Sports
Girls show great heart in defeat
By Barry Rollings

Edition 4907, May 3, 2007
 
IT’S MINE: FLGOFF Trinette Bagnall battles Army’s OCDT Candice Brown for the ball during a women’s game in the inter-Service Aussie Rules competition.
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey
 
Air Force women gave their Army counterparts a late fright before losing their opening match of the Geoff Ledger Cup at the Australian Services Australian Football Association Championships.

Spirited Air Force lost 8.6 (54) to 5.2 (32) on day one in Canberra but was no match for the ultimate winner, Navy, on day two and lost 8.9 (57) to 1.0 (6).

Navy made it back-to-back titles after winning a tight deciding match 5.9 (39) to 4.5 (29) against Army.

After an even opening against Army, Air Force led 1.1 (7) to 0.0 (0) at quarter time but Army had nosed ahead 3.1 (19) to 1.1 (7) at half-time.

Army kept Air Force largely in defence and forged to a 6.4 (40) to 1.2 (8) last-change advantage.

But Air Force stuck to its guns and a solo star turn by WOFF Donna Puglisi produced four goals in the first eight minutes of the quarter before Army steadied with two match-clinching goals.

“We knew it would take a lot against Army, which always has a lot of run and plays four quarters,” Air Force coach PLTOFF Todd Goldsmith said.

“We showed great heart and fantastic effort against Army with a good start and strong finish; we have to get the middle game right.

“I was pleased with the girls because we had some last-minute replacements. Everyone stood up and had a dip.

“Army had a height advantage but the smaller RAAFie girls certainly played above their height.”