PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
ASRU Women go down fighting in Canberra rugby competition

By PTE Andrew Hetherington

The ASRU Women’s side fight for posession in the scrum against NSW Country in Canberra.

Photo by PTE Andrew Hetherington

SOLID teamwork and a never-say-die attitude didn’t desert the women’s ASRU side during its recent games in Canberra.

The team played NSW Country and the ACT at Vikings Park on June 12 and lost both hard-fought contests.

ASRU coach Chief Petty Officer Glen Morrissey said the team had been formed the Monday before the competition, with members selected after the inter-Service women’s titles last month.

The match against NSW Country was played in the morning in cold and wet conditions.

CPO Morrissey said although the side trailed 5-0 at half-time, it came back with a vengeance after the break.

“Early in the second half they levelled the score with a try scored by Officer Cadet Kate Porter,” he said.

“The match was then in the balance for quite a long while, with the opposition kicking a penalty goal to take the score to 8-5.”

ASRU valiantly tried to hold on to its defence and make a breakthrough, but to no avail. NSW Country won 22-5 but CPO Morrissey said the final score was not indicative of the game.

“NSW were the better team on the day, but we were in the match all the time,” he said.

Team captain Leading Aircraftwoman Rebekah Allen from RAAF Base East Sale said the team played well.

“NSW has been playing together for years and are well drilled,” she said. “But I think we certainly gave them a run for their money.”

The game against ACT was held in the afternoon. CPO Morrissey said he was worried about the team suffering from second-game blues by playing two matches in one day.

“I thought they would come out feeling a little bit down after their first match,” he said.

“Unfortunately, this was the case during the first 10 minutes of the game and ACT scored early to lead 14-0. We then fired up and scored two tries, one each from Officer Cadet Kate Pringle and Able Seaman Lisa Palmer, but unfortunately we couldn’t convert. In the last five minutes of the match we attacked the opposition’s line and fell four inches short of scoring a try.”

In the end, the game went to ACT, 14-10.

LACW Allen received the team players’ choice award, Corporal Kerry Telford the best and fairest award and Able Seaman Renae Woodward the team encouragement award.

CPO Morrissey said the team planned to play in the national women’s competition in Sydney.

 

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