Wagga bears teeth

RAAF Wagga’s Drop Bears were down but definitely not out at the end of the annual Kapooka 12s Australian Rules football Carnival held on March 13.

Competition is normally tough and this year proved no exception.

A heavy blanket of dew covered the ground as the Drop Bears met last year’s premiers HMAS Albatross in their first round match. And a slow start by both sides evolved into a hard-fought contest with both sides determined to stay on top.

Dropped marks in the forward line proved costly for the Bears and when the whistle blew to mark the end of the final quarter, Albatross had won 11-6.

The Bears then sallied out for their match against The School of Infantry and it was a nail-biting affair. Both sides applied pressure from the start, with no ground given.

The game was dead-set even when, in the dying moments, a tumbling ground ball from Infantry rolled through the goals. It was Infantry by one point.

That one point loss eliminated any hope of the Bears making the finals.

The Albatross and The School of Infantry games decided it was now A Fd Bty who would face the Bears. The finals were out of reach by six points but there was still a matter of team pride on the line.

The first quarter whistle blew and the Bears came out with all guns blazing. From the first bounce the Gunners were in trouble and stayed that way for the match.

Corporal Ken Robertson, named the team’s best player, took control of the centre, consistently feeding running players to deliver the ball forward. At the same time the final score of 34-19 highlighted the hard work from the backline, under direction from Sapper Riley and Craftsman Medwell, and running play down the wings from Aircraftman Mclaren and Leading Aircraftman Cameron.

Drop Bears coach Corporal Jeremiah Tonks said the goal was to play in the finals, with the ambition to contest the grand final.

“This did not happen on the day. You can only reflect on what may have been, if events on the field had swung in our favour,” he said.

“In my position as coach it was a pleasure to train the team, see the skills development and watch the friendships formed.

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts made by all team members, including the long road trip made by Leading Aircraftmen Davies and Nietvelt, and to all our supporters on the day.”

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