US Hawks tumble in Australian on-field onslaught

By Andrew Stackpool

THE US Navy may rule the waves, but the ADF rules the turf. ADF soccer players proved it on July 6 at Randwick Barracks when they resoundingly defeated the visiting USS Kitty Hawk soccer team 16-1.

Team manager Petty Officer Jamie Ridley said the win was even better because the team had some new faces.

“It was also the first time we had played together for a while,” he said.

The first half opened slowly and for the first 10-to-15 minutes the team was still finding its feet. As the ADF players’ confidence grew, so did the score.

“It took us a while to get it together, but once we did, the guys started to put some really nice goals up.”

The second half opened strongly, but the pace began to fall away as the score continued to blow out.

“The guys got a bit lackadaisical about half way through because of the score,” Petty Officer Ridley said. “Also, the intensity of the Kitty Hawk guys dropped because they knew they were going to be beaten and beaten convincingly.

“We used the half to try a few different things and to try a few other guys in different positions.”

With 15 minutes to go, team coach Warrant Officer Second Class Blaise Fagan stepped forward and exhorted the team to give 100 per cent for the remainder of the game.

Petty Officer Ridley praised the Kitty Hawk men for their game.

“They had a lot of heart, a lot of enthusiasm and put in a 100 per cent effort. For most of the game they were pretty intense.”

“[But] they fielded about six or seven new guys and, like us, this was the first time they had come together as a team.

“They did get one goal in, but overall their skill levels were well below the ADF team. That lack of experience, with so many new players, was a deciding factor.

“They came up against a good side. It was a great game, the guys were great and it was a great victory.”

Corporals Andrew King from RAAF Base Amberley and Geoff Gillard from RAAF Base Williamtown were named as top players of the match.

Petty Officer Ridley said the game heralded some exciting new opportunities for ADF soccer.

“This was a real national squad,” he said. “The new guys had come from Perth and Darwin. It is good to get guys from all over instead of just from Canberra and Sydney.”

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