Steve Drummond sings the New Zealand National Anthem during the pre match formalities at the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Photo, Harry Hodge.
Rodney “Rocket” Gillett provides the match report below on the 4th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match which saw the Jakarta Bintangs triumph 10. 9. 69 to the Vietnam Swans’ 8. 11. 59.
The Vietnam Swans went down to the visiting Jakarta Bintangs in the annual ANZAC Friendship match played at the old Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau, Vietnam last Saturday (27 April).
Jakarta came from a 7 point deficit at half-time to record a 10 point win over the Swans. The final scores were Jakarta 10.9.69 to Vietnam’s 8.11.59.
A crowd of more than 500 witnessed a tightly contested struggle for supremacy throughout that was played in good spirit as first one side, then the other, took the lead with the Bintangs in front at the final siren due to a stronger second half.
“It was an honour to be invited to play in this match”, declared Jakarta coach, Brenton Harris at the presentation ceremony. “It was a classic game of hard, contested footy and we were able to make the most of our opportunities to come out in front at the end. We always have a hard match against Vietnam, and this was the case again today”.
The ground was in tip-top condition for the clash after weeks of preparation from the Vietnam club’s volunteers – especially Ron Vernon and Glenn Nolan – in Vung Tau and the weather was hot and sunny reaching a top temperature of 32° at the commencement of play.
The pre-match ceremony that paid tribute to the ANZAC spirit featured the Ode by Vietnam veteran, Ray Malree, and the national anthems of Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. The line up on the ground featured both teams, umpire Adam McDonald and the three veterans of the original Vietnam Football League who played on the same ground in the 1960s and have been actively supportive of this fixture; Ron Vernon, Stan Middleton and Dick “Johno” Johnston.
Ross McRae (middle) and Dan Hopkins (right) at the evening’s McMillan Dinner at the Imperial Hotel. Both suffered dislocated shoulders in the Legends match and then the ANZAC Match respectively.
Jakarta skipper, Lee van Gils won the toss and kicked to the Peter Badcoe end of the ground. In a hard and fast opening, the Bintangs settled down sooner with Lee van Gils prominent in the midfield booting the first goal of the match. When Jakarta booted another goal soon after by Adam Bray it seemed that it was going to be one-way traffic.
Finally, the Swans settled with Luke “Dukesy” Creamer winning plenty of ball along with winger Alex Lee and they posted two goals late in the first term through key forwards, Nick Moger and Ryan Evans.
At quarter time Jakarta held a 11 point lead, 4.4.26 to 2.3.15.
It took until the ten minute mark of the second quarter for a goal to be scored, such was the intensity and desire of both teams to win the ball. It was the Swans through the hard-run of Dave O’Shea that broke the drought followed soon after by a long shot on the boundary from Luke Creamer that put the Swans in front.
Meanwhile, the Swans defence led by Bill Crang and Phil Ghasseb held out the Bintangs despite the dominance in the ruck by Tom Harvey and hard-nut mid-fielder Adam Bray. When Swans forward Shannon Leahy ran into an open goal late in the term, the locals had established a 7 point break at half-time.
Jakarta regained the initiative early in the third stanza and started to take advantage of Tom Harvey’s ruck work and Adam Bray’s bullocking work in the packs by booting two early goals through hard-running Stew Lyons and nifty winger Dimas. The Swans came back through another goal by Dave O’Shea but the Bintangs had control of the game and a steadying goal from coach Brenton Harris secured them a hard-earned 7 point lead at three-quarter time.
A rousing three quarter time address by Swans’ coach, Andy Glendinning that appealed to the players to play for the club, the guernsey and all the supporters, not just themselves, saw the Swans come out and really challenge the Jakarta outfit at the start of the last term.
However, missed shots for goal cost the Swans dearly while the Bintangs kicked truly; a long range goal by John Redmond, who had come into the game raised hopes for Vietnam, but the Bintangs snuffed that out with a late goal by Goose Bower to seal victory by 10 points.
The win gave the Jakarta Bintangs the four match points in their first outing in the newly established East Asian Australian Football League (EAAFL) while the Vietnam Swans are 0-3.
Final Scores:
VIETNAM: 2.3 5.5 6.7 8.11.59 def. by
JAKARTA: 4.2 4.4 7.8 10.9.69
Goals:
Vietnam: R. Evans 2, D. O’Shea 2, N. Moger, L. Creamer, S. Leahy, J. Redmond
Jakarta: A. Bray 2, L. van Gils, N. Gandolfo, S. Lyons, D. Prasojo, B. Harris, T. Harvey, N. Masters, G. Bower
Best Players (as judged by Rocket):
Jakarta: T. Harvey (awarded Official BOG by Panel), A. Bray, S. Lyons
Vietnam: L. Creamer, P. Ghasseb, A. Lee
Umpire: Adam McDonald (Hanoi)
Crowd: Estimated 500
Lord Mayor’s Oval (now Greyhound Racing Track), Vung Tau, Vietnam
More to follow.
