Touch too good
Air Force takes champion Service tag

Air Force team member John Samin (left) reaches out.

Air Force team member John Samin puts a heel lock on his Navy opponent from HMAS Albatross during the open men’s action at the ACT Interservice Championships.

A Navy player (in stripes) tries to evade an Air Force defender during the women’s round of matches, won comfortably by Air Force. Photos by AB Kel Hockey

By CPL Coralee Goedhart and Mick Eddleston

AIR Force proved itself as the top touch football Service in a thrilling day of action at the ACT Interservice Touch Championships on Friday, August 15 at ADFA.

The day was conducted in almost balmy (for Canberra) conditions, although in the early games a few players were wary of sliding off the playing surface, due to the close proximity of the “extremely healthy” local inhabitants, grazing with impudence next to the fields – tie-me-kangaroo down, indeed.

The three services contested three age divisions, men’s and women’s open and men’s over-35s, while there were also invitational squads from HMAS Albatross in all divisions and a combined Services squad from Wagga competing in the men’s open.

In the men’s open, all teams played strongly, with a depleted Wagga side making a gutsy effort in its loss to Navy.

The fierce competition continued between Air Force and Army, with the experience of Chris Goedhart, John Samin and Brad Squires overcoming the youth of the Army.

Air Force was clearly the dominant Service, with an average winning score line of 8-1 in their three games.
Navy was second, the team from Wagga third while Army came in fourth.

The women’s open was a much tighter affair with Air Force winning comfortably, but working overtime in the final game of the day to overcome the talented Albatross squad 3-1 in the deciding match, with Army third and Navy fourth.

The men’s 35s was the standout division with some terrific matches.

The final round of games saw Air Force require a solid win and for Navy to lose against Albatross, for Air Force to regain the trophy from Navy.

Air Force did its part with a strong 7-2 win over Army, however it wasn’t enough as Navy managed to defeat Albatross 4-3. Army was third and Albatross came fourth.

The trophy presentation saw Commanding Officer of HMAS Harman, Commander Sue Smith, present the men’s open trophy and the women’s open trophy to the Air Force captains and the men’s 35s trophy (again) to the Navy captain.

Outgoing ADFTA patron Commodore Lou Rago presented the overall champion Service trophy to Flight Lieutenant George Washington.

Overall, it was a fantastic day, perfect weather, conducted in fine spirit, thanks in no small way to the small but professional band of referees who officiated on the day, ably organised by Flight Sergeant Brad McCauley.

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