Sports
Combined effort
By Barry Rollings

Volume 49, No. 1, February 8, 2007
 
DON’T TOUCH: North QLD player, SGT Tony Benfer from RAAF Base Townsville, breaks away against ACT/NSW Country during a game in the Australian Defence Touch Championships. Photo by Redline Studios
 
Men’s 30s Player of the Final and Series
FLGOFF Chris Goedhardt (RAAF Williams – Laverton)

Women’s Player of the Final
CPL Kylie Cullen (Defence Force Recruiting)

ADTA No. 1 referee
FSGT Matt Vernon (RAAF Base Richmond)
THE combined ACT/NSW Country teams contested three of the four finals and won two at the 15th Australian Defence Touch Association (ADTA) Championships at RAAF Base Williams – Laverton from November 20-24.

ACT/NSW Country won the men’s 40s final 4-1 against South QLD and the women’s open 5-2 against South QLD but was edged 5-4 by Southern States in the men’s 30s. Combined ACT/NSW also was named champion region.

In the men’s open final, North QLD beat Sydney Metro 7-5.

Defence teams from North QLD, South QLD, Sydney, ACT/NSW Country and Southern States competed, along with a number of individual players who attended from NT and North QLD and were allocated to various teams. In all, 275 Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence civilians took part.

Selectors will use the national titles to help them select teams for coming events in the first half of this year.

Last month, the ADTA men’s and women’s open and men’s 30s – a party of 55 in all – went to New Zealand for the New Zealand Defence Championships, followed by a regional carnival near Auckland.

The ADTA senior mixed, men’s 30s and 40s, comprising 52 players, will contest the National Touch League Championships at Coffs Harbour in March, and a squad of 35 will play in the NSW Country men’s and women’s open titles at Dubbo in May.

“Despite the operational tempo, the ADF nationals were a great success and were well supported by RAAF Williams,” ADTA President MAJ Norma Hughes said.

“The standard of touch within Defence continues to improve and has resulted in a steady increase in Defence members being selected to represent Australia.

“This year a number of Defence members were selected to represent Australia at the World Cup in South Africa in January 2007 – FSGT Mick Lennon, Paul Ridder, SGT Danny Bretherton, PTE Manu Wakely and John Samin were selected to play, WO2 Greg Taylor to referee and Dennis Coffey for coaching.

“It is good to see those Defence members gain the recognition for their abilities with this opportunity to compete at the highest level,” she said.

“The support provided by units in releasing their members to participate is greatly appreciated.”