Aussies wave flag in Middle East

Facing off: The Aussie flag footy team, left, keeps an eye on the ball, held by the Americans. They outsmarted the US in the game held in the MEAO.

IT STARTED out with Aussies being Aussies. After work, between the accommodation blocks, they kicked a football back and forth. It didn’t take long before Americans joined in and the kicking became kicking and throwing and a new ball was introduced.

Soon the inevitable happened: “How about a game of football?” But which one? Flag football – the touch footy version of gridiron in which players wear belts with flags on them.

To effect a tackle, the flags are grabbed and the belt comes off. None of the Australians had played before but Flight Lieutenant Paul Webb agreed to coach, so three weeks of training ensued.

However, before the game a player broke his thumb, another a bone in his hand. With numbers down, it was clear that some of the team would have to double up, playing both defence and attack.

The game was evenly poised and by the end of the second quarter the score was locked up at nil-all. The opposition was clearly shellshocked at the Aussies’ knowledge of the game and ferocity in defence and came out fired up in the third quarter.

The Australian defence held firm and midway through the quarter countered to score after a 25m run by Leading Aircraftman Matt Monaghan. Early in the fourth quarter the US players mounted a desperate attack on the goal line.

Once again the defence held firm, largely in part to the constant pressure applied by the two defensive lineman, Leading Aircraftman Mat Weeding and Corporal Cheyne Cikoja.

Taking over the ball on the Aussies’ own 5m line and with a slender 8-0 lead, quarterback Corporal Sean Glazier called the familiar “tight left – option right” play in the huddle.

Running to his right, he handed off to Leading Aircraftman Levi Fowler, who stepped two players and drew two more.

With only a few metres left on the sideline to play with, he flicked the ball on to LAC Monaghan who burst down the field for a 95 metre score. The Americans scored a consolation touchdown late in the quarter with the game ending in a 14-6 Aussie win.

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