By Andrew Stackpool
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ASRU’s
CFN Matt Fraser pushes through the Fijian line during the
team’s game against the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
side.
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Photo
by Bill Cunneen
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WARRIORS
went head-to-head with warriors at Victoria Barracks, and lost.
The visiting Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) team beat
the Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team 29-12, in a hard-fought
battle on June 25.
The match followed ASRU’s loss to NSW Suburban Rugby Union
29-12 on June 22.
The Fijian High Commissioner, His Excellency Major General Jiogo
Konusi Konrote, and RFMF Commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama,
also watched the match.
The match had been arranged to meet a challenge issued to General
Peter Cosgrove by Commodore Bainimarama last year.
ASRU coach Wing Commander Graham King described the game as brutal
and extremely fast.
“That is what we expect from the Fijians,” he said.
“They can run and they can certainly tackle. They are very
unpredictable and, for us, playing a structured game against an
unstructured team is quite difficult.”
During the first half, the Warriors found the going tough and
were slow to get into gear with their attacks.
Mistakes and faulty ball handling cost them valuable points.
“It took us about 25 minutes to get into the game. We didn’t
take our time and space and that was certainly indicative of the
half-time score (17-5),” Wing Commander King said. “We
should have done a lot better and been more competitive.”
The Warriors were down but not out as the revitalised team hit
the field for the second half.
“We played very, very well,” he said. “We muscled
up, settled down and got our game patterns going. Our ball handling
improved and we made the gains.
“The Fijians had been preparing for the competition for several
weeks and their side includes quite a few of their national-level
players. It was good for my guys to step up to that mark.”
In congratulating the players, General Cosgrove said the game
had been one of “great spirit, courage, teamwork, stamina
and skill”.
“The game calls for everything we could ever want out of
our people in the ADF. When it is played with the passion, the
way the Fijians play, it is a great thing to behold.”
To the Fijians he said, “You played a mighty game and your
win today was well deserved. Your defence and counter-attack was
marvellous. You are worthy of this great game that was put on
today. We’ll get you next time.
“To the ASRU, you played extremely well. You are a very good
team. I was delighted to see you stick to an extremely tenacious
attempt to win. If conditions had been a bit different, the score
would have been a bit closer.”
The ASRU Warriors
