By
CAPT Julie Green
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Members
of the ASRU Warriors women’s rugby union team join
forces to push forward during a match in the Invitational
Rugby Union Tournament at the NSW Institute of Sport in
Sydney.
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Photo
by Bill Cunneen
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ONE
Air Force rugby union representative has played her part with
the Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) women’s side in
its assault on the Invitational Rugby Union Tournament at the
NSW Institute of Sport in Sydney.
Leading Aircraftwoman Stacy Greenwood, of RAAF Base Townsville,
was the sole Air Force player selected in the national side after
the recent ADF Interservice national rugby championships.
Nine women’s teams from around Australia competed in this
year’s Invitational, conducted by the Australian Rugby Union.
On the first day of the tournament, the ASRU Warriors played newcomers
to the competition Tasmania.
Despite the lack of a rugby tradition in the southern island,
Tasmania proved to be a hardy opposition and ASRU had to work
hard to win. ASRU finally triumphed with two tries to Corporal
Jorja Jones and one conversion.
In the second game of the day, ASRU played the Sydney Development
Squad. Unfortunately, one runaway try and the inability to cross
the Sydney line meant that ASRU lost 5-0.
On the second day, ASRU played Victoria and NSW Country. Victoria
proved to be the dark horse of the competition, eventually coming
second overall. They beat ASRU 15-0 with three tries off the wing.
ASRU also lost a tough match to NSW Country 8-0.
On the last day, the CDF came to cheer the girls on and ASRU was
unlucky to go down to WA 5-0, and lost a thrilling match to an
in-form ACT 15-5.
Officer Cadet Sally Carter was the only one to cross ACT’s
line.
Each tournament provides unique challenges for the Defence team.
Unlike the State opposition, the Services team only competes once
a year – in fact only trains once a year, coming together
one week before the tournament begins.
Despite this, fitness and the determination of the players to
learn and improve usually makes for an interesting set of games.
This year proved to be no different. Although the scoreboard did
not reflect it, the tournament proved a success for the team –
firstly by forming a team during a period of high operational
tempo, and secondly by demonstrating that women too can play running
rugby.
Those players that deserve mention include Corporal Jorja Jones,
team captain OCDT Carter, and vice-captain and player of the series
Captain Jodie Forlonge.
However, all the women deserve commendation for playing well against
more experienced
(and often much bigger) opposition.
The
team:
LACW Stacy Greenwood, LCPL Tanya Cherry, MAJ Tanya Bennett, OCDT
Sally Carter, MIDN Amanda Eddy, ABBM Nicole Falkner, CAPT Jodie
Forlonge, CPL Kelly Hammant, CPL Jorja Jones, CAPT Vivian Law,
LT Renae Morris, CPL Mellisa Perrin, SIG Peta Rogers, SIG Renae
Pearce, AB Rebecca Weaver, LSMT Kristy Whiles, LS Stacey Omera,
CAPT Julie Green, CAPT Amanda Johnston, CPL Cassandra Sutton,
LEUT (RN) Sara Collen,
Head Coach – CAPT Chris Talbot, Asst Coach – WO1 Ross
Cullen, Manager – WO2 Barry Carr, Asst Manager – CPL
Paul Bean, Strapper – Mr Ted Christensen, Masseuse –
LCDR Maria Triantos.
