ADF Warriors Remember Scott Smith in Emphatic Style

The misty conditions at RAF Halton were appropriate to the sombre mood prior to the kick off when both teams gave silent tribute to fallen comrades.  However when the game did start the Aussies brought with them their own Gold Coast sunshine as they played a simple but very effective brand of rugby to deservedly win the opening match of the 2012 UK tour.

Sally Carter led her side from the front and her combination with backrow colleagues ‘Boofa’ Mooney and ‘Bits’ Allen set the platform for the ADF Warrior’s fine victory.  Whether in defence or attack the work of the backrow trio was both tireless and effective and it was often their strong running into the heart of the RAF defence that created the space out wide.

With both wingers getting on the score sheet with the first two tries the Aussies showed that they were prepared to throw the ball wide but not until the hard battle up front had been won.  With a number of strong ball carriers in the side they frequently ran hard and direct at the Air Force’s inside defence.  With good vision being shown by half backs ‘Shorty’ Palmer and ‘Fish’ Nevell, the opportunity to go wide was used sparingly but effectively.

By half time the Aussies had scored four tries, two from Grant plus one from her fellow winger Emma-Lee ‘Woody’ Wood and the fourth from outside centre Ausha Hewett.  It could have been more but what was making this game such an enjoyable contest was the tenacity and work rate of the Air Force’s defence.  Though they couldn’t get their hands on the ball that often their character and appetite for the contest was excellent and ensured that the ADF had to work for every metre gained.

The third quarter of the match was the closest.  The Royal Air Force stepped up their work rate and intensity to match that of the Australians and as a consequence both sides found it more difficult to make the line breaks and find space.  However so much time defending slowly took its toll on the Air Force team and they inevitably tired as the game went in to the last fifteen minutes.

With the ADF able to call on more strong ball carriers from the bench they were able to run in more tries and though the RAF(W) never stopped working for each other they were unable to contain the Gold and Green onslaught.

The final score of 52-0 to the ADF will make both the Royal Navy and the Army sit up and take notice.  The ADF will no doubt get better now that they have the long flight out of their system.  For the Royal Navy, when they host them on Saturday, they will have to be prepared to meet fire with fire and match the intensity of the Aussie’s strong ball carriers and neutralise the effectiveness of their back row.  In short for the Navy it is simply a matter of Get Carter!

Royal Navy Women v Australian Defence Force Warriors, Burnaby Rd, Portsmouth, Saturday 27th October 2012.  14:00KO