UNWEARIED
ASRU Warriors narrowly lose Weary Dunlop match to Universities

By Dan Wheelahan and Captain James Nicholas

ASRU captain CPL Paul Yates passes during the Warrior’s close game against Australian Universities.

HARD, spirited play and a solid attacking strategy were not enough to prevent the Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team going down 22-15 to Australian Universities in the Weary Dunlop Trophy.

The trophy, in honour of Sir Edward Dunlop, was contested at Ballymore, Queensland, on July 1.

ASRU coach Wing Commander Graham King said good intensity from the forwards in the first 10 minutes of the game had the team in a commanding position in Universities’ half.

“It was a pleasing start,” he said. “Traditionally Universities have run in three or four tries in the first 10 minutes of the game, meaning ASRU has had to fight back for the rest of the match.”

Universities opened the scoring with a try at the 13-minute mark after a penalty, a line-out win and a strong rolling maul drive. It failed to convert the try but took a 5-0 lead.

Continued pressure from the ASRU forwards had the first Warriors points up with a penalty awarded against Universities. The Warriors then continued with a successful kick for goal by five-eighth Petty Officer Andrew Thorp soon afterwards.

The Warriors continued to dominate forward play until the 27th minute, when Universities made a break from the halfway line to run in a superb winger’s try. ASRU fought back and, with a combination of Universities’ infringements and successful conversions, went to the half-time break Universities 12, ASRU 9.

ASRU evened the score shortly after the start of the second half with a fast drop goal by team captain Corporal Paul Yates.

The ASRU forwards kept the pressure on hard as they continued to dominate the scrums.

The game was anybody’s until Universities scored another try before one of the ASRU players was sin-binned for 10 minutes. Universities went over again to take a 22-12 lead.

The player returned to the field and once again the Warriors dominated the field play, with Universities repeatedly penalised for infringements. Just 25 minutes to go and the score went to 22-15.

Now it was Universities’ turn to have a player on the side. This was a catalyst for a renewed fight-back by the Warriors. A number of tactical replacements inserted some punishing runs into the ASRU game. Replacement forward Sergeant Adam Monson made a number of clean line breaks which had the opposition forwards back-pedalling towards their own goal line again.

Two minutes to go and the ASRU forwards were held up over the line. A five-metre scrum and another penalty followed, but the Warriors fell just short of the Universities line before the final whistle sounded. The teams walked from the fields 22-15.

 

Steeped in Tradition

On the field before the match.

Photos by Jason Weeding

THE Weary Dunlop Trophy is named in honour of Sir Edward Dunlop. The trophy was commissioned in 1999 to formalise the long-standing relationship between Australian Services Rugby Union and Australian Universities Rugby Union.

The first recorded encounters between the two teams were during the 1960s. The link between the scholar and serviceman was forged.

“Weary” Dunlop became a household name after his experiences as a doctor and prisoner of war on the infamous Thai-Burma railway during World War II. Despite the treatment he and his fellow prisoners endured, he became a great humanitarian who encouraged forgiveness and understanding.

Weary was also a superb athlete who represented Universities, Army and Australia in Rugby Union. He insisted that after his death he was to be buried in his Wallaby jersey.

 

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