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.Sport
Try
time
Amberley
wins national rugby league carnival
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LAC
Jason Edwards dives over the try line near the posts to
score four points for Amberley, leaving LAC Nathan Bolton,
from Williamtown, in his wake. The game was played in wet,
slippery conditions at Matson Field, RAAF Base Amberley,
on October 20.
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Photos
by LAC Andrew Eddie.
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SGT
Clayton Haack, from Amberley, is upended by CPL Shane Gray,
left, and LAC Ben Lavender, on the ground, as the rain tumbles.
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By
Sergeant Darren Lacey
RAAF
Base Amberley has won the 2005 Air Force Rugby League Carnival.
The base team defeated RAAF Base Williamtown 24-14 on a rain-soaked
Matson Field at the climax of the carnival on October 20.
The 2005 Air Force Rugby League Carnival was to be held at Amberley
from October 20 to 24.
The format was to be a three-team round robin on Thursday, October
20 and a “possibles vs probables” game on the Friday.
The Air Force team was then scheduled to play 2 Combat Engineer
Regiment, from Enoggera, on October 24.
Murphy being alive and well, things did not turn out as planned
and only enough players for two 15-man teams, one each from Amberley
and Williamtown, were available because of service commitments
and injuries.
Nevertheless, both teams were fielding current and past Air Force
and Combined Australian Services Rugby League (CASRL) players.
Spectators could be assured of fireworks.
The teams were backfilled with players from RAAF bases Richmond,
Townsville and Pearce, as well as a few short-notice arrivals
from the Amberley-based squadrons.
The carnival organisers decided to play one game on the Thursday
afternoon and select the squad from that game. Spectators were
not to be disappointed.
Conditions may have been wet, but all players were keen to show
what they could do. The first half started with some strong defence
and good attacking raids by both teams, however, it took 20 minutes
for the first points to be scored by Williamtown.
Amberley replied with two tries and took a four-point lead into
the half-time break.
Amberley settled down in the second half with the lion’s
share of possession and used this to their advantage as they crossed
for two more quick tries.
The game settled down again and Williamtown came back with some
aggressive defence and relentless attack. Amberley stood firm
and replied with another two tries. Williamtown scored one more
converted try late in the second half but it was not enough to
get them back into the game.
Amberley walked from the paddock the winners, 24-14.
This game proved a very good one to watch, despite the weather
conditions, with mistakes few and far between.
The standard of rugby league player available to the Air Force
team is very good, even with some Air Force and CASRL players
unavailable for the carnival.
Once the players had dried off, the 2005/06 Air Force squad was
announced.
National
squad selected to defeat Army and Navy
The
2005/06 Air Force Rugby League squad is:
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