Darwin has superior touch

By Andrew Stackpool

The successful touch football team, representing RAAF Base Darwin, made up of members from No. 321 Combat Support Squadron and No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit, pose for a snap with the Indian Braves, the team they defeated in the finals.

A COMBINATION of youth and touch football tactics by players from No. 321 Combat Support Squadron and No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit overcame the favourites’ age and skill during the 10th Touch Masters Games.

Players representing RAAF Base Darwin participated in a knockout touch football competition against teams from North Queensland, Mount Isa, Darwin and Alice Springs.

The Alice Springs’ Indian Braves side had won for the past six years and was tipped to take out the competition again, held at Alice Springs in late October.

But 321CSS and 114MCRU, under the guidance and tactics of Flight Sergeant Dave Snape, flattened all opponents.

Air Force defeated North Queesland’s Living Legends 12-1, Mt Isa’s Ali Barb’s 15-1, Darwin’s Cross Connection 15-0 and Alice Spring’s Indian Braves 6-2. Their convincing superiority showed in their defeat of Indian Braves in the final, which they won 7-1.

Flight Sergeant Greg Blanch, the senior training coordinator, said the Air Force side was “a cat among the pigeons”.

“The conditions for the game (played in the desert) were dry and hot,” FSGT Blanch said.

“Sergeant [Steven] Bow was the most outstanding player of the competition by far. His endurance and sportsmanship on the field reflected the true spirit of the game and was most commendable.

“He was backed by Flight Sergeant [Danny] Carulli and Corporal [Paul] Taylor. They were the best players on the ground.

“However, it was FSGT Snape who brought it all together.

“His presence and knowledge of the game, his tactics with positional play and his development and encouragement of the other team players established a real Air Force team bond in such a competitive environment.

“Our ages ranged from 30-43. This was not that different from the other teams but, at the end of the day, we were too fit and had too much talent.”

The winning way

In the lead-up matches, RAAF Base Darwin defeated:

• North Queensland’s Living Legends 12-1
• Mt Isa’s Ali Barb’s 15-1
• Darwin’s Cross Connection 15-0
• Alice Spring’s Indian Braves 6-2

In the final, RAAF Base Darwin defeated Alice Spring’s Indian Braves 7-1.

 

 

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