Sports
Inter-Service Softball 2008
The tournament was hosted at PHILOMEL, 1 - 5 December. The 3 men’s teams competed in a double round competition; the ADF sent a women’s team, and the women played a double round robin tournament, too.
Day One: On completion of round one the men’s teams had 1 win each, with the Army securing top spot based on run differential. In the women’s draw both Air Force and Army had 2 wins each.
Day Two: Navy Men went on to beat the Air Force squad again, but lost 0-6 to the Army. Army Men also defeated Air and gained the lead in the round robin. Army women beat Air Force to lead the women’s tournament.
That evening: a match between a Women’s NZDF Tournament Team and the ADF. A chance for many to relax and watch - a good atmosphere under the slowly setting sun. The NZDF women won the match.
Finals Day: Navy played the Air Force in the morning in the men’s semi-final and for the third day in a row the Navy came away the victors. The men commenced their final first, Army vs Navy. Both sides played with everything they had, Army were the first to score then continued to apply the pressure; the Navy side fought hard, but Army won 10 – 4.
2008/09 NZDF Softball Standings:
| Women |
Men |
| 1st - Army |
1st - Army |
| 2nd - Air Force |
2nd - Navy |
| 3rd - ADF |
3rd - Air Force |
| 4th - Navy |
|
In the women’s draw the Navy girls had been working hard, competing well in many of their matches but with no reward. The ADF team had also been competitive but had failed to gain a win against either Army or Air Force in the second round.
In the women’s final the Army team took control, beating Air Force 15 – 4.
It was a great week of softball - our thanks to all who supported the event and made it a success.
Awards
Army took the major trophies: the Dale Tamehana Memorial Trophy for most runs combined; the Prendergast Cup (winning women’s team) and the Lauthala Bay Trophy (men’s winners). The NZDF Women’s Tournament Team won the Trans Tasman Trophy and Personality of the Tournament was from Navy, ACSS Toni Samuels.
The NZDF Academy Rugby Team
By CPOCSS Dean Fielding
At the recent 2008 Pacific Military Nations Rugby Tournament the NZDF Academy Rugby Team exceeded all expectations and played against the NZDF Senior team in the Cup final.
The inaugural PMNRT was hosted by Australia in 2006 in which Royal Fijian Military Forces won that tournament. Due to the current political situation in Fiji, they were unable to participate in this year’s tournament. So to make up a sixth team, the organisers invited an NZDF Academy team to participate. The tournament was made up of: Pool A, Australian Defence Force (ADF), French (FRANC) and the NZDF Academy. Pool B: NZDF, Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Tongan Defence Services.
Selection of the NZDF Academy team proved difficult, many players not selected for the senior squad were unavailable due to operational commitments. A squad of 23 was finally confirmed and the team assembled in Linton for a 4 day training camp. The final composition of the team, including managers, consisted of 6 Navy and 23 Army. We were very fortunate to have the assistance of former All Black great Buck Shelford. Most of the players had never met each other before, let alone played together… nevertheless the team quickly established its team culture and got down to business. Our thanks to the Linton Camp staff involved.
Our first game was against the FRANC; our team won 62 – 0.
With only 21 hours until our next game, our trainers and physio worked to prepare the team for the big encounter against the Aussies. As to be expected whenever Kiwis play the Aussies, it is a torrid affair. Our team didn’t get their stride until the last 25 minutes with the Academy totally dominating the final quarter and winning 25-13. Yet again the team lost another key player to injury.
Our Academy team had secured top spot by winning pool play, setting up an all-NZDF final. The final was always going to be a big ask - but this team was not going to lay down for anyone. As the underdogs, the crowd all hoped for an upset, but it was not meant to be.
The final was played in atrocious weather conditions at Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt. The NZDF Senior team dominated possession and territory and secured a big win 72 -3. Notwithstanding the score line, our Academy side showed true character, courage and commitment and fought on to the final whistle. Player of the day for Academy was LCH J Dorset.
The NZDF Academy team would like to thank the PNMRT Organising Committee for a well-run tournament, and NZDF Rugby for providing us the opportunity to participate in the Tournament. Hopefully the team has proved that there is value in establishing a permanent Academy code in the future.
And thanks to:
- TRSB and the staff of the JR’s Mess,
- our sponsors Musahi, KooGa and the TNT Night Club, and
- Buck Shelford and ex-All Black Jamie Joseph, who spent time with our team, passing on their expertise and experience.
The Academy team showed their dedication, commitment and professionalism on and off the field and they all represented their Service and their Units with pride. They were an absolute pleasure to manage, coach and train and were good ambassadors of the game and the NZDF.
Inter-ship Touch Championships’ 09
By LPTI Kavs Kavanagh
The 2009 sports calendar started with the Inter-Ship Touch Championships. TE MANA and ENDEAVOUR performed well and the standard of play was extremely high, providing the selectors ample opportunity to raise a solid Navy squad for the subsequent Inter-Services tournament.
Winners
- Open Men’s – PHILOMEL Black
- Open Women’s – PHILOMEL Combined
MVPs
ASCS Steve O’Brien (Open Men); OHSO Brianna Daley-Rutherford (Women) & POWTR John Taurua (OT).
NZDF Touch Selections
Congratulations to the following from Navy who were selected in the NZDF Touch Teams:
- Open Women - LEW Seath, OSTD Little, POEWS Matete, LMED Gooch
- Open Men - OCSS Ifi, ACSS Kissick-Pongia, OSCS Biddle, AMT Kingi, OSCS Wheoki.
- Over Thirties - CPO Leomotu & POSCS Tahiwi
The NZDF Over 30’s team assembled for a training camp and the Masters Tournament 28 Feb - 2 March. The NZDF Open Men’s and Women’s teams took part in the National Tournament 4 - 8 March.
Defence Force Rugby League World Cup 08
By OEW Aiden Tunupopo
I was selected for the Cook Islands Defence Force team after being nominated by our Navy Dolphin League assistant coach. The tournament was over 18 days in Sydney at the Moorebanks Army Base. While on tour with the Cook Islands Team we went to a dinner at the Penrith Stadium and had another excellent meal at the Air Force Officers’ Mess, a really nice place to eat and replenish the carbs.
I had a lot of fun learning new stuff about my Cook Island background and making new friends and seeing new areas of Australia. We travelled 500km in the first four days on the coach; also we were fortunate to get free tickets to watch a few of the Rugby League World Cup games, it was an awesome atmosphere.
I felt shy at first but after the team’s first game against Australia we bonded as a group. Training sessions, twice a day, were good and we played five games in total. The game against the NZDF was a really good one; other teams also participating in the tournament were from the Defence Forces of Australia, Great Britain and PNG.
Overall, it was a good challenge playing at the higher level of rugby league; the venue was the Penrith League stadium - great fields to play on. Most games commenced at around 1400, but it was very hot, 25ºC+ every day. I played all games, but missed part of our last game against the NZDF due to dehydration.
The ADF were awesome hosts and helped all the teams out as much as possible. I personally found it to be a truly memorable tour.
Defence Force Rugby League World Cup 08 Final Placings:
- 1st - Great Britain
- 2nd - Australia
- 3rd - NZ
- 4th - Cook Islands
- 5th - PNG
Tunnel Sprint Fundraiser
On 10 December a fundraising event was held for Laura Kearns, the daughter of SGT Stu Kearns from the NZ Police Serious Crash Unit. This unit has had a close affiliation with PHILOMEL after recent fatal accidents involving Naval Ratings.
Laura (15) has been diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease called Merosin-negative dystrophy with leukodystrophy. This progressive disease has symptoms including seizures, muscle atrophy, loss of movement, speech, vision and hearing as well as behavioural changes. The disease is so rare that very few doctors have expertise in its treatment. Laura has undergone a lumbar puncture, MRIs, a muscle biopsy, countless blood and other invasive tests. Starship Hospital in Auckland had to send test results to an Amsterdam-based professor for diagnosis.
Stu and Laura’s mother Kathie are on a mission to fund treatment for their precious daughter and to raise awareness of this debilitating disease. A trust has been established to support Laura’s treatment. Stu and Kathie want to raise sufficient funds to enable Kathie to take Laura to specialists in the UK in the hope of finding treatment which may slow the progression of the disease.
Our effort to help was a Tunnel Sprint where the 59 competitors ran individually through the 338.5 metre PHILOMEL Tunnel in an attempt to record the fastest time in their respective age group. The entrants in the event included the NZ Police, NZ Army, NZDF civilians and of course Navy personnel who had the home advantage and took out all the age groups.
We raised $2,065, which included $1000 from Birkenhead Fire Brigade, $300 from the Naval Police and $100 from the Petty Officers’ Mess in TE MANA. The rest was from the spectators (including motorists passing by) and a sausage sizzle. Special thanks to the sponsors: AFCC, Bidvest, Devonport New World and L’Oreal with their awesome prize donations. Thanks also to the PTIs, Naval Police, the spectators and the NPRC for their help.
Results
18 - 30 Age Group
Men: LPTI Morgan Findlay - 43.56 secs
Women: LT Linda Bruce - 54.69 secs
30 - 40 Age Group
LT Andy Longley - 45.22 secs
40 - 50 Age Group
WOMAA Joe Gray - 51.93 secs
50+ Age Group
LT Roger Saynor - 55.12 secs
Best Costume
WOMM Mick O’Carroll - as Santa (faster than a reindeer!)
The Kawau Race
By LTCDR Gordon Gillan RNZN, Vice Commodore, RNZN Sailing Club
In February, two Chico 40 STCs, MANGA and PAEA, took part in the night race to Kawau, along with 60 or so other yachts. Both STCs were in Division B.
Wind was ENE about 15kts gusting to 20; both STCs found a gap in the fleet, keeping clear air as the fleet set off. As it started to get dark the 2 Chicos raced on constantly trimming and steering through the chop. It became a game of cat and mouse trying to find wind on the water and avoid wind shadows as we neared the island. PAEA found a couple of flurries of extra wind closing down the gap but MANGA held on by 1 boat length after a 3½ hour race.
A late breakfast then both yachts were ready for the Round Kawau Race. We drag raced to Flat Rock, before both boats popped a spinnaker for the run downwind. However on MANGA the lazy sheet tripped the pole and while trying to recover she gracefully broached… by the time the mess was sorted and the No 2 spinnaker hoisted, PAEA was significantly ahead. PAEA was 4th and 2nd in Div B, while MANGA came 2nd and 7th.
Back at Kawau Island Yacht Club with honours even, the two STC crews enjoyed showers ashore and a BBQ laid on by the Squadron, plus some dancing and the odd rum or glass of wine, a very pleasant evening. Light airs meant a motor back to Auckland, but we were able to watch Greece beat South Africa in the Louis Vuitton as we passed through the Rangitoto Channel. Kawau weekend is a very good mix of semi-serious racing with good socialising, so Club members - bear it in mind for next year!
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