos by Michael Weaver

By WGCDR Graham King, ASRU coach

ASRU v British Army PTI Touring Team, June 18 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney

A NEW-LOOK Australian Services Rugby Union team formed in Sydney on June 15 to undertake a domestic tour of Australia’s east coast.

The first game was played at Victoria Barracks, Sydney on a sunny afternoon on Wednesday, June 18. The opposition, a touring team from the British Army Physical Training Instructors (PTI) was an unknown quantity.

Twelve new players in the ASRU squad gave the side an unknown look also.

The game started with the usual adrenalin rush and it was not long before ASRU established its dominance in the scrums and lineouts. Given good, quick service by excellent quality halves, the speed of the backline quickly resulted in the first of 10 tries scored.

The experience in the ASRU team was provided by tour captain CAPT Spencer Norris, his very capable vice-captain LCPL Paul Yates, plus CPL Chris Waters, CPO Darryn Thomson, LS Jason Harrington, CPL Adam Monson, PO Andy Thorpe, PTE Ben Jones, MUSN Rick Dumigan, LAC Brenden Christensen and AB Brad Simmons.

Debutants for ASRU were: CFN Joe Rains, SPR Shaun Richardson, CPL Mick McCabe, FLGOFF Nick Leseberg, LS Craig Shankland, AB Shaun Deigan, AC Ted Wilson, LT Peter Burnheim, PO Shaun Guppy, PTE Scott McCormick and SGT Jason Ryan.

Man-of-the-match (judged by ASRU coaching staff) was Ted Wilson, closely followed by Spencer Norris and Aaron Cimbaljevic.

ASRU v Combined Brisbane Universities, June 22 at University of Queensland, Brisbane

THE ASRU team relocated to Brisbane’s Bullimba Barracks to begin preparations for the next three games.

The match against a Brisbane Universities combination was seen as a possible pointer to what ASRU needed to focus on before the Australian Unis match.

ASRU began the match the same as the Sydney match and dominated across all phases.

The coaching staff took the opportunity to replace many players and give the reserves as much game time as available. ASRU scored 12 tries (six in each half) with Paul Yates kicking nine conversions and Brad Simmons one.

Final score was ASRU 78-10.

Strong games by Brad Simmons, Paul Yates, Nick Leseberg, Adam Monson, Jason Harrington, Shaun Richardson, Peter Burnheim, Ricky Dumigan, Andy Thorpe, Brenden Christensen and Shaun Guppy.

With all 26 players playing and training at their best, there was a (good) host of selection dilemmas for the following matches.

ASRU v Queensland University of Technology/Norths (Premier Grade), June 24 at Shaw Park, Wavell Heights, Brisbane
ONE of Brisbane’s premier clubs (Queensland University of Technology (QUT)/Norths) agreed, at short notice, to a match. ASRU assistant coach Kevin Williams is also the assistant coach at QUT/Norths and the ASRU coaching staff were indeed fortunate to have the club agree to provide a quality premier grade opposition, given relatively easy wins in the first two games.

This match was played at night under lights and the run-on team was Joe Rains, Nathan Herbert, Shaun Richardson, Jason Harrington, Nick Leseberg, Adam Monson, Spencer Norris, Jacob Byrt, Ricky Dumigan, Andy Thorpe, Jason Cook, Shaun Guppy, Brendan Christensen, Brad Simmons and Aaron Cimbaljevic. All reserves also got valuable game time.
QUT/Norths started at a furious pace, exposing many ASRU players (for the first time) to the speed and pace of competitive rugby at the higher level.

However, ASRU soon settled into the game and both sides played high quality rugby. At half-time, the score favoured QUT/Norths 12-8.

In the second half, ASRU maintained its attacking patterns to score four more tries. The final score showed ASRU 30 to QUT/Norths 17.

Outstanding performances were provided by Jacob Byrt, Nick Leseberg, Jason Cook, Adam Monson and Spencer Norris.
Special credit must go to the ASRU tour medical staff (team doctor Kevin Power, strapper/conditioner Sam Rossatto and assistant manager/trainer Shane Niddrie) for their consistent efforts towards the fitness of the team. With no major injuries after three matches in 10 days, the team could look forward to the best preparation possible for the Australian Universities match.

ASRU v Australian Universities, June 29 at Ballymore Oval, Brisbane

THE big day finally arrived after a very good four days of lead-up training.

Universities started with all the speed, skill and aggression expected from a team filled with players with Super 12, state level or at least premier grade experience.

The plan was to defend the initial onslaught and then attack the Universities using good quality ball players in several positions.

Nerves and some early ASRU mistakes allowed Universities to skip to a 7-0 lead. Good scrambling defence and some sustained phase play (ASRU went to eight phases of play in one drive) saw Brad Simmons score a very good try to make the score 7-5 in favour of Unis.

In a sign of a very good side, Unis hit back almost immediately after another couple of ASRU mistakes. These mistakes allowed Unis to score another two soft converted tries.

Some good rallying by Spencer Norris and his hard working forwards again put the ASRU backline in motion with Brenden Christensen scoring a very good try. Paul Yates converted for a score of Unis 21-ASRU 12.

Paul Yates kicked a penalty goal soon after to reduce the deficit to just six points, but yet again, some loose possession by ASRU allowed Unis to score a converted try to take the score to 28-15.

Just before half-time, more good phase play from the ASRU forwards saw another backline attack with Shaun Guppy busting through three Uni players to score a sound try. Paul Yates again converted to make the half-time score 28-22.

Not long after the resumption and with ASRU deep in attack, a mistake at the scrum allowed Unis to attack down the blind side. Their ultra-quick winger raced 70 metres to score another soft try. Again, their kicker did not miss to take the score to 35-22.

Soon after, Unis again attacked the ASRU line from long range and scored another converted try to blow the score out to 42-22.
A third try in succession saw Unis now lead 49-22.

Unlike previous years, the character and determination of this year’s ASRU team became evident. In a crowd-pleasing display, ASRU threw the ball around with some bewildering passing and handling, coupled with excellent phase play and ball recycles from the forwards.

Peter Burnheim scored out wide, quickly followed by Nick Leseberg grabbing a five-pointer after some wonderful forward drive and phase play. Paul Yates converted one of these tries to make the score 49-34.

Unis scored a try soon afterward to take the score to 54-34.

Still, ASRU did not give in and continued to attack at every opportunity. Only the clock and some finishing mistakes beat ASRU’s efforts to add to the score.

The Ballymore crowd applauded both teams and accolades from many and varied sources came pouring in for a gutsy ASRU team.
All 22 players in this match produced outstanding performances. Special mention must go to ASRU captain Spencer Norris along with Brad Simmons and Tommy Navusolo who had their best ASRU games for several years.

Others to produce exacting games were Jason Cook, Nick Leseberg and the front row of Shaun Richardson and Joe Rains. Even their replacements, Craig Shankland and Chris Waters, not only held their more fancied opponents but created time and space for ASRU to attack.

At the function following the match, a surprised Brad Simmons was awarded the prestigious ASRU player of the series. Spencer Norris finished second and Jason Cook and Jacob Byrt finished third.

Nick Leseberg was chosen as the rookie of the tour along with Shaun Richardson, Ted Wilson, Craig Shankland, Peter Burnheim, Aaron Cimbaljevic and Scott McCormick.

The ASRU executive and management wish to acknowledge and thank all COs, OCs, directors and supervisors of all players and tour management for their support of ASRU in releasing the 2003 team.

The Weary Dunlop Trophy:

The Weary Dunlop Trophy weighs 20 kilograms and is played annually between ASRU and Australian Universities.

THE late Sir Ernest Edward “Weary” Dunlop distinguished himself as a rugby player and as a doctor with the Australian Imperial Forces. As a prisoner of war in Burma he saved the lives of hundreds of fellow prisoners, operating with crude instruments under lamplight.

As a rugby union player, he represented both his university club and Commonwealth Combined Services against Britain and was part of the Wallabies in 1932.

It is fitting that this trophy honours him.

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