Better care She's back - Department of Defence

30 November 8, 2012
SPORT
Runaway Warriors win big
ON THE RUN: AB Victoria Dewar makes another break for ASRU that led to one of 17 tries against
the Royal Navy at Portsmith. Photo: Alligin Photography
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Michael Brooke
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THE Australian Services Rugby Union-
Women (ASRU-W) Warriors team has been
relentless in the opening games of its UK
tour, amassing 152 points against Royal Air
Force and Royal Navy sides.
The ASRU-W annihilated the RN 100-0
in Portsmouth on October 27 and the RAF
52-0 at RAF Halton on October 23.
The British Army women’s side
provided far greater competition in the third
game at Aldershot on October 31, where
ASRU-W fought out a dour 13-10 victory.
ASRU-W led 13-5 at half-time with tries
to CPL Emma-Lee Wood and PTE Brea
Grant. The second half saw ASRU-W tested
for the first time on tour, finally conceding a
try with 15 minutes to go.
However, that seemed to galvanise the
Warriors who were unwavering in both
defence and attack.
Against the RN, the Warriors’ were led
by rampaging forwards, Army’s CAPT
Caroline Vakalahi, Air Force’s CPL
Rebekah Allen and OCDT Sarah Hume, as
well as LEUT Sara Mooney, of JLU-N, and
AB Tori Dewar, of HMAS Darwin, who
scored three tries.
ASRU coach LEUT Rosie Apikotoa,
of Navy’s Strategic Command, said the
forwards played highly disciplined and
well-structured rugby, even after the score
had blown out to embarrassing proportions.
“The Warriors played with power and
purpose which bodes well for our tougher
matches coming up,” she said.
The ASRU-W team kicked off the tour
by thrashing the RAF in a match dedicated
to Special Forces Engineer Cpl Scott Smith,
killed in Afghanistan three days earlier.
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Both teams paused for a minute silence
for Cpl Smith and other British and
Australian soldiers killed on duty.
The mood before the kick-off gave
way to a passionate and physical display
by the Warriors who dominated the match
with a simple but very effective brand of
aggressive but disciplined rugby.
Team skipper CAPT Sally Carter, of
6 Avn Regt, led her side from the front and
her combination with LEUT Mooney and
CPL Allen paved the way the ADF Warrior’s
impressive victory.
By half-time, the ASRU-W had posted
four tries, and the green and gold onslaught
continued in the second-half with CAPT
Carter leading the Warriors to a well
deserved 52-0 triumph.
The games provided the perfect warm
up to the highlight of the tour when the
Warriors take on the UK Combined Services
Team at Cardiff Arms Park on November 7.
LEUT Apikotoa said the triumphs had
provided a measure of redemption for the
Warriors who embarked on the tour seeking
to avenge their 14-0 loss to the British
Army women’s team at Sydney’s Victoria
Barracks on May 24.
“The ASRU is now poised to record
a clean sweep in its three-week tour
of England that concludes with the
Remembrance Day test against the British
Combined team,” she said.
The tour, from October 18 to November
11, will see the Warriors play a total of
seven games.
Navy’s representatives are: LEUT Sara Mooney,
LS Kim Thomson, PO Nicole Palmer, PO Cassy Van
Rythoven, AB Victoria Dewar, AB Lulu Gray and
MIDN Eve Parker.
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