Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
05 September 2007
World cup fever sweeps Iraq
World Cup Rugby fever is sweeping Iraq where Australian and British soldiers played a gruelling rugby match in the lead up to the Australia versus England quarter-final showdown.
Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw.
The soldiers played the game, which was billed as an unofficial curtain-raiser to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, in their Desert uniforms.
The match was played in 40-degrees Celsius heat on a sandy pitch strewn with stones at the Australian Camp Terendak in southern Iraq on 04 October.
The Australian Commander said it was a tribute to the pride and passion of both teams that the rugby match ended in a draw.
The Australians and the British played the match with great tenacity as the winner would secure bragging rights in the countdown to the Rugby World Cup showdown on Saturday.
The plucky Australians opened the scoring on the 10th minute through their fleet-footed winger Private Brendan Carlson who scored near the corner post.
Unfortunately, flyhalf SGT Joseph Ashby-Cliffe was unsuccessful with a very difficult conversion attempt.
The British team, which featured UK Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) soldiers, equalized almost immediately through their rugged tight-head prop who barged over from short range.
He missed the conversion.
Immediately after the half-time break Australia raced to a 10-5 lead through breakaway Private Michael Davison, who scored after a barnstorming run from the 10 metre line.
Sgt Ashby-Cliffe converted the try for a 12-5 lead.
The Australians appeared poised for a well earned victory when Britain’s flashy inside centre who beat several defenders to score under the posts in the dying minute of the match.
The Flyhalf kicked the conversion for a well-deserved 12-all draw.
| 20071004army8500215_ 005 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 026 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 072 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 104 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 135 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 142 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 150 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 152 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004army8500215_ 156 Australian soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 tackled themselves to a standstill in holding their archrivals to a 12-all draw. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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