Kiwis claim Shield thriller

Aircraftman Alladice Aufai, left, and Corporal James Hood tackle a Kiwi during the test. Photos by LAC Ben Dempster

Corporal Damian Timmins looks for a break in the line.

Leading Aircraftman Ryan Espie fires off a pass during the final game of the tour against the RNZAF.

Leading Aircraftman Ron Marchant takes down his man.

The scrum packs down in the hard-fought test match against RNZAF that the Kiwis won 20-17.

AIR Force Rugby Union’s finest took on New Zealand on their own turf from March 19-27 and despite going down 20-17 in a thriller to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the inaugural Burn-Merz Shield Test Match, the team signalled it will be competitive for the ADF Rugby title.

The team played the Auckland Select XV in Auckland on March 23 as a warm up event before taking on the RNZAF at Blenheim on March 26.

The team spent the first two days of the tour training and preparing at RNZAF Base Whenuapai near Auckland, playing a trial game against a local Auckland/Ohakea Selection. It then travelled to Blenheim and was based at RNZAF Base Woodbourne.

The team knuckled down to train and get itself fighting fit for the test under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Sergeant Chris Filmer (RAAFSFS) and Assistant Coach Sergeant Adam Campaign (IO Squadron).

It was in front of a large crowd of Kiwi apostates from the base and the Blenheim community that both teams took the field.

The match was a cracker, befitting an inaugural test match. It was played at a furious pace with neither side willing to give an inch of territory.

RNZAF finally broke though at the 20-minute mark with two fast tries through strong forward play up the centre of the ground to lead the game 10-0.

The Aussies might have let this turn into an opposition try feast, but led from the front by team captain Corporal Jason Bastaja (No. 79 Squadron), they came back hard with two textbook backline tries to Corporal James Hood (ADFA) and Leading Aircraftman Jarrod Dotti (381ECSS) to even the score at the halftime break.

The second half exploded from the whistle as the Kiwis, whose fitness after training and playing together for the past six weeks proved pivotal, once again scored the first two tries. With just 10 minutes remaining, Corporal Damien Timmins (321CSS) sliced through the opposition backline to set up the try of the match in the corner and then slotted the sideline conversion to make the score 20-17.

In the dying seconds flyhalf Leading Aircraftman Ryan Espie (No. 6 Squadron) made a solo break up the centre of the field, leaving six stunned Kiwis floundering in his wake.

For a moment it seemed the Aussies would snatch the game, then the Kiwi defence rallied. LAC Espie was brought down on the 22m line and the game ended 20-17 in New Zealand’s favour.

President of Air Force Rugby Air Commodore John Clarkson, who travelled to Blenheim for the match, said: “The RNZAF were both gracious in victory and fantastic hosts to our Air Force side for the entire tour. Air Force Rugby is very much looking forward to hosting the RNZAF team in May 2005, and regaining the Burn-Merz Shield.”
Air Force Rugby now turns its attention to winning the Australian Services Rugby Championships in Sydney in May.

Operations Manager Squadron Leader Tim Anderson said the tour was a fantastic opportunity for the team to come together before the interservice carnival and play, train and live together.

“I think you will see a real difference in the attitude and performance of the team on the field as a result,” he said.
“The tour of New Zealand is just the beginning of our biggest season for many years, which, will include matches against Army, Navy and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

“We are also doing our best to ensure that we have a substantial number of our players in the Australian Services team for the tour to the USA and Canada in September.”

Air Force players are invited to attend the selection camp at Orchard Hills from April 30 to May 7.

Players interested in attending should email SQNLDR Anderson at Tim.Anderson@defence.gov.au.

In the Anzac tradition
The Burn-Merz Shield is named in honour of the first Anzac aircrew to be killed in action. On July 30, 1915, two Caudron aircraft of the Mesopotamian Half Flight returning from an operation near modern-day Basra, Iraq, were forced down with engine trouble. One flown by Lieutenants G.P. Merz from Melbourne and W.W.A. Burn from Christchurch landed among hostile Arabs. The officers were attacked and killed after an 8km running gun battle with the Arabs.

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